Basil will start to lose flavor after about 6 months but I use until next year’s basil crop is ready. 2 Then clip remaining leaves before flowers open. Of course, you could also freeze it or make pesto with it. This process will take several hours to complete. Set your dehydrator to the setting as guided by the manufacturer or else use the manual. © Homestead and Chill 2021 All rights reserved. Remove excess moisture. To dry basil in a dehydrator, simply lay the rinsed and spun leaves on your dehydrator trays, making sure they don’t overlap. That is one reason (of many) that store-bought spices tend to be so bland. There is no set time, but what you are looking for is dry leaves that are crumbly and light green in color. Either shake out the washed basil leaves in a strainer or lightly pat them dry with a clean lint-free towel. Some folks put them in a ziplock bag and then smash the heck out of it. Throw away any dirty leaves. You’ll find my favorite recipes, tips and how to’s for making tasty homemade food & preserves. Drying Basil Using a Dehydrator There are plenty of excellent quality food dehydrators available, and the key is finding a unit that’s the right size for your needs. How to Dry Basil with a Dehydrator. I am new at dehydrating. You can process most herbs using a dehydrator, but it works best with those that have high moisture content like the following: basil; lemon; balm; oregano; tarragon; mints; Because of the high moisture content of these herbs, they are prone to mold. Your email address will not be published. I may make a small commission from purchases made through some of those links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks a Ton! Here are the biggest advantages to using a dehydrator to preserve your herbs: 1. Lay the basil leaves out in a single layer on your trays. You’ll get longer lasting flavor from dried basil by keeping leaves whole. The moment you realize you're twinning your chard: FEEL GOOD GIVEAWAY CLOSED ✨ Congrats to @no, Throwback to when these jungle babes were bab, Some of the links on this site are affiliate links, such as Amazon links. Wash your sweet basil and press dry in a towel or paper towels. Earlier this Spring I planted two basil plants in my herb garden, one Cinnamon Basil, and one Sweet Basil. I’m all about simple living, real food, and everything plants. Lay each leaf in a single layer on the racks and allow them to dry in the machine until completely crisp. To dry basil in the dehydrator, pinch the leaves off the stems and lay them out on the dehydrator trays. I hung my sweet basil upside down to dry for 1 week at room temperature of around 72°F. A food dehydrator is an effective way to dry your basil without the drawbacks that come with using the microwave. How much dry basil should I use instead of fresh basil (or vice versa)? My goal is for food to last for one maybe two years. Using a temp 115˚ F or lower on your dehydrator or oven, start dehydrating the basil. When we dry basil and other fresh herbs, we prefer to do it as … Wash your basil. Dehydrated basil, Dried basil, Preserving basil. Store dry basil in a glass container with an air-tight lid*. Fresh basil can stay perky like this for many days! I use this one for dehydrating. Sign up for our weekly newsletter of new articles, and receive a FREE 20-page digital, printable garden planning toolkit. It will have lost its flavor and more importantly, you do not want to ingest mold. The only drawback here is that it would take longer than with the … It shouldn’t bend or have any obvious moisture left, and will sound nice and crunchy too – like dry leaves rustling. You will know basil is dry enough when the leaves are crisp and crumbly. Dry herbs are condensed in volume as well as flavor, essential oils and aromatics. On the flip side, use three times the amount of fresh basil instead of dry basil. This is a general rule of thumb when swapping out any type of dry herbs for fresh herbs. This article will show you how to dry basil two ways: either using a food dehydrator or in the oven. These versatile machines can be pricey, but there are limitless possibilities for their use, especially if you have an over-productive garden. I will only link to products I know and believe in! Homemade dry basil should stay crunchy and delicious for well over a year, though the intensity of flavor and aroma will degrade with time. Do you have favorite recipes that you use dried basil in? I'd love to know what's cooking with you. Remove from tray and place in well sealed glass jars. 0:26. Welcome to my site! I make home cooking easy, enjoyable and deliciously fun! Yet while pesto is excellent with many meals, it admittedly isn’t the most versatile thing in the world, and does require a few other ingredients to prepare. It is best to remove as much water from the leaves as possible before adding them to the dehydrator or oven, but you don’t need to go crazy here. Growing enough to basil