I may earn a commission if you click on links in this post and make a purchase.
Even when foraging from a pristine forest or organic backyard it is necessary to clean the collected plants. Insects can be living inside flowers, animals may have walked on leaves, and any other number of things might need to be removed from the surface. Clean foraged plants in 4 easy steps so that they can serve all your edible and medicinal needs.
Harvest Wisely
Practice responsible foraging and identification. No manner of cleaning is going to help if the identification is wrong. While plants still need to be cleaned, harvest from organic areas first and foremost. Avoid areas where chemicals have been sprayed. Don’t harvest close to well-traveled roads where run-off from cars is present.
Rinse & Soak
Place the herbs in a colander and give them a good rinse under cool running water. This will remove any surface dust and loose insects. Now fill a clean sink or a large bowl with water and submerge the herbs. Give the herbs a swish in the water and then let sit for about 10 minutes. This will loosen insects and dirt stuck inside and on plants. The debris will sink to the bottom of the bowl while the herbs float to the top.
Lift the colander or herbs gently from the water and let the water drain off as much as possible.
Spin Cycle
Plants have a great tendency to absorb water. Spin them dry in a salad spinner. This will greatly reduce any drying or wilting time that might be necessary. Use that spinner several times to remove as much water as is possible. Be sure to drain any water from inside the salad spinner between spins.
Air Dry
Spread the herbs out on a towel to dry. How dry will depend on the intended use for the harvested plants.
To cook with the fresh herbs, simply leave on the towel until the washing water has evaporated. This could take up to an hour. One that water is evaporated it can be used in the recipe as necessary.
Wilt the herbs for infusing into oil or some other purpose, by letting them sit on the towel for 24 hours. They will have shed the water from washing in that time and wilted some of their own natural moisture as well.
To dehydrate for long-term storage, let them sit on the towel for about an hour for the washing water to mostly evaporate. After the water is gone, spread the herbs out onto drying screens or hang to dry completely. Once crispy dry, store in containers for later.
Clean foraged plants with this easy process and keep insects out of infused oils and bits of dirt out of soups. It doesn’t take that long and is so very worth it in the long run.
If you add vinegar to the water when you soak the plants, you will be disinfecting at the same time and getting out even more bugs. This works well even with store bought produce or home garden produce. Rinse as directed above and spin to dry.
Agreed. I use vinegar to clean all of my produce. Sometimes it is amazing what comes off, especially from a bag of grapes! Much less expensive than the ‘fruit/veggie’ cleaners.
Yes, I clean everything with a solution of vinegar. One day I found a swimming strawberry with a slug inside! Use the vinegar!
@Nancy Parris, LOL LOL, Yes only water won’t do for me.
Even though I am using the “Pinterest” button at the bottom of this article, when I tried to pin it, Pinterest informed my that “This site does not allow items to be pinned.” I’m wondering which is the case.
You should be able to pin, I just was – I’m thinking it was a temporary glitch on Pinterest’s end. I’m sorry for the hassle though.
I was just wondering about this not too long ago. Thanks!
You are so welcome!
Thank you so much for this information! After reading 4 books on Herbs this is the first I’ve read detailed information on what to do after harvesting. This extremely useful!
Oh I’m so glad to hear it!
Thank you for this very practical information! I’ve not found it anywhere else. I really look forward to reading more of your of your work!
Thank you for the wonderful info. And the tips left by others here. I love learning… May God Bless…
I’m so glad to know this was useful to you.
I’ve been wondering awhile specifically about cleaning flowers but haven’t found too much information online. Wouldn’t rinsing and/or soaking certain flowers remove much of their pollen or nectar? For instance, flowers like honeysuckle where the nectar is one of the most desirable components or elderflowers where the pollen contains most of the flavor and beneficial aspects.
I can see where they might be true and we all need to make choices for ourselves. There are so many things I don’t want to ingest intentionally bug excrement, environmental pollutants… I can see both sides of the ‘story’ here for and against washing. I think we just need to make the decision we feel best about and go from there.
@Kathie Lapcevic, Me and my cousin are harvesting some of our lilac flowers from our bush in the backyard, I was told salt and water would get the bugs out but I see others say vinegar so I’m not sure which, also is there any other ways to dry out the plants without using a salad spinner? We don’t have one but idk if we have a safe spot to keep them to dry :) ty for the tips
You can just let them sit on a towel on the counter.
@Kathie Lapcevic,
I wanted to make a vodka tincture using fresh herbs. But washing them would put moisture back in and might create mold during the process. Any suggestions?
TY
I always wash and let things sit / wilt overnight and then proceed.
Thank you Kathie,
I have done this.
Hope to make a tincture with dandelions cleavers and nettles with vodka.
Some were by the road but I know a herbalist who says then you get a tiny homeopathic hit from the stuff in the herbs.
I have washed copiously will add vodka once a bit dryer ☺️🙏