Why do some authors of recipies specify "dried" herbs?

Question

If I have fresh Basil. Parsly. Oregano ect... What could be better? Is the outcome any diffrent using dry instead of fresh?

Answer 1

Dried herbs can take cooking longer than fresh. Dried herbs excrement their flavor slowly, and can retain cooking heat. Let's say you were making Spagetti sauce from scratch, if you use dried herbs, you can put them in from the beginning of cooking, and as the tomatoes slowly cook, so will the herbs and their flavor release, so the sauce picks up the flavor from the herbs. If you add fresh herbs, you cannot add them until the cooking process is almost finished, or the herbs will lose their potency. You sauce would not pick up the flavor, and youd be eating bland tomato sauce with lettuce mixed in, is basically the best way to put it. Longer cooking dishes, such as stew, soups, most sauces need dry herbs. Fresh herbs should always be added at the last of any dish. Authors of recipes must be quite clear when mentioning herbs, so the reader doesnt add fresh when they should use dried. I hope your question is answered.

Answer 2

You need a lot LESS when you work w/ dried herbs. The dehydration process concentrates the flavors and oils of the herbs, so for example, if a recipe called for 1/2 C of fresh basil leaves, you'd only need about 1.5 tsp. of dried.

If you DO use dried, don't forget to pinch them or rub them before putting them in your food, to release the oils. Otherwise you have a whole lot of dried stuff w/ no flavor.

It also may be a seasonal issue. You can't get fresh herbs everywhere all year 'round, but if you have 'em, use 'em!! Best wishes :)

Answer 3

I think that when you cook with fresh herbs the aroma and taste is more robust/fragrant than when you cook with dried herbs. So depending on how strong you want the herbs to be, you can choose dried or fresh. I prefer fresh herbs. Also, presentation of a dish is also a factor in which the cook/chef may use. You may use whatever you like. Take care.

Answer 4

dried herbs are a pantry item -- you can keep them around. some herbs are similar fresh or dried like oregano and some have a big difference in taste like cilantro -- dried cilantro is awful!
Growing up around italians i learned to never use anything but fresh basil and garlic. Nothing is better than some fresh herbs in a salad but if you are cooking with then dried is usually ok.

Answer 5

Fresh herbs versus dry have different tastes, and strengths. If you are using for example fresh rosemary, you wouldn't want to use the same amount of fresh and you would dried. 1 tsp does not equal 1 tsp of the other, flavor wise.

Answer 6

fresh herbs are typicly stronger so you need less of them then with dried herbs. Also authors may say dried herbs becuase more peopel have them and they stay fresh for ever as aopposed to a week or 3 for fresh herbs

Answer 7

Fresh is always better taste-wise, but not everyone has fresh herbs available. It's more practical to keep dried herbs and spices on hand...

Answer 8

There is a slight difference in taste and also the dried herbs can withstand longer cooking times.

Answer 9

dry herb is better because it is dehydrated and smells great