\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Have you ever heard of drying catnip in the oven? No, cats cant get addicted to catnip so you dont need to restrict the use or worry you are giving your cat a problem. I have noticed that they eat the dried fresh catnip when they dont eat the store-bought dried catnip. Hang the bags in a dark, dry place until the plants inside have dried completely. Dont worry if your house starts to smell of catnip, as this smell lasts only about half an hour. Store in an airtight container. The leaves and flowers should then be covered. Be sure to evenly spread them and not use too much catnip at a time. Once you have washed them, pat them dry them with a paper towel or dish towel to remove as much excess moisture as possible, then prepare them for air drying. When you get the desired temperature, put the leaves inside, but dont use any kind of container. The freshcatnip is toward the front of the cat garden and to the left. If you have stored your dried catnips in the fridge for a while, you may need to thaw them out. Your email address will not be published. Last updated: Sep 10, 2021 4 min read. , Strip the leaves from the stalk and place them on separate cookies sheets. Drying fresh catnip is so easy and the plant itself is pretty enough that Im happy to have it in my home, so its a win-win. They were far more interested in the cat grass (wheatgrass) which I found odd so I did what anyone would do; I consulted Professor Google on why that is. Once again, the method is really simple. ", https://www.babble.com/pets/how-to-grow-and-dry-catnip-for-your-cat/, http://comfortforcritters.org/entries/cat-information/how-to-grow-harvest-store-catnip-2. Before you put your microwave into work, be sure to trim your catnip, but not completely. About three of four stems is a good starting point. It took about two minutes in my microwave. Place the drying rack in a well-ventilated area, away from direct sunlight. We take garden fresh catnip and dry it out in a Breville Smart Oven Air with the dehydrator function. Scoop small teaspoons full of dough and drop them onto a cookie sheet. Learn how your comment data is processed.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'yourpurrfectkitty_com-leader-3','ezslot_16',114,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-yourpurrfectkitty_com-leader-3-0'); We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Place the cookie sheet into the oven and leave it in there over night. When oven drying herbs, place the leaves or stems on a cookie sheet and warm them about one to two hours with the oven door open at about 180 degrees F. (82 C.). This batch took 4 hours at 120 degrees f. The cats just love sniffing and munching on it.. Were committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Now coming back to the question Can a cat overdose on catnip? Be mindful of overindulgence thoughcats are unlikely to overdose on catnip, but they can get sick if they eat too much. Last Updated: April 9, 2023 Remember that only the completely dried catnip is ready to be stored and used for your cats. Its a great way to preserve the herb and make it last longer. When cats do react to catnip, there are some common symptoms and behaviors one may notice: Once the excess water is removed, place the bowl of dried catnips in the microwave for a final five minutes to heat the catnips. Turn the oven off and leave the catnip in the oven overnight. Make sure not to pick the plants that are smooth with spiky looking edges! For optimal results, dont add any extra water or sugar to the catnips or youll find it hard to remove the dark, wet substance from the leaves. Pre-heat your dehydrator to the temperature of 95-115 degrees Fahrenheit. This process can take anything from a few weeks to nearly a month, depending on the temperature of your drying region. ", and now I do! [1] Wait till the plant is at least 5 inches (12.7 cm) before cutting it. 1. First, cut the stems and lay them on cookie sheets. It can be used to calm anxiety and helps with headaches. Rinse and pat dry: Rinse the catnip under cool water to remove any dirt or debris, and then pat it dry with a paper towel or clean cloth. Drying in too humid of an area can cause mold to grow. Once you laid them down, simply cover the leaves and flowers with a second paper towel and then get another layer of leaves and flower on it. Set, Written by MasterClass. Especially in high humidity, make sure there is good air circulation around the plant to help prevent fungal growth. Drying catnip is a great way of giving your cats this cat-pleasing treat. If inhaled little quantity then catnip does no harm to your cat. Harvest the herb for catnip drying early in the day. If you dont want to use tin foil or any similar material, you can tie together 3 or 4 stems and leave them hanging on the sunny window. Rolling around on the ground or other surfaces. Heres how to dry catnip in oven and what kind of container youll need. To begin, youll need a small bowl thats filled half-way with fresh catnip. Your catnip will be completely dried, whichever method you choose, but the quality of the dried catnip depends on the catnip itself and the method youve used. Simple. Depending on the weather and season, you can dry your catnip in the sun. This method includes leaving your catnip to air dry in a dark spot. Established plants can withstand the first light frosts (28 F to 32 F) in autumn. Well show you how to make dried catnip at home, from your very own garden. If you dont own a microwave, you can use a dehydrator, which works in a similar way. Preferably, youll want to get some wild catnip since its not treated with chemicals and other substances that can harm your cat. :). party_music50. Air fry for 3 minutes at 360F. Make sure you pick bigger leaves and let the smaller ones grow bigger and pick them later. Get your catnip, remove the leaves and flowers from the stems, and then lay them on a paper towel. Use your scissors to cut the stalks of catnip, but also be sure to cut more than you need. Steep catnip alone or with other herbs for a mixture said to ease headaches, anxiety, and nervousness. We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. Check and if needed continue to zap in 30-second intervals until done. Place a lid on the bowl and put it in the microwave for approximately two minutes to heat it up. Cut the plant at the base with scissors so you have long stalks of catnip. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. She is dedicated to helping readers and enjoys nothing more than exploring the outdoors with her children and pets. To dry, place in the oven on very low heat or hang upside down in a dry, ventilated area, away from the sun. I have an old iron skillet that dries catnip in the summer sunshine quickly and easily. After youve done it, simply leave the plant out in the sun. It is best to harvest the catnip shortly before or during the flowering period. Lay your catnip stems in a single layer on a rimmed baking tray and put them into your oven. Take a 4- to 6-inch (10-15 cm.) If you go over 150 degrees Celsius, you can easily scorch your catnip thus leaving it completely useless. It may last several days, but also for several weeks. Generally 1 to 4 hours will suffice. Close the top of the bag and hang them in a dark spot. Remember that only the completely dried catnip is ready to be stored and used for your cats. Nice that your saving cat nip for the winter but I find that its best to store dried cat nip in a paper bag in a cool dry space. If you are worried about drying catnip in the microwave, scroll down for other methods you can try. Self Harvesting Catnip Finally comes the day to harvest. Leave the oven open a crack for ventilation and bake the catnip for approximately ten minutes. When your plant is six inches or taller, its ready to harvest. Essentially, the main things were looking for are freshness and potency. Preheat the air fryer at 360F. It does not store any personal data. Dry the mint at 40C/105F for between 2-5 hours, until they are brittle and crumble to pieces rather than bending. Catnip is a wonderful herb to have in your garden as it has so many benefits and uses. You can add a second layer if you wish, and again cover with another paper towel. Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. This plant is also called catswort, catmint, and Nepeta cataria, and its a plant thats been naturalized in New Zealand, North America, and Europe. These toys are packed with dried catnip to stimulate your cats instinct to play. What does it mean when you wear a bandana in your back pocket? Please see our full affiliate disclosurehere. As with all herbs, leaves are smaller when dried, so let leaves get to a mature size before drying. Share it with us! What temperature do you dehydrate catnip? Be sure not to crank up your microwave, as you dont want to scorch them. I have dried catnip in all of these ways with good results. Dry the catnip in your dehydrator on the lowest setting (95 degrees in the Excalibur) for 3-6 hours or until they are dry and crunchy. Like most herbs, catnip can be dried using different methods. Once you laid them down, simply cover the leaves and flowers with a second paper towel and then get another layer of leaves and flower on it. Whether your pet is a dog or cat, even a pig or a ferret, all pet lovers try to provide them their favorite foods, snacks and treats. Simply set your dehydrator to 100F, and place the leaves and flowers on the dehydrator trays in a single layer fashion. Trending Post: Catnipin the oven. The benefits of drying catnip in the oven are numerous. Sun Drying. Your email address will not be published. In my reading I also stumbled upon a quick and easy way to dry our fresh catnip and decided that I had to put it to the test. These toys are packed with dried catnip to stimulate your cats instinct to play. A kitchen oven is often used for drying herbs. It's best to check on them after 2 hours and then again every 15-20 minutes. If you're in a hurry, you can also put them in the oven on a very low heat. [2] 4 Set your oven to 150 F (66 C) and let it preheat completely. Be aware that you will want to cut more than you think you need, because the plant is going to dry up and shrink. The expedited method is very easy to use and it doesnt require a lot of time to get it right. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. If you choose a refillable toy, it can last for years beyond the lifespan of the original catnip. Catnip has a slightly skunky odor, so it Rolling around on the ground or other surfaces. Wash the herbs thoroughly. This takes several hours to get them to appropriate dryness. So, there are several ways of drying catnip, but well start with drying catnip in the oven. Dry for 10 minutes or more, checking and stirring the leaves and stems frequently to make sure they don't stick to Written by MasterClass. Growing and drying your own catnip at home will not only save you money, but youll know its 100% organic and pure! your username. If theres a lot of solar radiation at your location, heres what to do. Remember that during the drying process, excessive water evaporates thus making the plant shrink.