Air Drying Basil. All content copyright © 2019 Getty Stewart | Website & logo design by, As delicious as it looks, this quinoa black bean s, Have you tried making infused vinegars? However, it is not recommended to use the microwave for drying basil. Sandwich basil in a single layer between two pieces of paper towel. Place the trays in your oven that’s heated up to its lowest temperature setting. Don’t crowd the leaves! Keep an eye on your containers for the first few days to make sure there isn’t any condensation forming. It is perhaps the fastest way of drying basil and preserves a significant amount of its original flavor and aroma. You'll get plenty of practical everyday tips from a Professional Home Economist who enjoys all food in balance and moderation, tries to limit the amount of processed foods, works to reduce food waste and is always open to questions. The instructions that came with your food dehydrator should help you to pick the right temperature and setting for herbs. You can easily grow a large amount in a container garden and fill several jars with the dried herb at the end of the season. Drying basil on your own allows you to use the best methods for retaining flavor, and you’ll know it hasn’t been sitting on a shelf for months. If you have any doubts as to whether or not your basil leaves are fully dried, store them in the freezer. Use your string or garden twine to tie each bunch together. Fill up your sink or a large bowl with cool water and gently swish the stems and leaves around to clean them. First, separate the leaves from stems and wash the parts you want to save. I'm excited to share my favorite tips and recipes for enjoying and preserving seasonal food. Microwaves often don’t heat evenly, so you may need to remove leaves that are done and keep heating the rest. One of the, What’s your strategy for healthy eating during t, What's your go to method when you need cooked chic, Here’s what’s new in the kitchen - cast and cr, It's time for #GetGettysKitchen, a peek into what', In case you missed our panel discussion on Whole G, Can I interest you in a pomegranate whole grain sa, How many of these whole grains have you tried?, Are you eating whole grains regularly? Give it longer if there’s high humidity or you notice there’s still a lot of moisture when you check the leaves. Cover the leaves with another paper towel and microwave on high for 1 minute. To know for sure if your basil is done, remove it from the microwave and let it cool for about 30 seconds before testing it. If it’s still limp and bendable, it needs to keep hanging up. That's right, you can dry herbs in a microwave and it's pretty easy to do! The next step is to arrange your herbs in bunches with all the stems facing one direction. There are four main ways to dry basil: air drying, oven drying, microwaving, and using a food dehydrator. Time will vary with your microwave's power. I use it in soups and stews, Italian Seasoning Mix, pizza sauce, and any other dish where I need a little somethin’ somethin’. The somewhere is important, though. Place a paper bag around the bundles and hang them in a dark room for drying. Basil will take about 3-4 weeks to air dry depending on humidity, air circulation, etc. Normally, it will take about an hour for the leaves to dry out on the towel. If done correctly, your dried herbs will retain their flavor for months and tide you over to next summer. One drawback is that you can’t do large batches, but it can be very effective if you just need a small batch dried quickly. Then, let the leaves lay there until all noticeable moisture is gone. Check the leaves and keep microwaving at 10-15 second intervals until they are completely dry. Microwave on HIGH for one minute. First, drying your own herbs is much more cost effective than buying them in the store. Then, tie a longer piece of string through each bunch so that you can hang them up. If you are harvesting at the end of the season, feel free to cut off all of the good remaining leaves without worrying about where you are clipping. Soak or swish the leaves and stems in cool water to get off dirt, bugs, etc. Where helpful to the reader, some posts may contain links to products. She is a Professional Home Economist, author of Manitoba’s best-selling Prairie Fruit Cookbook, Founder of Fruit Share, mom and veggie gardener. Preheat to 250 F and line a baking sheet with parchment. Wash and dry your basil following the same steps as you would for air drying. How to dry basil in the microwave (caveat: since microwaves vary, you may need to adjust the time/heat level. After harvesting, cut each stem to make them approximately even to one another. Drying leaves in the microwave is a very quick and easy way to preserve leaves for use in craft projects or fall decorations. You can heat it in the oven for 1-2 hours until it’s completely dried. Either way, crispy and crumbly leaves is a sign that they have dried out completely. Basil is one of the easiest herbs you can grow and will reward you with an abundant harvest throughout the summer. Let it sit out a minute for the last moisture to evaporate. If you have high humidity, it can take up to 48 hours. Typically, you’ll want to use about ⅓-½ the amount you would if a recipe calls for the fresh basil herb. Ideally, you want to keep the jars away from heat, damp, and light as much as possible. The healthier your plants are, the better your dried herbs will taste, and they’ll also last longer in storage. Sandwich basil in a single layer between two pieces of paper towel. Carefully lay the leaves on a paper towel. After you let the basil leaves air dry, gather it together into bunches.