How Much – It all depends on what you want to make. I have endless stinging nettles on my little farm and after walking thru them early on I quickly learned to give them the respect that they demand LOL, but since then I have also been fascinated by them. Hi Laverne, My “stinging nettles” did not sting either but everything else looked right. Nettles are an excellent choice, as like all green “super” foods they “nourish the blood” and at the same time “cleanse” it. Allow the nettles to dry for 1 to 3 weeks, depending on the bundle size, … Stems – I don’t know of a particular reason why you shouldn’t use the stems other than size and toughness. In your option is it o.k. It is popular in herbal medicine. Also Read: How to Prepare and Use Stinging Nettle, How to Freeze Stinging Nettle, How to Dry Stinging Nettle. However, clinical trials are limited. They prefer sunlight, but will tolerate some shade. This is your year. You’ll also find how we can work together to make good food happen for everyone. Copyright © 2020. Good luck! Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) has been a staple in herbal medicine since ancient times, such as to treat arthritis and back pain. The optimum time to pick stinging nettle is just before blossoms develop in spring and early summer. I’m not sure what the nutrient loss is, but since you have it, you might as well try using it. I make home cooking easy, enjoyable and deliciously fun! DryingAllFoods.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, 3 Easy Methods for Dehydrating Marshmallows, 3 Super-Easy Ways to Dehydrate Kiwi at Home, 3 Easy Methods for Drying Mint Leaves for Tea, A Complete Guide on How to Store Dried Herbs, How to Harvest Oregano – A Complete Guide, How to Dry Flowers – From Harvesting to Drying Flowers, How to Dry Flower Petals: 6 Easy Methods of Drying Flower Petals. Remove the stems and discard.Finely chop the leaves. A great reminder for all of us to be 100% certain of what we’re harvesting. By mid summer, there is new growth that can be harvested again. 1. Although stinging nettle can cause irritation when fresh, it is safe to consume when dehydrated, cooked, or freeze-dried. Transfer the blanched leaves to the ice water, and stir. A friend gifted me some harvested nettle. If preferred, you can instead dry the stems and the leaves separately. Not only is it highly nutritious (rich in Vitamin A, C, D, K, iron, calcium and protein), it’s also delicious, versatile, easy to recognize, and free. If the look and texture might be an issue for anyone around the table, you could grind the the dried nettles to a powder and add them to just about anything (I add dried beet powder in various quantities to soups, smoothies, stews, spaghetti sauce, etc). You do not need to eat nettles every day to enjoy their health benefits – even once a week is great medicine. Lift them from the bath and spread them out onto a clean dishtowel or paper towels, and pat them dry. Repeat the process in a bowl of fresh water. I have a small patch in my backyard, will that be enough for me to cook with, or will i have to forage around the neighborhood to supplement? i want to know if freeze dry root or freeze dry leaf would make a difference.. i think the root is stronger than the leaf. Some people do it on their dining room light fixture. Oh, if you do happen to get stung, try soothing it with a paste of baking soda and water or an anti-histamine cream. You could also dry them out in a dehydrator if you have one to speed up the process. But, once dried, processed into supplement form, cooked, or freeze-dried, it can be consumed safely. I have had stinging nettle on pizza and it is delicious! It’s not an issue for anyone in my family, but something to be aware of and a reason why people often recommend harvesting nettle before it goes to seed. Nettles are primarily used in the management of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), diabetes, and arthritis. If they become too dry, you may need to soak them in a little water later on or they can become brittle and papery. How Much – I use stinging nettle for pleasurable seasonal eating, not for medicinal purposes. Is it just the texture that doesn’t work for the larger leaves? When the mixture begins to form bubbles reduce the heat and simmer the mix until any steam evaporates from your fresh herbs. 4. The long stems make nettle perfect for hang drying. Maturity – More important than size is the maturity of the plant. Enjoy! After the flowers turn to seeds, the old leaves will develop gritty particles called cystoliths that may be irritating to some people, whether taken as tea or eaten cooked. After all that work of harvesting nettle, you can wash, bundle, dry and store it for the coming months. In early spring, I cut the top third to half of the plant where the most tender leaves are. I’m sure your compost won’t mind sharing a few of the nettles with you. Then store in an airtight container until you are ready to use. It has been in a paper bag a few days and is partly dry. Read More. It’s good karma to let them be. Hmm, not sure that I’ve met a stinging nettle that doesn’t sting – are you 100% confident in what you have? Some of the videos showed how to grasp the leaves (gloved hands, for the most part). Before you start picking stinging nettle let’s look at what causes the sting so you know what to do to avoid getting hurt by nettle. Allow stinging nettles to dry completely (about two weeks will suffice). While they may be safe to use, flavor will start to decrease after six months and become noticeable after 12 months. Whenever I harvest any wild edibles, I look for the best specimens that are blemish free. If there is any sign of mold, don’t use them. Lay down the herbs on a tray or grill. The plant is believed to aid in lowering blood pressure by letting the blood vessels relax and limiting the force of the contractions of the heart. Thanks for sharing and opening conversation on the stinging nettle. Then squish the leaves into a ball, making sure to squish them thoroughly. Yes, you can harvest them later, but they are more likely to have big, tough stems in them. I leave the remaining plant so that it can regrow. Nettles dry and store very well, unlike some other delicate herbs. It forms great intruder deterrent and now provides food. Although stinging nettle