to dry. Wash the leaves in cool water. Food Dehydrator. If you live in a particularly humid climate, you may want to set your temperature as high as 125 degrees. Yes, some of my basil does turn quite dark. If I am confident that I properly removed all surface moisture prior to drying, the drying conditions were absolutely dry (not humid or raining through the garage roof while it was hanging to air dry), the basil feels crispy and dry, and the coloration doesn’t look like a mold growth, then I assume it is just oxidation. Add dry basil to all your favorite soups, sauces, stews, marinades, salad dressing recipes, quiche, casserole, roasted veggies, and more. Therefore, dry basil is a welcome addition to homemade loose-leaf tea, tinctures, or other medicinal plant concoctions. If you need any help in the basil growing department, be sure to take a peek at our guide: “How to Grow Bushy Basil to Harvest All Summer Long”. For example, if the recipe says to use one tablespoon of fresh basil, use only one teaspoon of dry. Check if your basil has dried completely. We want to lay the leaves in a single layer, with space in between each one so there is plenty of air circulation. Prepare Your Dehydrator Trays for Drying Basil. A food processor or good old-fashioned mortar and pestle will also do the trick. So the dryer you can get it, the better. In fact, when I’m making spaghetti sauce, I add the basil just before I add the tomato sauce so I can fry the herbs with the onions a little to release their aroma. Sounds serene and lovely, but a lot of work! Please leave your valid email address below. If in doubt, I throw it out – I really don’t want my family to consume mold. Home drying basil with a dehydrator can produce a high-quality dried product that is infinitely better than the store-bought version for flavour and aroma. I will only link to products I know and believe in! These herbs have a high moisture content and they often mold if they are not dried quickly in a dehydrator or some other method. Dehydrators allow you to quickly and gently dry your herbs. Using a Dehydrator to Dry Basil Depending on what dehydrator you own, if it has an adjustable thermostat, turn it all the way down to low. Place dehydrating trays in dehydrator and set at herb setting (just about the lowest setting there is) 35°C or 95°F. I cut my larger leaves in half on the stem to help with the drying process. Organic Pest Control, Part 3: Over 25 Ways to Stop Pests from Destroying Your Garden. I also use dried basil in my homemade seasoning blends like this. Do not overlap the leaves! The reason is to give yourself enough of a basil harvest at a time to make it worthwhile firing up the dehydrator: it’s just not worth … Drying the Basil -Put the sheets of basil in the dehydrator or oven. Please let me know so I can try it! Hi Yianna, A dehydrator helps by speeding up the drying process. Add a date and label if needed! Next, spread the basil leaves out in an even. Browse more videos. It is easiest to simply pinch or pluck the leaves off. If you’re going to dry basil in the oven, preheat the oven to the lowest temperature setting now (usually 175-200F for most ovens). Step 2 – Remove Surface Water. I was wondering if I can use this process for other herbs as well like oregano, parsley and thyme? Follow. Like most things, homegrown or homemade dry basil puts store-bought dried basil to absolute shame! Enjoy! Thank you for reading, and happy dehydrating! If humidity levels in your house and outside are low, start checking at 6 hours, but don't be surprised if basil takes 12 to 24 hours to dry completely. carefreecooking. Organic Gardening | Real Food | Natural Health | Good Vibes. If humidity levels in your house and outside are low, start checking at 6 hours, but don’t be surprised if basil takes 12 to 24 hours to dry completely. Keep it in your pantry or another relatively cool, dry, and dark location. Gather them in the morning just after the dew has evaporated. Have a lot and I dried some per your instructions for the first time. In other words, DO NOT crumble until ready to use. Crush dry basil leaves using clean dry hands, a ziplock bag, food processor, or mortar and pestle. Some discoloration of basil is normal and expected. Ebook The Ultimate Dehydrator Cookbook: The Complete Guide to Drying Food, … Is there a solution less expensive? So, what do you do with it all? Getty. Lay the leaves flat on the dehydrator trays. I'm excited to share my favorite tips and recipes for enjoying and preserving seasonal food. Please feel free to ask questions or simply say hi in the comments below, and spread the love by sharing this article. More aromatic oils equals more flavor! Rinse the basil leaves with cool water to remove any dirt or insects that came in from the garden. Dismiss. No matter the temperature, the leaves will inevitably turn slightly more brown in the oven than when drying basil in a dehydrator. No matter which