If your garden produced an overabundance of fresh herbs like parsley this year, don’t let it go to waste! Instead, learn how to dry parsley in the microwave for a quick and easy way to preserve your fresh herbs for later use.
Parsley is such a versatile herb, making an appearance in lots of dishes as both an ingredient and a garnish. It’s always handy to have on hand!
Can Parsley Be Dried in the Microwave?
Yes! Parsley can be dried in the microwave. In fact, it’s the quickest way to do it. Not only will the oven heat up your house more, but it takes longer. Air drying is a great option as well, but far more time consuming too.
If you have an air fryer, you can also dehydrate parsley in an air fryer for a reliable alternative method.
How to Dry Out Parsley in the Microwave – Step by Step:
- Start with clean, dry, fresh parsley
- Place a paper towel on a microwave safe plate
- Spread out your parsley in a single layer on the paper towel (if you have a lot, you may need to do this in batches)
- Trim the stems to get rid of excess
- Cover the parsley layer with another paper towel
- Microwave on high for 30 seconds, then check
- Continue to microwave in 30 second intervals, until parsley is completely dry
- Remove leaves from stems by running your hand down the stem over a bowl, then crush up finer if desired
- Store dried parsley in an airtight container or spice jar
Times are based on a 1000W microwave. On average, it takes me about two minutes in total to dry out parsley in the microwave. For lower wattages, plan on a higher time, and for higher wattages, plan for lower cook times.
This method works with both flat leaf Italian parsley and curly parsley, depending which variety you have.
Then, anytime you want to make some tasty herb & garlic croutons in the air fryer you can reach for your dried parsley!
What Are Some Uses for Dried Parsley?
- Soups and stews
- Pasta sauce
- Garnish
- Marinades
- Salad dressing
- Compound butter
- Seafood
- Tea
- Seasoning on meats or vegetables
- Baked potatoes
As you can see, dried parsley is versatile for uses in a lot of other dishes. It’s a flavorful herb that goes with a variety of cuisines and works with lots of other foods.
Make a microwave baked potato with plastic wrap and then top it off with your parsley dried in the microwave!
Can You Dry Parsley in the Oven?
Yes, you can dry parsley in the oven as well. At the lowest oven temperature possible (generally around 200 degrees Fahrenheit) it takes between 2-4 hours to fully dry. You’ll also want to blanch your leaves ahead of time.
While this method works just as well in terms of the result, it takes a lot longer to get there. So, I find the microwave method to be better if you want to dry parsley quickly.
What Other Herbs Can Be Dried in the Microwave?
- Thyme. Learn how to dry thyme in the microwave!
- Mint. See how to dry mint in the microwave
- Chives. Learn about drying chives in the microwave
- Sage. Check out how to dry sage in the microwave
- Basil. Learn more about drying basil in the microwave
- Rosemary. See how to dry rosemary in the microwave
- Oregano. Learn how to dry oregano in the microwave
- More!
Nearly any herb can be dried in the microwave, and all in a relatively short amount of time. Cooking and seasoning with a vibrant array of herbs from your home garden has never been easier.
If you want to learn more about growing herbs at home, check out this guide on how to start an indoor herb garden!
In Conclusion
Now that you know how to dry parsley in the microwave, you’ll see just how easy it is to preserve herbs for use all year round.
It takes only about 3 minutes between prep and cook time, meaning that you’ll be able to quickly and easily process dried parsley. I love anything that doesn’t feel like an arduous task.
In fact, I’m about to go put that neglected herb garden back to work!
Quick & Easy Dried Parsley in the Microwave
Equipment
- Microwave
- Plate designed for microwave use
- 2 Paper towels
Ingredients
- 12-14 sprigs Parsley washed and dried if needed
Instructions
- Start with fresh parsley, washing and drying it if needed12-14 sprigs Parsley
- Lay a paper towel on a microwave safe plate
- Spread out your parsley in a single layer on the paper towel
- Cover the parsley layer with another paper towel
- Microwave on high for 30 seconds, then check for doneness
- Continue to microwave in 30 second intervals, until parsley is completely dry and crinkly to the touch
- Remove leaves from stems by running your hand down the stem over a bowl, then crush up finer if desired
- Store dried parsley in an airtight container or spice jar
Notes
- If you have a lot of parsley, make sure to dry in batches. Stacking up beyond a single layer won’t heat evenly
- Trimming the excess stems is important, as they may actually catch on fire if left intact
- To crush the leaves, I prefer a quick chop with a chef’s knife. Alternatively, you may use your hands, a spoon, a mortar & pestle, or just scrunch them around in a Ziploc bag
- Dried parsley keeps well for about 2 years, after that it tends to lose flavor
Nutrition
I enjoy trying new recipes, creating my own, and dabbling with new techniques all the time. My husband loves to protest when I make him my guinea pig, but it’s all for the love of food!
My cooking philosophy is that great tasting food doesn't have to be complicated or time consuming to make. I'm a home cook with over 20 years of experience feeding myself and others. I've learned from a variety of different people, things I've learned online, and some trial and error as well.
I enjoy cooking a variety of foods, from convenience to comfort foods, as well as international cuisine. You can rest assured that all of my recipes have been actually made, thoroughly tested, and most importantly: tasted! I want you to enjoy my food as much as I do!
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