How to Dry Parsley: 3 Easy Methods You Can Use at Home

How to Dry Parsley in the Oven

Using your oven to dry parsley is one of the quickest methods, and it also retains maximum flavor. You will need to keep a close eye on the parsley as it dries, so set aside a few hours and make sure to check how the parsley looks at regular intervals.

1. Place Parsley Leaves on a Baking Tray

   Pick each washed and completely dried parsley leaf away from the stem and lay them out flat on a baking tray. Be sure to leave space between the leaves.

   Even-sized leaves will dry at a similar rate, so if you have any leaves that are larger than average, chop them into smaller pieces, roughly the same size as the other leaves.

2. Turn Your Oven on Low Heat

   Use the lowest heat setting possible. Place the tray of parsley leaves onto the middle shelf.

   Most parsley leaves will take between 30 minutes and 2 hours to dry completely. Check the leaves every 10 minutes and adjust the time accordingly.

3. Test Leaves and Check if They’re Dry

   To check if the leaves are completely dry, take one out of the oven and allow to cool. Crumble it between your fingers. If it feels crunchy and easily breaks into smaller pieces, then the leaves are ready.  

   You can dry the parsley stems if you want to use them too, but as they’re tougher than the stems and contain more water, they’ll take longer to dry. If you do want to dry them, remove the leaves after they’re dry and continue drying the stems.

4. Store Leaves for Later Use

   Once the parsley leaves are dry, remove them from the oven and allow to cool. Crumble them into smaller pieces with your fingers, or cut them into pieces with scissors. Other options include using a pestle and mortar, or a food processor.

   Glass jars work well for storage. Keep your dried parsley in a cool and dark place when you're not using it.
   

How to Dry Parsley in a Food Dehydrator

If you have a food dehydrator, this is a great way to dry your parsley for storage while also preserving its vibrant color and intense flavor. This method does take quite a long time, but you can dry parsley at the same time as other herbs or foods.

1. Preheat Your Dehydrator

   Set your dehydrator to around 95F. If your dehydrator doesn't list specific temperatures then choose the lowest setting.
   

2. Place Parsley Leaves on a Dehydrator Tray

   Lay out your washed and dried parsley leaves on a dehydrator tray. Place the tray in the dehydrator and set a timer.

   Depending on your dehydrator, it may take eight or more hours for the parsley leaves to fully dry.
   

3. Test if the Leaves Are Dry

   To check if your leaves are ready, take one out of the dehydrator, allow to cool, and do the crumble test as described above. If all your leaves are the same size, they should all be dry at the same time.  

   If you're also drying the parsley stems, they will need more time to dry than the leaves. Remove the leaves and place the stems back in your dehydrator to continue drying. Repeat the crumble test to check when the stalks are dry.
   

4. Store Your Parsley

   Once your parsley leaves are cool, you can prepare them for storage. You may decide to crumble them into small pieces with your fingers, or chop them up with scissors.

   If you're preparing a lot of parsley, then quicker options include using a pestle and mortar, or a food processor.

   Glass jars work best for storage. The best spot is somewhere cool and dry.
   

How to Air Dry Parsley

Air-drying parsley doesn’t use any electricity or gas, and although it takes longer than other methods, the end result will be fairly similar.

1. Tie Your Parsley Into Small Bundles

   Gather your stalks of washed parsley into a small bundle and tie them together with some garden twine or string. Make sure you tie them together tightly, as the stalks will start to shrink as they dry out.

   If you have a lot of parsley to dry, split it into separate bundles, with a diameter of no more than half an inch per bundle.
   

2. Hang Bundles Up to Dry

   Hang your bundles of parsley in a cool, dry, and dark spot. Check the bundles every few days to see if they’ve dried out. To test, see if a leaf will crumble easily between your fingers. 

   In areas with high humidity, air drying can take a long time. In that case, oven drying or using a dehydrator may be a better choice.

3. Put Dry Parsley Into Jars

   Once your parsley leaves are dry, you can put them in jars for storage. Crumbling them into small pieces is an easy method, but if you have a lot of parsley then using a food processor or pestle and mortar will be a faster option.

   Keep your dried parsley somewhere cool and dry, preferably out of direct sunlight.
   

   Frequently Asked Questions

   • How long is dried parsley good for?

     Dried parsley can last for over a year. It technically can last longer without "going bad," but it will lose its potency and be less effective in cooking. When your dried parsley starts to become weak in flavor and smell, it's time to make a new batch.

   • Is dried parsley as good as fresh parsley?

     Like many herbs, parsley is generally better when used fresh because its flavor is stronger. Don't let that dissuade you from drying your own though. If your parsley plant is sprouting leaves faster than you can use them, it is better to dry the leaves for later use than let them go to waste.

   • What are good uses for dried parsley?

     Dried parsley can be used in cooking anywhere you would use fresh parsley, though it does mean adapting the recipe. Generally, use one-third the amount of dried parsley as you would fresh. Dried parsley should also be added earlier in the recipe so that it has time to cook and fully release its flavor.