How to Dry Basil | 3 Tested Ways

Drying basil wouldn’t be a problem anymore because we bring you a detailed guide to address all your queries.

Before getting into the guide let’s introduce you a little to basil itself. Basil is a herb used for many reasons. Mainly it is used in dishes, and once you try this you would never stop using basil because it has a really good taste.

Basil grows only in summer so people usually store it by drying it so that it could be used in winters too.

The question that comes to our mind is how do we dry basil? Of course, there is a right way of doing everything for better results. Drying basil for future use is the best thing that you can do if you can’t grow it at your home.

So, you better know the right way of doing that.

Preparing Basil

Before drying basil, you will be required to prepare and clean it thoroughly so that it can be reserved for a longer period of time. Cleaning of the basil leaves would be done by a water bath. You can do that in a large bowl or a sink. Just soak the basil leaves in water for a few minutes. Doing so would separate any mud or dirt from the leaves.

3 Ways of Drying Basil

Now comes the task that we are actually talking about; drying basil. Well, there are three tested ways of doing that and we will make you familiar with all of them.

Let’s get started.

1.  Drying Basil in the Microwave

Using a microwave for drying basil leaves is probably the first idea that comes to your mind. Microware would dry basil leaves in relatively less time. In addition to this, it would ensure that basil leaves are dried thoroughly. However, the basil leaves can lose their flavor.

Following are the steps that you need to take for drying basil in the microwave.

1. Place the basil leaves in the microwave dish such that no leaves overlap each other.
2. Now put the dish in the microwave and turn it on.
3. Leave them to dry for about 1.5 minutes.
4. After that, check if the leaves are crunchy. If yes, you are done.
5. If basil leaves are not crunchy, put the dish back in the microwave for another minute.

These simple and easy steps are all it takes for drying basil in the microwave.

2.  Drying Basil in the Sun

Using the sun for drying basil is the oldest and most recommended method. Although it can take 2 to three weeks the quality of basil won’t be compromised in that case. Basil would not leave any flavor and would get the best results; you just need to give it time.

Follow the following easy steps.

1. Wash basils thoroughly to remove any dirt or mud.
2. After that, tie basil leaves together with any sort of string.
3. Hang the tied basils at a place of your house where it could get maximum sunshine. Also, you need to make sure that the place you are choosing receives air, so you should hang it somewhere on the rooftop.
4. Now, comes the waiting part. You need to wait for two weeks or more for the basil to dry thoroughly.

3.  Using a Dehydrator for Drying Basil

A dehydrator is the type of item that is present in nearly every household. That is because it comes in handy for various tasks. Drying basil is one such task that could be done pretty efficiently by a dehydrator. Using it would save you much time and effort. It can take about 13 to 14 hours to thoroughly dry basil in the dehydrator.

Following are the steps you need to follow in this regard.

1. Place the basil leaves in dehydrating racks.
2. Turn on the dehydrator on the HERB setting. If your hydrator doesn’t have any such option, set the temperature to 95-100 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. Check basils after 6,7 hours to guess about the further time basils require to dry.
4. Remove the rack when you see that basils have become crunchy.

It is better that you do this in a day time because you will be required to check the condition of the dehydrator after a few intervals.

Storing the Dried Basil

Assuming that you have dried basil using any of the above methods, the next step is to store them accurately. Doing so would ensure and maintain the good quality of basil.

There are a number of things that could be used for strong dried basils.

Mason Jars

These jars are widely used for storing dried herbs or things like that. It can save a larger amount of basil. This way, you can use as much as you want to. We suggest this because every house has these jars lying around useless. So, it is better that you use them for good.

Spice Jars

You would have a spare spice jar at your home. These jars can also be used for storing dried basils.

After storing basil, it is better that you label them with the name. So that everybody can locate and use it easily.

Wrapping Up

We have a detailed discussion about drying and then storing basil leaves. Given methods are tested. So, you can rely on any of them as per your requirement. Basil is a useful herb that not only adds flavor to our dishes but can also be used to make tea to ease your headache.