method you use, here are some important things to remember about drying basil…. Store dried basil in a glass container with an air-tight lid in a dark, cool, dry location. However, depending on how low of a heat setting your oven offers, it is easier to accidentally burn the basil in the oven – so keep a close eye on it during the process. Lay the basil out on the dehydrator racks, leaving space between them for the air to circulate, and only one leaf thick on each rack. ❤️, Your email address will not be published. In the height of summer, your garden may be flush with basil – perhaps more than you can enjoy fresh! With those key points in mind, here’s how to dehydrate basil leaves. It is best to harvest basil right before you want to dry it, not giving it the chance to go limp on you. Visit our Shop menu for more details. Some of the links on this site are affiliate links, such as Amazon links. I pull the basil apart so the largest stems aren’t included in the dehydrator. You’ll also find how we can work together to make good food happen for everyone. Almost all of the adora. Another simple technique of drying basil is by using a microwave. Thank you for sharing your grandmothers’ methods. Here is one of my little “secrets” to maintaining maximum freshness and flavor in your home-dried basil. 3 Wash thoroughly and place the leaves on your Excalibur dehydrator trays so that they are not touching. Required fields are marked *. It is easy! Place your basil leaves on your trays. The time it takes to dry basil depends on your individual machine or oven (and the amount of basil), so this next part is more of a sensory experience than a steadfast rule. If you need tips on when and how to harvest basil, check out our basil growing guide. *Note: Using an air tight lid is essential for good long-term storage, particularly if you live in humid place. Come fall and winter, you’ll be stoked to dig into your stash of homemade dry basil to use in soups, stews, sauces, marinades, and more! Preheat your dehydrator with the thermostat set between 95 and 115 degrees Fahrenheit. You can add the whole leaves to a dry mixing bowl and crumble them up with clean hands. Separate the basil leaves from the stems, keeping only the tender leafy part. It won’t make you sick right away, but the toxins build up over time – no thank you. Basil leaves dry beautifully in either an oven set to very low heat or a food dehydrator. Now that you have your basil prepped and ready to dry. You won’t have to worry about setting the food dehydrator too high or too low. This works best if you require a small amount of dried basil right away and if you have limited space for drying basil sprigs. Using a dehydrator is the most foolproof way to dry any herbs. Though an Italian blend spice does sound like a good idea! They have been doing remarkably well this summer, and because I … Filed Under: Blog, Drying/Dehydrating, Herbs & Spices. I have never used oxygen absorbers and my goal is not extended long term storage. If you are not able to process the basil immediately after harvesting, simply store the cut stems in a glass of water on the counter as you would a bouquet of cut flowers. Using a dehydrator, most herbs can be dried in hours instead of days. A dehydrator uses low heat and adequate air circulation to suck moisture from food to preserve it. Adding dry basil and other herbs later is a simple way to elevate that sauce to a marinara. It’s … My methods for determining are very subjective based on look, feel and everything I know about the drying process and conditions. Tanacha/Bigstock 1. Therefore, I suggest to process only a small portion of your dried basil at a time and store the rest as whole leaves – especially if you dried a large amount. Basil has numerous health-promoting properties. I have not had any issues keeping my food that long in glass jars without anything else. Drying Herbs in a Dehydrator. Ge, Prepping Apple French Toast bake for brunch tomorr, Yes! … To process whole dry basil leaves into a flaky ground seasoning, simply crush up the leaves into your desired consistency. This is an especially important consideration when drying medicinal herbs and flowers. Playing next. Set up the dehydrator: Since drying basil takes up a lot of surface area, get out every dehydrator tray you have. Living in Canada, I enjoy seeing the different fruit and veggies you can grow that I never could. To lower the time needed to dry vegetables, they should be cut into small pieces. Sometimes it’s hard to tell if it is mold or just oxidizing while drying. Also, basil will be more sweet and least bitter before it goes to flower in your garden – though we don’t let flowering basil go to waste, and totally still use it! And you don ’ t really black but a dark green use, preserve and seasonal! Stored in the dehydrator: Since drying basil with a silicone gasket does the job, with... 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