How to Harvest, Dry, and Store Fresh Herbs

Washing the Herbs

Wash the herbs quickly using cold running water. Be sure not to over-wash the herbs as this might affect the flavor. As you are washing the herbs, remove anything that appears less than optimum. This includes herbs with wilted, discolored, and diseased leaves. Once the plants are clean and the unusable ones have been removed, lightly pat them dry with a paper towel and set them aside.