How to Dry Dandelions Easily for Tea, Skincare, & More

Dandelions are finally being seen as the beneficial herb that they are! How to Dry Dandelions is step one of preserving and using your dandelions throughout the year.

The entire dandelion plant is edible and has beneficial properties. Start enjoying the benefits of dandelions now and learn how to dry them with or without a dehydrator. Learn 3 different ways to easily preserve your dandelions by following this guide.

From picking newly bloomed dandelions to storing them safely until you’re ready to use them, this post will go over it all.

Dandelions are a powerhouse herb, and they are often overlooked! Commonly thought of as a week, these beauties are the doorway into springtime and should be celebrated.

Drying them is the first step to preserving their benefits year-round. This guide covers three easy methods to dry and store dandelions, whether you’re using a dehydrator, your oven, or air drying.

Helpful Supplies for Drying Dandelions

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• Dehydrator – This is the dehydrator that I have. It is super simple to use, has adjustable temperatures and time with an auto shut-off.
• Trays – If you’re going to air dry your dandelions, you’ll want some trays to spread them out. I like to use my seed starting trays from Bootstrap Farmer. These are sturdy and multipurpose. I have the ones with no holes.
• Dandelions – You’ll of course need dandelions for this project. We just picked the dandelion heads for drying this time but remember, you can dry leaves, roots, and flowers!
• Oven – If you want to dry your dandelions a little quicker but don’t have a dehydrator, you can use your oven!
• Jars – You’ll need a jar for keeping your dried dandelions in once they’re dried. I like to use quart-sized jars but the size depends on how many dandelions you have to dry.

You don’t need a lot of supplies to dry dandelions! It’s easy, and if you don’t have a dehydrator, make sure you follow the directions for oven drying or air drying.

How to Dry Dandelions

There are 3 different ways to dry dandelions and other herbs and flowers: with a dehydrator, an oven, or air drying. They are all very simple methods but some are quicker than others.

Before drying any of your dandelions, make sure they are picked from an area that is free of any sprays like herbicides or pesticides. Getting dandelions from an area close to the road is also not the best place.

Rinse the flowers well to get off any dirt that might be on them. Pat dry with a towel before drying.

Drying Dandelions using a Dehydrator

• Spread them out in a single layer on the dehydrator trays with space in between for good airflow.
• Dehydrate at about 100º for 8-12 hours. These are fairly thick flowers so they can take a long time to dehydrate.
• Check periodically to make sure they are not overdrying.
• When the flowers are dry, they should feel crisp and not spongy anymore.

Drying Dandelions in an Oven

Use caution when using your oven to dry flowers and herbs; they are delicate, and using a high temperature will cause them to lose potency and potentially burn. This is a faster drying method but you need to watch carefully.

• Spread the flowers on a baking sheet in a single layer, ensuring they have space in between for airflow.
• Heat the oven to 170º (or lower if your oven can go any lower) and dry for 2-4 hours.
• Check the dandelions every 30 minutes and flip them to ensure they dry evenly. If your oven doesn’t go below 200º, prop the door open and check more often to make sure the flowers aren’t burning.
• When the flowers are dry, they should feel crisp and not spongy anymore.

Air Drying Dandelions

This method works well if you have plenty of time or if you don’t have a dehydrator.

• Spread evenly on a tray with plenty of room in between.
• Allow to sit in a dark, dry place for 1-2 weeks until fully dried. You can flip them over periodically to ensure even drying.
• When the flowers are dry, they should feel crisp and not spongy anymore.

Whichever drying method you choose, make sure you are keeping an eye on your dandelion flowers so they don’t overdry or to make sure they aren’t still slightly moist. You want fully dried dandelions so you can store them properly without a fear of mold.

What to do with Dandelion Flowers

• Dandelion Jelly – if using dehydrated dandelions, dry just the petals!
• Dandelion Infused Oil
• Dandelion Tallow Sugar Scrub
• Dandelion Bath Bombs by Nerdy Farm Wife

There are so many recipes out there that use dandelion flowers. From natural skincare to delicious jellies, make sure you take advantage of these little drops of sunshine before they are gone for the year.

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How to Dry Dandelions Using a Dehydrator, Oven, or Air Drying Method

This easy dried dandelion recipe shows you three simple ways to dry dandelions—using a dehydrator, oven, or air drying for tea, salves, and more.

Prep Time30 minutes mins

Drying Time12 hours hrs

Total Time12 hours hrs 30 minutes mins

Equipment

• Dehydrator optional
• Oven optional
• Trays if air drying

Materials

• dandelions

Instructions

• Pick dandelion flowers as soon as they bloom.
• Wash dandelions with cool water and pat dry with a paper towel

Drying Dandelions using a Dehydrator

• Spread them out in a single layer on the dehydrator trays with space in between for good airflow.
• Dehydrate at about 100º for 8-12 hours. These are fairly thick flowers so they can take a long time to dehydrate.
• Check periodically to make sure they are not overdrying.
• When the flowers are dry, they should feel crisp and not spongy anymore.

Drying Dandelions using an Oven

• Spread the flowers on a baking sheet in a single layer, ensuring they have space in between for airflow.
• Heat the oven to 170º (or lower if your oven can go any lower) and dry for 2-4 hours.
• Check the dandelions every 30 minutes and flip them to ensure they dry evenly. If your oven doesn’t go below 200º, prop the door open and check more often to make sure the flowers aren’t burning.
• When the flowers are dry, they should feel crisp and not spongy anymore.

Air Drying Dandelions

• Spread evenly on a tray with plenty of room in between.
• Allow to sit in a dark, dry place for 1-2 weeks until fully dried. You can flip them over periodically to ensure even drying.
• When the flowers are dry, they should feel crisp and not spongy anymore.