Herbs are pretty much everywhere, and there are so many herbs that it can be hard to know even where to start. If you’ve been struggling to make sense of the selection in the grocery store and like a dub in weed or on the shelves at your local health food store, we thought we’d help!
This is a post about 10 very important tips about using herbs for everything from boosting your immune system to relieving headaches and fighting coughs. You’ll learn how to make tea with dried lavender flowers, what sage can do for you in a pinch, and how wintergreen can leave you refreshed! So without any further ado, let’s get started.
1. Learn How To Use Dried Herbs
Many herbs go bad quickly when fresh, and many others are simply hard to work with. Learn how to store, how to chop, what the best way is to use them. If you get good at using the dried herbs, it will save you money and time. Dried herbs are usually much cheaper than fresh ones. Store your dried herbs properly in air-tight containers and keep them in a cool dry place away from bugs or any other sources of contamination. Store seeds in an air-tight glass jar with a few layers of paper towel or cotton between the seeds to prevent moisture from getting inside the jar which will damage them.
2. Herbs And Spices Are Not The Same
This is an easy one, but it’s good to know the difference. Spices are usually ground into a powder while herbs are the actual leaves and stems of the plants. There are two exceptions: Garlic and Ginger can be considered both herbs and spices because they do not come from pulverized seeds. Rather, they come from ground-up bits of the plant itself.
3. What Does “Culinary” Mean?
It means that whatever herb or spice is in question is used for cooking or flavoring food rather than for medicinal or ritual purposes.
4. Use A Variety Of Herbs In Cooking
If you have only one type of herb in your spice cabinet, you’ll be limited to the number of things you can cook. Make sure to stock a wide variety of herbs in your kitchen and experiment with them until you find some that are particularly good for your tastes and cooking style.
5. Learn About How Different Types Of Herbs Can Affect The Way You Cook
Some herbs are stronger than others and should be used sparingly so as not to overpower the food being cooked. Other herbs will be weaker, but their taste is more intense and it is best to use them sparingly as well so as not to overwhelm the food with too much flavor.
6. Don’t Forget Your Dried Herbs
When you use herbs in dried form, you’ll want to be sure to include them early in the cooking process so that they have time to flavor the foods without being destroyed by heat. If you only have fresh herbs in your kitchen, make sure to include a pinch of dried herbs every now and then just to get some flavor into the dish.
7. Chose Fresh Herbs Over Dried
Fresh herbs are great because they tend to be more potent, and the natural oils in them are better preserved than in dried herbs which means they will retain more of their flavor while being prepared.
8. You Can Grow Your Own!
If you have a garden or even a window box, grow basil or mint in it. You will be able to use them as fresh as possible and they will also make your house smell divine! There’s nothing better than fresh herbs right out of your garden or windowsill herb garden. You can grow a lot of different herbs for very little money and enjoy their fresh flavor all year long.
9. Herbs Are Good For Your Health
The majority of herbs have various health benefits, some more than others. Make sure to know the properties of any herbs you use regularly so that you can make the most of their healing properties. There are plenty of herbs and spices that are said to have medicinal effects. Make sure to research any potential side effects or interactions with other medicines that you may be taking before consuming them in large quantities.
10. Always Label And Date Everything!
This is good advice for every kitchen, not just one with herbs. It’s good to remember what you purchased, when you picked it and how long it has been sitting in your pantry and fridge. You should always label any herbs that you dry yourself and record when you’ve harvested them so that there is never any confusion as to how old they are, whether they have been dried properly, or if they have been left out too long and gone bad.
Conclusion:
Herbs have always been used as culinary and medicinal beautifiers, but their value goes far beyond that. They are useful in providing us with a wide variety of medicinal benefits and also in maintaining healthy health levels by purifying body systems and restoring lost energy levels. There are several other herbs and spices that you should know about, but these are the 10 most important to have on hand at all times because they are so important to your health and well-being.
I hope these tips have helped you and relieved some of the stress in your life by helping you understand how to use herbs!
