Remove the rubber band or twist tie, separate the dried basil bundle and crumble the dried leaves with your fingers. Put your dehydrator on the herb setting, or the lowest setting if thats not an option for you. 6 Simple Methods of Drying Basil at Place the leaves in a single layer on a parchment paper-lined sheet pan. Once the basil is dry, begin tying bundles together. 3. I covered how to properly wash your basil above, but you can simply soak it in a bowl or the sink for a few minutes to remove any excess dirt or bugs. Your Basil plant responds to lower light by arranging the chlorophyll in the leaves to catch as much light as possible. well-ventilated place that is out of the sun. This step-by-step guide will show you how to cut pieces into thin strips and chop them up properly. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. We occasionally link to goods offered by vendors to help the reader find relevant products. Preserving Basil: How to Dry Basil in a Dehydrator wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. This Stack!t Herb Drying Rack that can be purchased at Gardeners Supply Company is six feet tall and has six trays. basil Turn on the microwave for 30 sec and keep heating the leaves for bursts of 30 seconds until the leaves dry and curl up. This does not impact my reviews and ideas as I work to keep things fair and balanced, to help you make the best choices. is my Basil bitter? How to fix Once harvested, fresh basil only lasts for 2 to 5 days in the refrigerator. You can get access to all of my free resources and get some epic dad jokes (and helpful gardening stuff) emailed to you each week by signing up here. If you want to add fresh basil to cooked dishes like tomato sauce, soups, and stews, its best to wait until the last few minutes of cooking. Basil is likely native to India and is widely grown as a kitchen herb. And other models from this brand are reliable and used by many preservers. Carefully remove it from the oven, allow it to cool completely. Spread the out Place a paper towel on a Using Oil 2. WebFreezer bags. According to the book 'Healing Foods', the culinary herb contains a range of natural antioxidants, which can help protect body tissues against free radical damage. I tend to go through mine in a few months! "Step by step instructions with visuals made this task simple; plus, the article offered readers three basil drying. Hang the Outside, it can take around 2 weeks for basil to fully dry out. Artemisia Nursery is a retail plant nursery in Northeast Los Angeles specializing in California native plants. Freeze in an ice cube tray to make small portions to add recipes. How To Dry Basil Basil leaves have properties that can keep mild flu and cold at bay. Dry at 105F (40C) for three to five hours or until the leaves are brittle and crumble when rolled between your fingers. If you're using the food dehydrator, place the tray of leaves inside and operate the food dehydrator for 24-48 hours. Animals That Eat TomatoesWhen to Pick Bell Peppers11 Unique Uses for Cayenne PeppersHow to Dry Basil FAST. Dried Basil Tips For Harvesting and Drying Your Own How to Dry Fresh Basil Leaves This is my favorite way to preserve fresh herbs like basil to enjoy all year long. How to Dry Basil: An Easy Herb Drying Guide - Utopia With the simple steps shared with you in this guide, youll be ready to dry your homegrown herbs and relish in the delicious taste of preserved basil whenever you desire. Drying Once youve soaked your basil, you have a choice to make. Preheat the oven to 170 degrees F. Then spread out the basil on a baking sheet. Leaving the basil whole makes it easier to handle when cleaning and drying. Grown with in Zone 7B - USA, Get one awesome gardening hack every morning at. These are great because many homes already have some extra lying around. Have you tried drying your homegrown herbs? Not as quick as using a dehydrator, but you certainly use less energy! Get an appropriate-sized container and put the basil, both stem and leaves, into it. Soil that is consistently boggy can also cause wilting. Keep a few twist ties handy. GARDENER'S PATH IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF ASK THE EXPERTS LLC. A Note On Drying. Dry well. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Store the mint in resealable plastic bags, spice bottles, or airtight containers. How to Dry Basil Air-drying basil will take longer to dry. Once you have harvested bunches of basil, cut the leaves from the main stem. If you buy from one of our links,we may earn a commission. This is important for your basil to dry out properly. Keep the soil moist, so your sunburnt plant can recover quicker. Cut the basil into 1/4-inch sections. Cool and crumble, or keep the While it seems to remove the most flavor, it is by far the fastest method for drying fresh basil. How to Dry Basil in the Microwave With that said, we only recommend this method in tropical environments with temperatures over 70 degrees. How to Dry Basil Leaves: Our In-Depth Guide & 4 Great Methods How to Dry Parsley Fast: Lay out Parsley bunches in a single layer on the paper towel, then add another paper towel on top. 2. If you notice wet, brown spots on the leaves of your basil plant, you could be looking at a case of Leaf Spot, which is a fungal plant disease. Spread the basil leaves in a single layer on the parchment paper, then place the baking sheet in the preheated oven. Once this is done, lay the basil on oven-safe sheets such as baking sheets (ceramic if you have it), big plates, etc. Carefully roll the leaves lengthwise into a cigar shape. To dry single basil leaves, place them in a single layer on a paper towel or a drying rack, keeping them away from direct sunlight and in a well-ventilated area until they become crisp and brittle. Depending on the leaf and batch size, this process will take about 2 to 4 hours. It'll continue to dry out even at room temperature thereafter. Clip and clean your herbs as before. Try these delicious ideas to maximize the flavor of the herb: Tearing basil gives a more rustic appearance and yields larger torn pieces. Get another paper towel and put it on top of the parsley. Easy Methods of Drying Parsley at No need to let any of your basil harvests go to waste. Make sure that the basil does not touch or over lap. Leave the door shut and let the leaves dry out for 10 hours or so. There are a couple of drying options to choose from that well cover here, and one method that I have found to be the most reliable in providing vibrantly green leaves that are highly aromatic when crushed. Basil likes full sun and well-drained soil that is not overly rich. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. % of people told us that this article helped them. 15 Powerful Health Benefits Of Basil Drying and Storing Herbs How to Dry Basil: 14 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow This will remove dirt, chemicals, and small insects. This is why using a clean, dry jar is so important. This will cause larger browned areas when the basil is cut. Sow seeds indoors five or six weeks before the last frost. Place the blanched basil in a blender or food processor and add in the olive oil. Mistakes You May Be Making with Fresh Basil To dry basil in the microwave: Wash basil and remove leaves from stems. Check every 30 seconds, rotating the herbs. The herb is often used fresh for the best flavor but can be dried or frozen for long-term preservation. Label with the date and contents. But youll love the flavor of these for use in your cooking. Cool and crumble, or keep the leaves whole. Download Article. Part of prepping the leaves to dry them evenly is removing them from the stem. Using heat-drying methods (such as drying basil in the oven) may cause some loss of flavor. It should only take 90 seconds or less for the basil to be shriveled and dry. Basil Tea It truly is a must-have in any kitchen for those looking to expand their culinary horizons. Planting your own basil in the kitchen or garden can be a super rewarding and fun experience. How to Deadhead Daisies, .slick-slider#wpsp-83657 {margin-left: 0px; }.slick-slider#wpsp-83657 .wp-show-posts-inner {margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; }#wpsp-83657.wpsp-card .wp-show-posts-single {margin-bottom: 2em; }.slick-slider#wpsp-83657 .wp-show-posts-single {margin-bottom: 0px; }#wpsp-83657 .wp-show-posts-inner {background-color: #ffffff; }#wpsp-83657.wp-show-posts .wp-show-posts-entry-title {font-size: .9em; }.wp-show-posts-columns#wpsp-83657 {margin-left: -2em; }.wp-show-posts-columns#wpsp-83657 .wp-show-posts-inner {margin: 0 0 2em 2em; } I enjoy making family friendly recipes while sharing cooking tips and knowledge of food science. Waste elimination: Drying basil extends the shelf life of basil leaves, ensuring nothing from the plant goes to waste after the plants growing season ends. Dont cut your basil with a knife if you can help it. By using our site, you agree to our. But before you proceed, wash the basil thoroughly. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/72\/Dry-Basil-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Dry-Basil-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/72\/Dry-Basil-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid1091856-v4-728px-Dry-Basil-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"