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
-
You can make strawberry leaf tea whenever you want and enjoy its mild, herbal taste and smell. Tea offers anti-inflammatory and diuretic effects.
-
Spice up your food with dried strawberry leaves in baking and cooking. Add to smoothies, yogurt, oatmeal and more.
-
Use dried, powdered leaves to make skin care products like facial scrubs. Harness the antioxidant power of strawberry leaves.
-
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
For the best flavor and potency in dried leaves, it’s important to pick them at the right time. Here are some tips for picking:
-
Pick leaves in the morning after dew evaporates to minimize moisture and allow for quicker drying.
-
Choose healthy, vibrant green leaves. Avoid any that are damaged, wilted or discolored.
-
Snip leaves carefully with clean scissors or shears, leaving some stem attached to aid handling.
-
Harvest just before flowering time or after fruiting when leaves are most potent.
-
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:
-
Brittle and crumble easily
-
Dry and lightweight
-
Papery and brownish in color
-
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:
-
Place leaves in airtight glass jars or plastic containers. Mason jars work great.
-
You can also use Mylar bags, vacuum sealing or zip-top bags by excluding excess air.
-
Store in a cool, dark place like a cupboard away from light and heat.
-
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:
-
Infuse dried leaves in hot water for a refreshing, mineral-rich tea. It has a mild strawberry taste.
-
For cooking, grind leaves into a powder to add to oatmeal, smoothies, yogurt, sauces and more.
-
Add dried leaves to DIY skin care recipes like facial scrubs, masks and toners to harness their antioxidant power.
-
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.
Get updates from Pixie’s Pocket: brewing and herbs in your inbox:
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
I’m too lazy to hull the berries, and why should I when I can save this sweet, fruity, sour goodness to eat later?
I admit it: I’m lazy.
I’m a lazy cook and gardener who likes to set things up and let them do their own thing with little help from me. That’s why I like permaculture, biodiversity, sustainable foraging methods, perennial native plant gardens, and 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. This fruit is still good, so I don’t throw it away. When I’m done canning, I put the berry tops on my dehydrator trays and let the magic of preservation happen. Some people like to soak their berries in lemon to cut down on the browning of the fruit. Some people say you should dip your fresh berries in sugar first, but I’m lazy and 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.