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You can pick and dry cilantro easily if you harvest at the right time and use a simple air-drying method.
Cilantro is one of those herbs that tastes best fresh, but learning how to pick and dry cilantro means you can enjoy that flavor long after your garden stops producing.
If you’ve ever wondered how to pick and dry cilantro without losing all the flavor, the process is simpler than you might think.
In this post, we’ll walk through how to pick and dry cilantro, from choosing the right leaves to storing them properly so they stay aromatic for months.
Let’s dive in.
How to Pick and Dry Cilantro: The Basics
Knowing how to pick and dry cilantro starts with understanding when and how to harvest the leaves.
Cilantro grows fast, and if you don’t pick it regularly, it bolts and goes to seed.
Here’s what you need to know about picking cilantro the right way.
1. Pick Cilantro in the Morning
The best time to pick cilantro is early in the morning before the sun gets too hot.
This is when the leaves are crisp and full of moisture, which helps them dry evenly.
If you pick cilantro later in the day, the leaves may be wilted and less flavorful.
2. Choose the Right Leaves
When you pick cilantro, go for the outer leaves first.
These are the older, more mature leaves that are ready to be harvested.
Leave the inner, younger leaves alone so the plant can keep growing.
You can pick cilantro leaves by pinching them off at the stem with your fingers or using clean scissors.
3. Don’t Strip the Whole Plant
If you want a continuous harvest, never pick cilantro by pulling the entire plant at once.
Instead, pick cilantro leaves from the outside and let the center keep producing.
This way, you can pick cilantro multiple times throughout the season.
4. Harvest Before It Bolts
Cilantro bolts quickly in warm weather, sending up a tall stem with flowers.
Once it bolts, the leaves turn bitter and the plant stops producing tasty foliage.
So pick cilantro before you see that tall central stalk appear.
How to Dry Cilantro After Picking
Now that you know how to pick cilantro, the next step is drying it.
Drying cilantro preserves that fresh flavor so you can use it in soups, salsas, and stews all year.
Here are the best ways to dry cilantro after picking.
1. Wash and Pat Dry
After you pick cilantro, rinse the leaves under cool running water.
Gently shake off the excess water and spread the leaves on a clean towel.
Pat them dry with another towel.
You want the leaves as dry as possible before drying cilantro, because moisture can lead to mold.
2. Air-Dry Cilantro in Bunches
Air-drying is the easiest way to dry cilantro.
Tie small bunches of cilantro stems together with string or a rubber band.
Hang them upside down in a warm, dry, well-ventilated room.
Keep them out of direct sunlight, which can fade the color and flavor.
It usually takes one to two weeks to dry cilantro this way.
3. Use a Dehydrator for Faster Results
If you don’t want to wait, a food dehydrator is a great option.
Set the temperature to around 95°F to 105°F.
Spread the cilantro leaves in a single layer on the trays.
It should take two to four hours to dry cilantro in a dehydrator.
Check periodically and remove leaves as soon as they’re crispy.
4. Oven-Drying Cilantro
You can also dry cilantro in the oven on the lowest setting.
Place leaves on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Leave the oven door slightly open to let moisture escape.
This method works, but you have to watch closely because cilantro can burn quickly.
Storing Dried Cilantro the Right Way
Once you’ve finished drying cilantro, proper storage keeps the flavor locked in.
Here’s how to store your dried cilantro so it stays potent.
1. Crumble and Jar It
Once the leaves are completely dry and crispy, crumble them with your fingers.
You can also leave them whole, which helps retain flavor longer.
Store dried cilantro in an airtight glass jar.
2. Keep It Cool and Dark
Place the jar in a cool, dark cupboard away from heat and light.
Heat and light break down the oils that give cilantro its flavor.
Properly stored, dried cilantro lasts about a year.
3. Label and Date Your Jars
Always label your jar with the contents and the date.
This helps you keep track of how long it’s been sitting there.
If the color fades or the smell weakens, it’s time to dry cilantro again.
4. Freeze for Longer Storage
If you want your dried cilantro to last even longer, freeze it.
Put the airtight jar in the freezer and scoop out what you need.
Freezing doesn’t fully dry cilantro further, but it does preserve what’s already there.
So, How Do You Pick and Dry Cilantro?
You pick and dry cilantro by harvesting leaves in the morning, choosing outer leaves, and leaving the plant to keep growing.
Then you wash, pat dry, and air-dry, dehydrate, or oven-dry the leaves until crispy.
Once dry, store cilantro in an airtight jar away from heat and light.
Whether you’re using it fresh or drying cilantro for later, this method keeps the flavor strong.
Now you know exactly how to pick and dry cilantro so nothing goes to waste.