How to Dehydrate Cilantro (Coriander)
This post may contain ambassador, sponsored or affiliate links. Feel free to read my disclosure policy.
Do you ever find yourself with left over cilantro when you’re cooking? Or perhaps more grew in your garden than you know what to do with. This is where dehydrating comes to the rescue. Although cilantro takes quite a while to dehydrate, it’s super simple and well worth the effort. No more guilt from wasting perfectly good cilantro.Â
Snapshot
Special Prep
none
Temperature
95°F
Time
15-18 hours
Mass Change
Approx 90% decrease
How to prep cilantro for dehydrating
Beyond washing the cilantro, no additional preparation is necessary—no snipping or cutting required. In fact, retaining the cilantro intact on the stem during dehydration yields multiple benefits:
- It preserves and enhances the flavour of your dried cilantro
- It streamlines the process significantly, sparing you from tedious tasks. Once fully dehydrated, you can effortlessly remove the cilantro from the stems. For finer cilantro, you can then use herb scissors or a blender
How to dehydrate cilantro
Basic Steps:
- Wash buy rinsing with cool water. Pat with a towel to dry.
- Cut or remove any dead or heavily wilted leaves or stems (otherwise leave everything intact)
- Arrange on a mesh lined dehydrating tray with enough room for air to circulate between the pieces (no over lapping)
- Place in dehydrator and dehydrate at 95°F for about 15 hours
It’s that easy!
Notes:
- A mesh liner is required for cilantro
- Dehydrating times may vary (the water content in the cilantro, as well as the humidity and altitude of where you live in impact the time)
- To learn more about dehydrating, check out our post How to Dehydrate: Learning the Basics
Â
Â
How do you know when cilantro is fully dehydrated?
Cilantro will be very dry and easily break off the stem. The cilantro leaves should crumble between your fingers.
Jar test: If eager, you can place your cilantro in a glass jar and tightly close the lid. If you notice moisture or condensation forming in the jar within 24-48 hours (or if the cilantro becomes spongy or tacky) you know there is still moisture and more dehydrating time is needed.Â
Note: You technically can’t over dehydrate cilantro. If in doubt, dehydrate until you’re absolutely certain there’s no moisture left.Â
Fresh to dehydrated conversion measurements ​
90%
The mass and weight of cilantro decreases by about 90% once dehydrated.Â
Ex. 1 bunch cilantro
- Pre-dehydrated:Â 65gÂ
- Dehydrated: 6g | 3 tbsp
Check out our shop!
A collection of handy knick-knacks to elevate your outdoor cooking experience
How to store dehydrated cilantro:
Here are some tips to help you maximize the shelf life of your dehydrated cilantro:
- Allow to cool after dehydrating before storingÂ
- Keep stored in a sealable container or bag in a cool, dry and dark place
- Using Mylar bags or vacuum sealing can extend the shelf life by up to three times its normal duration! This is useful if you’re prepping lots for longer term use. Learn the pros and cons of each in our post: The Ultimate Guide to Long-Term Food Storage: Mylar Bags vs. Vacuum Sealing (Bags & Jars)
When dried and stored properly, cilantro should have a shelf life of several years.
Â
FAQs
Can I use an oven to dehydrate cilantro?
Only if your oven can maintain a low temperature of around 95°F (35°C). Cilantro needs gentle dehydration at this temperature to dry properly. If the heat is too high, you risk cooking or scorching the cilantro instead of drying it.
Can I air dry cilantro?
Yes, you can! The catch? It takes 1-2 weeks to fully dry. If you’re wanting to take this route: gather a few stems together, tie them with twine or a rubber band, and hang them upside down in a warm, dry, well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight.
How to Dehydrate Cilantro (Coriander)
Do you ever find yourself with left over cilantro when you're cooking? Or perhaps more grew in your garden than you know what to do with. This is where dehydrating comes to the rescue. Although cilantro takes quite a while to dehydrate, it's super simple and well worth the effort. No more guilt from wasting perfectly good cilantro.Â
Notable Equipment
- 1 Dehydrator
Ingredients
- Fresh cilantro
Instructions
- 1. Wash buy rinsing with cool water. Pat with a towel to dry.
- 2. Cut or remove any dead or heavily wilted leaves or stems (otherwise leave everything intact)
- 3. Arrange on a mesh lined dehydrating tray with enough room for air to circulate between the pieces (no over lapping)
- 4. Place in dehydrator and dehydrate at 95°F for about 15 hours
- 5. Once dehydrated, finely chop or pulverize using herb scissors, a blender or mortar and pestle.Â
Notes
- 1 fresh bunch (65g) will yield about 3 tbsps dried cilantro (chopped)
- A mesh liner is required for cilantro
- Dehydrating times may vary (the water content in the cilantro, as well as the humidity and altitude of where you live in impact the time)
- To learn more about dehydrating, check out our post How to Dehydrate: Learning the Basics
Tried this recipe?
Click on the stars to leave a rating!
Share:
Leave a comment or question:
0 Comments
The Foodie Behind the Screen
Hi there! I'm Bri. I'm sharing my love for cooking - and the outdoors - one recipe at a time.
