Okay, let me tell you how I got these dried garlic flowers done. It wasn’t exactly rocket science, but you gotta do it right.
Getting Started
First thing, I went out and got myself a bunch of fresh garlic scapes, you know, those curly green tops from the garlic plant. Picked them when they were still young and tender. If you wait too long, they get tough, not good. I grabbed a good handful, maybe twenty or thirty stalks.
Prepping Them Up
Got them back inside. Dumped them in the sink for a good wash. You gotta get any dirt or little bugs off them. Just cold water, swished them around a bit. Then I laid them out on a towel to drain. I didn’t rub them hard, just let them air dry for a bit on the counter.
Next, the trimming. I chopped off the very bottom woody part of the stalk, the part that was connected to the bulb. Tossed those bits. Then I looked at the flower head part. Some people chop that off, but I decided to keep some this time, just snipped off the very tip if it looked dry or weird. I cut the long stalks into more manageable pieces, maybe like 6 inches long? Easier to handle that way.
The Drying Process
Now, the drying. I didn’t use any fancy dehydrator this time. Went old school. Air drying.
- I took some kitchen twine.
- Made small bunches, maybe 5-6 stalks together.
- Tied the twine tightly around the bottom ends of each bunch.
- Found a good spot in my kitchen. Needs to be warm, dry, and have decent air moving around. Not direct sunlight, though, that can bleach them out. I hung mine from a pot rack hook, away from the stove’s steam.
And then, you just wait. That’s the hardest part, honestly. Just leaving them alone to do their thing.
Checking and Finishing
I checked them every few days. Just looked at them, maybe gave a gentle squeeze. You want them to get really dry and brittle. Completely brittle. If there’s any softness or bend left, they aren’t done, and they might get moldy later. Took about, oh, maybe two weeks? Could be faster or slower depending on your house humidity.
Once they snapped easily when I tried to bend them, I knew they were ready. Took the bunches down carefully. Those things are delicate once fully dried.
Storing the Goods
I broke the dried scapes into smaller pieces, whatever size I thought would be useful. Stored them in an airtight glass jar. Put it in a dark cupboard, away from light and heat. They should keep for ages like that. Smell amazing when you open the jar, a mild garlic scent. Good stuff to crush up and add to soups or whatever later. Simple process, really, just needs a bit of patience.
