Herb Bundles (Bouquet Garni): A Simple Way to Preserve Fresh Herbs

Project time: 2 hours (plus drying time)

There's something timeless about working with fresh herbs, especially when it's simple enough to share across generations. Bouquet garni, tied herb bundles, are one of the easiest ways to preserve and use herbs in everyday cooking, turning fresh herbs into something you can use for weeks.

What is a bouquet garni? Simply a bundle of herbs tied together to flavor soups, stews, and roasts. Instead of chopping herbs and fishing them out later, you get all the flavor in one easy-to-remove bundle: simple, practical, no waste.

Why make your own: Preserve extra herbs before they go bad, add flavor without extra prep while cooking, reduce food waste, and enjoy a great hands-on activity, even for beginners or kids.

What you'll need:

• Fresh herbs (thyme, rosemary, parsley, etc.)
• Cotton food-safe string (about 18 inches)
• A clean workspace
• A drying rack or space to hang

How to make it:

1. Harvest and clean: Cut long stems of fresh herbs and rinse if needed.
2. Create the bundle: Lay the herbs out and gather a few stems together.
3. Tie the middle: Use cotton string to tie around the center of the bundle.
4. Secure the ends: Wrap the string down the length of the herbs and tie off at the end.
5. Dry the herbs: Hang or place on a drying rack.
6. Let them dry: Allow 3 days to 1 week for full drying.

Storage made simple: Once fully dried, store your herb bundles in a glass Mason jar with a reCAP FLIP Lid: it keeps herbs dry and fresh, easy to grab when cooking, with no plastic bags or waste.

How to use bouquet garni: Drop a bundle directly into soups, stews, roasts, or broths, then remove before serving: no chopping, no cleanup.