How to Dry Wheatgrass
Wheat grass or common wheat has been used for centuries by herbalists for its health benefits. Young wheat grass shoots are full of antioxidants and nutrients that help keep the spleen, liver and digestive system healthy. Freeze-drying the young shoots is the best way to dry them while retaining their antioxidants and nutrients.
Harvest the wheat grass when the blades start to folk. Gather a bunch of blades in your hand. Cut the blades a few centimeters above the soil with sharp, clean scissors. Cut as much grass as needed for storage.
- Wheat grass or common wheat has been used for centuries by herbalists for its health benefits.
- Freeze-drying the young shoots is the best way to dry them while retaining their antioxidants and nutrients.
Place a handful of blades into each freezer bag. Remove as much air from each bag as possible by gently pressing it out of the bag with your hands. Close the bags tightly.
Put on goggles and heavy gloves. Set ΒΌ lb. of dry ice into a 5-gallon bucket. Pick the dry ice up with tongs and set it in the bottom of the bucket.
- Place a handful of blades into each freezer bag.
Lay the freezer bags of wheat grass on top of the dry ice. Set the lid on top of the bucket loosely to allow air to escape. Press the lid down tightly after six hours.
Open the lid daily to check on the dry ice. When the dry ice has vanished, remove the bags of grass. Set the bags in your freezer until needed.
Propagating Wheatgrass
All species of wheat seeds will sprout. Health food stores generally sell hard winter wheat (Tricum aestivum) or durum wheat (T. durum) seeds for growing wheatgrass. Wheatgrass will sprout well in a mixture of 1 part peat to 3 parts of soil. Use water that's at 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Put the container in an area out of direct sunlight at room temperature. After eight to 12 hours, drain and rinse the seeds. Sprinkle the sprouted wheat seeds on top of a growing tray covered in about 1 inch of soil. Moisten the soil and cover it with black plastic to hold in the humidity and keep it dark. When the wheatgrass is 7 to 8 inches tall, it's time to harvest it. This will be on the eighth or ninth day.
- Lay the freezer bags of wheat grass on top of the dry ice.
- Open the lid daily to check on the dry ice.
Warning
Dry ice will burn your skin, so wear protection.
Related Articles
References
Warnings
- Dry ice will burn your skin, so wear protection.
Writer Bio
Rachelle Proulx has been writing since 2000. She co-owns a pet-sitting company, providing her the experience to cover pet care and small business. Proulx is also a flooring specialist who writes about flooring options, preparation, application and maintenance.
