Fresh Herbs Versus Dried Herbs? That is the Question
Ever since the dawn of civilization, herbs and spices have been regarded as the most cherished ingredients in any society. Herbs provide added flavor and taste to the food items delivering a far better result than would be the case, otherwise. While dry spices have come a long way for chefs and cooks to season their food, it is still important to know the difference between fresh versus dried herbs. Whenever a difference exists, it is essential to understand the disparities.
The dry spices and herbs provide seasoning to food items in a short time, contrary to the longer time taken when using herbs stored in jars. Most every kind of spice and herb is readily accessible in shops specializing in kitchen goods.
These dry herbs and spices are well blended into most of the recipes and play a vital role in the preparation of a particular dish. These dry herbs can also be used in the preparation of herbal teas. While making a comparison between fresh versus dry herbs, one should note that it is very hard to find the fresh herbs and spices. They are relatively expensive and most grocery stores carry the dry versions of popular herbs such as basil, oregano, rosemary, tarragon, parsley, chives and dill. There are some shops which offer potted versions of these herbs so that a good cook can have access to these herbs at all times. The freshened herbs are usually very fragrant and add flavor to the dishes.
While deciding on fresh versus dry herbs, it should be noted that the dry versions of the herbs and spices can be used directly from the jar. The fresh versions require a little more preparation. While using spices like cardamom and cumin, the cook is required to roast the seeds or crush them before cooking. There are fresh versions of some herbs like rosemary, oregano and basil, which should have their stems shredded and washed properly. Some herbs like rosemary are not required to be sliced. Even if chopping is to be done, the size should vary depending on the dish. One should get rid of the entire stem of the rosemary while the leaves of the herb can be left intact.
The cook can also start their own herb garden and grow the herbs. Some herbs can be used fresh while others can be dried and used in that form. The gardener will be able to buy potted herbs from shops and it should be placed near sunlit windows where there will be easy accessibility. They should then make a decision on fresh versus dry herbs. The fresh versions of the herbs could be dried by keeping them in a dehydrator or by drying them in open air.
The cook or the gardener should replace their dry herbs at regular intervals. Though they will last longer than the fresh herbs, they are likely to lose their flavor soon. The dry versions of the herbs which have lost the flavor should be discarded and replaced subsequently.
The main differences between fresh herbs versus spices are their limited availability and cost. But the flavor it generates is incomparable. It is the task of talented cook to choose the most suitable ones as both are essential for a creative kitchen.