In this Do-It-Yourself project, we show you how to create a herb drying rack. Drying racks can be really handy for a couple of reasons:
- Many of us have experienced leftover herbs when buying them in a bunch from the store for a recipe and no matter how hard you try to preserve the left-over herbs in the fridge and/or in water, they always die, which is a waste;
- If you grow your own herbs at home, your plants may be producing more than you need, even after giving most of the surplus to your family, friends and neighbours.
Either way, with this quick and simple DIY project, you can dry out your herbs, allowing them to last longer and therefore be used at a later date. Not only is this great for preserving your herbs, but it also adds a great pop of green and some lovely aromas to your kitchen or pantry.
Using our single jack chain and some other materials available at Bunnings, we show you how to create a drying rack that is convenient, stylish and easy to use. Simply follow the steps below, and you’ll be drying herbs before you know it.
MATERIALS
- 2 x metal pot stand (20cm/30cm),
- Single jack chain
- Steel key ring
- Jute twine
- Clothes pegs
- Pliers.
All materials can be found at your local Bunnings Warehouse.
STEP 1
Begin by creating three 50cm lengths of chain using pliers to open up the links.
STEP 2
Attach the 20cm metal pot stand to the three lengths of the chain by opening up the 11th link with pliers and closing it around the pot stand.
Make sure that the chains are evenly distributed around the pot stand to ensure the herb drying rack is balanced.
STEP 3
To attach the 30cm pot stand to the lengths of chain, open the last link in the chain and close it around the pot stand.
Make sure that the chains are evenly distributed around the pot stand to ensure the herb drying rack is balanced.
STEP 4
Finally, take the three loose ends of the chain and attach the key ring. You can now hang your completed herb drying rack in your desired location.
We recommend hanging it up in a warm, dry spot or next to a window to help with the drying process.
STEP 5
Now for the herbs! We chose a variety of herbs that are great for drying, including parsley, mint, chives, oregano, sage, dill and thyme.
All the herbs mentioned above can be found at your local Bunnings Warehouse as either a potted plant or seedlings.
STEP 6
Using the jute twine, tie bunches of the various herbs together, leaving enough twine to create a loop to hang onto the drying rack.
STEP 7
Attach clothes pegs to your drying rack and attach the twine to the peg. You can loop it over the top or open the peg and attach it to the inside of the peg.
STEP 8
And there you have it…your very own herb drying rack!
Change up the colours to match your interiors, or even add more layers to dry more herbs!