can potentially lower your blood sugar levels, more studies on humans are necessary to prove this effect. They are a kitchen staple for us and are so yummy and nutritious, they should be enjoyed all year round. Picking stinging nettle and using it in various recipes is well worth the effort. Not only is it highly nutritious (rich in Vitamin A, C, D, K, iron, calcium and protein), it’s also delicious, versatile, easy to recognize, and free. Hi Julie, As for dehydrating in the oven, Vitamin A and C are sensitive to heat, so you may lose more of those vitamins due to the higher heat of the lowest oven setting vs the dehydrator. Wash and pat dry the nettle. Store the stems in a warm, well ventilated place, ideally with some sunlight, like a greenhouse. Allow the nettles to thoroughly dry out before adding them to your compost bin. Again, just make sure there are no seed pods appearing – otherwise, you’ll be turning your compost bin into a … However, personally, I think it’s still worth it, especially if the alternative is not having any dried nettle at all. Bring the chicken stock and barley to a boil and simmer in a saucepan for … So, use fresh when you can get it, but don't worry about drying it for use once the season passes. Once nettle has gone to seed, the leaves will become tough, a little bitter and develop gritty particles that may irritate the urinary tract of some people. What do you think? You could even turn the dried leaves into powder that could be added to just about anything. Allow drying for about 12 to 18 hours. Nettles dry and store very well, unlike some other delicate herbs. -Jen in Shelburne, MA. I found it growing along the edge of the property and left it to grow to over 6 feet. Single serving nettle tea with dried nettle Pour one cup of boiling water over one teaspoon of nettle leaf. Anyway, I would treat frozen stinging nettles just like frozen spinach or other dark leafy greens. According to botanist Laura Reeves who I mentioned in the article, the black spiny caterpillar of the Milbert’s tortoishell butterfly only lay their eggs on nettle. Set the temperature at its lowest setting (95°F or 35°C) and dry for 12 to 18 hours. Learn about the benefits, side effects, and research around stinging nettle here. Thanks for all of the great info! To dry nettles, bundle them and hang them upside down in a dark dry place, or place them in a paper bag and rotate them every few days until dry. I have nettles all over my yard for free, so score! 12) Find the mid-way point. Nettle pesto pasta is one of many delicious recipes using nettles. Before you search the hood, test it out and see just how much you like it and how much you see yourself using it. Close the oven door, but make sure to put something on the door a piece of stick to. By cutting just above that spot, you actually encourage new growth. Leave the containers in a dry, cool, and dark place where there is consistent temperature. There’s a lot you can do with stinging nettle. Please be careful. Stinging nettle helps subdue inflammation. Thanks for the tasty tip, Marj! I put mine in a paper bag or cardboard box in front of my furnace and let the warm, blowing air do the job. Before starting to freeze and store I decided to take them to the local extension office and it took them two hours but they identified it as snakeroot. I’ve been eating stinging nettle for over 10 years and look forward to harvesting it every spring. LEARN MORE... Sign up to harvest practical recipes, time-saving tips, seasonal and preserving tutorials and helpful kitchen ideas. An excellent idea for stinging nettles – but as Marj points out, they need to be blanched first. Frittatas are an excellent way to use up leftover bits in the fridge. These fibres now need to be dried. I'd love to know what's cooking with you. It is also a great healthy addition to backcountry dehydrated meals. Puree the potatoes in the stock and add the nettle leaves – puree more if needed. Hi Getty, This looks like a perfect green to use for Martha Stewart’s Spinach and Feta Pie, which I make frequently but have been using other greens because fresh organic spinach is so expensive. Hope you find a way to enjoy your nettle. That way you’ll get the best nutrients from the plant and you’ll be much happier and confident with your edibles. I encourage you to continue reading up on stinging nettle and like spinach and other dark leafy greens if you have any kidney issues be aware that there may be some concerns https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/herbalsupp. And got meds but the hives continued-about to drive me nuts with the itch-checked on internet and it mentioned a short blurb about nettles-picke a bunch sauted them at about 11:00am by about 5:00 pm was totally relieved-also cured my gout which I was on meds for. I didn’t realise nettles were so versatile until I read your article, I love spinach so will definitely be trying nettles, and they’re free and ample here in Wales lol. Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica)is a fast-growing wild plant common across all of North America, though it prefers the moist, forested soil of the Pacific Northwest. Stinging nettle is known to offer a lot of nutrients. While the leaves are blanching, fill a large bowl with cold water and ice for an ice-water bath. Plastic bags don’t breath as well and may cause condensation which will cause mold to grow if you don’t empty the bag right away. Hi Lee Picking stinging nettle and using it in various recipes is well worth the effort. Basically, any recipe calling for cooked spinach or kale can be made with stinging nettle. Some of these substan… Drying and storing Stinging Nettles If drying Stinging Nettles for later use either dry on a rack in a warm room or place in a dehydrator on low (under 100 degree) until the leaf is crispy. Is it safe to eat these leaves? You can also turn dried nettle into powdered form. Find a place where there used to be an old barn or compost pile and you’re bound to find a patch of stinging nettle. But I think I’m ready now. Can I make nettle soup from them? Thank you ,Jo, Hi Jo, Drink a cup of tea per day-love the taste too. If drying in a dehydrator, set the dehydrator to its lowest temperature setting and set it to dry for about 12-15 hours. 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