Drying strawberry leaves allows you to preserve their flavor, nutrients, and healing properties for months after harvest. Enjoy strawberry leaf tea, add leaves to recipes, or make skin-soothing salves using properly dried leaves. With a few simple steps, you can easily dry strawberry leaves at home.
Why Dry Strawberry Leaves?
Strawberry leaves offer many benefits when used fresh, but drying allows you to continue enjoying those perks long after the growing season. Drying concentrates the leaves’ beneficial plant compounds.
Here are some top reasons for drying strawberry leaves
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Make strawberry leaf tea anytime – enjoy the mild, herbal flavor and aroma. Tea offers anti-inflammatory and diuretic effects.
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Use dried leaves in cooking and baking for a subtle strawberry taste. Add to smoothies, yogurt, oatmeal and more.
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Craft skin care products like facial scrubs using dried, powdered leaves. Harness the antioxidant power of strawberry leaves.
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Preserve the strawberry flavor to use in beverages and desserts all year long. Dried leaves infuse a light strawberry taste.
How to Harvest Strawberry Leaves for Drying
Proper harvesting is crucial for getting leaves with peak flavor and potency for drying Here are some harvesting tips
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Pick leaves in the morning after dew evaporates to minimize moisture and allow for quicker drying.
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Choose healthy, vibrant green leaves. Avoid any that are damaged, wilted or discolored.
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Snip leaves carefully with clean scissors or shears, leaving some stem attached to aid handling.
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Harvest just before flowering time or after fruiting when leaves are most potent.
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Gently wash leaves and pat thoroughly dry before drying.
Methods for Drying Strawberry Leaves
You can use various techniques to dry strawberry leaves at home:
Air Drying
The traditional method. Tie leaves in bundles and hang upside down in a dry, dark, well-ventilated area. Takes 1-3 weeks.
Oven Drying
Arrange leaves in a single layer on a baking sheet on the lowest oven setting, 170°F or below. Check frequently and dry for 1-4 hours.
Dehydrator
Ideal for fast, controlled drying. Set to 95-115°F and dry leaves for 4-8 hours. Rotate trays occasionally.
Microwave
Not recommended as it can burn leaves. Air drying is best for retaining potent properties.
I spread the leaves out on a hot sunny window sill for a few days. First, the leaves will wilt, and then they’ll start to dry and go crispy. What is this? Of course, you could also use a dehydrator to dry your strawberry leaves if you prefer.
How to Tell When Leaves Are Dry
Test for dryness by checking if leaves are:
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Brittle and crumble easily
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Dry and lightweight
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Papery and brownish in color
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Free of moisture when crumbled
If any moisture remains, continue drying. When fully dry, leaves will crumble into a powder.
Storing Dried Strawberry Leaves
To retain flavor and potency, store dried leaves properly:
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Place leaves in airtight glass jars or plastic containers. Mason jars work great.
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You can also use Mylar bags, vacuum sealing or zip-top bags by excluding excess air.
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Store in a cool, dark place like a cupboard away from light and heat.
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Properly stored, dried leaves can last for up to 2 years. Refrigeration can extend shelf life.
Using Your Dried Strawberry Leaves
You have numerous options for using your dried strawberry leaves:
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Infuse dried leaves in hot water for a refreshing, mineral-rich tea. It has a mild strawberry taste.
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For cooking, grind leaves into a powder to add to oatmeal, smoothies, yogurt, sauces and more.
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Add dried leaves to DIY skin care recipes like facial scrubs, masks and toners to harness their antioxidant power.
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Craft herbal remedies using dried leaves to utilize their anti-inflammatory and astringent properties.
With dried strawberry leaves on hand, you can enjoy their benefits in teas, skincare, and recipes all year long.
Drying Strawberry Leaves FAQs
Can you dry strawberry leaves in a dehydrator?
Yes, a dehydrator dries leaves quickly at 95-115°F for 4-8 hours. It’s an ideal method.
How long do dried strawberry leaves last?
Properly stored, dried leaves can last up to 2 years. Keep in an airtight container in a cool, dark place.
Should you wash leaves before drying?
Yes, gently wash to remove dirt and debris. Dry leaves thoroughly before drying.
What are the benefits of strawberry leaves?
Leaves offer antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, and diuretic effects. They can aid digestion, skin health, and relieve cramps.
Can you dry strawberry leaves in the oven?
Yes, oven drying on the lowest setting below 170°F for 1-4 hours works. Check leaves frequently to prevent burning.
Can you dry strawberry leaves in the microwave?
No, microwave drying can burn leaves. Slow air drying is best for preserving flavors.
Can you eat dried strawberry leaves?
Yes, you can safely consume dried leaves. Use for tea, add to food or use topically on skin. Always consult your doctor before consuming herbal remedies.
What does strawberry leaf tea taste like?
It has a mild, pleasant strawberry flavor. The tea is light brown in color and may be sweetened if desired.
Drying strawberry leaves at home is easy using proper harvesting and drying methods. With dried leaves, you can make tea, enhance recipes, and craft skin-soothing products to enjoy the power of strawberry leaves all year long.
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Hi! Im Amber Pixie, and this is my site. Enjoy the recipes, information, posts, and please feel free to message me if you have questions!
Blog, Canning & Preserving, Herbal Recipes
Im too lazy to hull berries, and why bother when I can have a jar of this sweet, fruity, astringent goodness to enjoy later?
I admit it: I’m lazy.
A lazy cook, a lazy gardener…I like to set things up and let them do their own thing with minimal input from me, which is why I’m fond of permaculture, biodiversity, sustainable foraging methods, and perennial native plant gardens, not to mention eating weeds.
So when it comes to my kitchen processes, do you think I stop being lazy? Of course not! So when I’m faced with a bucket full of strawberries for pies, jellies, syrups, and pancakes, do you think I expend the time and energy to hull the berries? No. Nope. No way! I just chop the tops right off of the berries, taking a bit of fruit along with the greens.
Yes, I may be lazy, but I am not wasteful. I don’t throw this perfectly good fruit away! When the rest of the canning work is done, I arrange the berry tops neatly on my dehydrator trays and let the magic of preservation take place. Some people like to soak their berries in lemon to cut down on the browning of the fruit. Others tell you to dip your fresh berries into sugar before drying them, but remember – I’m lazy! I haven’t tried those methods myself.
Just follow your dehydrators’ suggested settings for fruit, and within a few hours, you can pull the berry tops off of the trays and put them in a jar to save for later use!
Add your dehydrated berry tops, greens and all, to your pot of iced tea when it is on the boil, or to your cup of hot tea at night. You can even use them as a tea on their own, just two or three tops per cup of hot water will give you a lovely pink infusion with a touch of strawberry flavor.
Soak a handful of these dried berry tops in witch hazel and strain it after a week to make an extra-astringent face toner. To use it, just apply it to your clean face with a cotton ball and enjoy!
Do a small test first by putting the witch hazel on your inner arm. Wait 10 minutes and watch for rashes or itching. This is a good experiment to try with all new products if you have sensitive skin.