How to Preserve Herbs for the Winter

This blog post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using these links, we will receive a small commission. This will help us buy more seeds and grow more plants! There is no extra cost to you!

One of the simplest and most rewarding plants to grow are herbs. Whether you have a sunny windowsill, a balcony, or a full garden, herbs thrive with minimal effort. They don’t need much water, they prefer soil that’s not too rich, and best of all — the more you harvest, the more they grow!

In this post, I’ll walk you through how to preserve your herb harvest so you can enjoy those beautiful flavors all winter long.

Why Preserve Herbs?

Many herbs are perennials, meaning they return year after year once planted. In colder climates, however, some herbs (like basil) behave as annuals and won’t survive the winter. Still, most herbs will produce abundantly from spring through late autumn. And since we typically only use small amounts in cooking, we often end up with a surplus. Instead of letting that go to waste, you can preserve your herbs to enjoy your garden’s bounty all winter.

Next Read: A Guide to Growing Mushrooms Indoors during Winter

Methods for preserving herbs

There’s no one-size-fits-all way to preserve herbs — it all depends on what you plan to use them for and which herbs you’re working with. Luckily, there are several easy and effective methods that help retain their flavor, aroma, and even color. Below are some of my favorite ways to make your harvest last through the winter months.

Here you can also read about some herbs you can easily grow on your balcony.

Air Drying

Drying herbs is one of the easiest and most traditional methods. I like to gather small bundles of five to seven twigs and hang them upside down in my kitchen. Make sure they’re in a dry, well-ventilated area out of direct sunlight.

Once fully dry and crisp, I crumble the leaves between my fingers and store them in glass containers. Throughout the season, I keep adding more until the jar is full. Then I tuck them away in a dark cabinet, and I’ve got homegrown herbs ready to use all winter.

You can also use your oven to dry herbs — just set it to a very low temperature (around 40–50°C or 100–120°F) and check frequently to avoid burning them.

Get your Hanging Rack for Drying Herbs here! 

Freezing

Freezing is a great way to preserve fresh herbs without losing their flavor. This works especially well for soft herbs like basil, parsley, chives, cilantro, and dill.

Here’s how:

• Wash and dry the herbs thoroughly.
• Chop them up.
• Place the herbs in ice cube trays and cover them with water or olive oil.
• Once frozen, transfer the cubes into freezer-safe bags or containers.

Pop a cube into soups, stews, sauces, or stir-fries for instant flavor.

Herbal Salts

Herbal salts are a fun and flavorful way to use dried herbs. You simply mix crushed dried herbs with coarse salt to create your own seasoning blends.

You can combine several herbs — for example, rosemary, thyme, and sage make a lovely savory salt perfect for roasted vegetables or meats. Use a mortar and pestle or spice grinder to blend them well.

These also make great homemade gifts!

Small 4 oz Glass Jars with Airtight Hinged Lids for Herbs!

Pesto and Herb Pastes

If you’ve got an abundance of leafy herbs like basil or parsley, pesto is a delicious way to preserve them.

Basic method:

• Blend herbs with olive oil, garlic, nuts (like pine nuts or walnuts), and cheese (like Parmesan).
• Spoon the mixture into small containers or ice cube trays and freeze.

You can get creative with herb combinations and skip the cheese if you want a vegan version or something that freezes better long-term.

Herbal Vinegars

Herbal vinegars are simple to make and a great way to preserve the essence of your herbs.

To make them:

• Fill a clean glass bottle with fresh, dry herbs.
• Pour over a mild vinegar like white wine or apple cider vinegar.
• Seal and let infuse in a dark place for 2–4 weeks.
• Strain and rebottle.

They’re great in salad dressings, marinades, or even just splashed over roasted vegetables.

Herbal Teas

If you grow herbs like mint, lemon balm, chamomile, or lavender, you can dry them to make your own herbal teas.

Harvest in the morning after the dew has dried, bundle and hang to dry in a cool, dark space. Once completely dry, store in airtight containers and use as needed for cozy winter tea blends. Combine herbs to suit your taste or create calming bedtime infusions.