Most dehydrators even have a special setting specifically for herbs. Worms bins are easy to maintain, divert waste from the landfill, and create “black gold” for your garden! I use this one for dehydrating. I’m all about simple living, real food, and everything plants. To process whole dry basil leaves into a flaky ground seasoning, simply crush up the leaves into your desired consistency. When herbs are dehydrated and the moisture content is removed, it makes them much more concentrated. . It should remain very flavorful and crisp for over a year stored in the pantry. I hope you enjoyed this easy tutorial, and hopefully learned something new. 4 Dehydrate at no more than 95 degrees F for approximately 4-8 hours or until crisp enough to crumble. My best recommendation is if in doubt, toss it out. Fully dry basil will fade to a light olive green color and shrink significantly in size. Either shake the leaves around in a strainer, lightly pat them dry with a clean lint-free towel, or toss them in a salad spinner. We want them in a nice single layer to promote excellent air flow and drying. Dehydrator drying is a fast and easy way to dry high quality herbs because temperature and air circulation can be controlled. I was wondering if I can use this process for other herbs as well like oregano, parsley and thyme? Remove basil leaves from the stem portion, and discard (compost) the stems. If in doubt, I throw it out – I really don’t want my family to consume mold. Pre-heat dehydrator with the thermostat set to 95°F to 115°F. Oven drying: Basil was dried in a gas oven at the lowest temperature of 175°F until crispy (about 15 minutes). If you have smaller amounts, you might want to consider drying basil in the microwave or hanging your basil to dry. Please leave your valid email address below. It is a powerful antioxidant, fights inflammation, promotes good digestion, and can help manage blood sugar levels – to name just a few! A dehydrator uses low heat and adequate air circulation to suck moisture from food to preserve it. These herbs have a high moisture content and they often mold if they are not dried quickly in a dehydrator or some other method. Folks who live in really humid climates could also add food-grade silica desiccant packs to the jars to absorb moisture. Next, spread the basil leaves out in an even layer on your dehydrator trays or baking sheet, depending on which method you’re using. When you dry veggies in a dehydrator, you need to check the quality of the final product. So, what do you do with it all? Drying fresh basil from your garden in a dehydrator. Remove from tray and place in well sealed glass jars. While I freeze some basil, I like having dried basil on hand for more flexibility in where and how I use basil, since I don’t always want the water or oil that comes with freezing basil. 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. Organic Pest Control, Part 3: Over 25 Ways to Stop Pests from Destroying Your Garden. They are especially divine with some homegrown onion powder or garlic powder! We always keep one small spice jar of crushed dry basil ready on hand, and stash the leftover whole leaves away for later. 0:22. You will know basil is dry enough when the leaves are crisp and crumbly. This is not a very helpful process or answer, is it?! In the end, you’ll be left with crispy, flavorful dried basil that can store in your pantry for well over a year. It includes a couple of pruning and harvest demonstration videos too! In it, I walk you through everything you need to know to grow, prune, harvest, and care for basil – be it from seed or nursery seedlings. Place your basil leaves on your trays. If they wrinkle in your hands but don’t crumble into bits, they’re not dry enough! If you're using the oven, set it to the lowest temperature - 200 °F (93 °C) or lower. I like using the dehydrator to dry basil, because it’s easier, quicker and more consistent than hanging to dry. 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”. Some discoloration of basil is normal and expected. Pick basil; Rinse basil off with cold water; Blot basil dry with paper towels; Lay basil down in a single layer on dehydrator trays so air can circulate {Mavis is naughty} Turn dehydrator on the “herb” setting; Check basil after a few hours, if dry, the leaves will crumble if not… Uhh they are not dry yet. Have a lot and I dried some per your instructions for the first time. A dehydrator can be used with nearly all herbs but is especially good for herbs such as basil, oregano, tarragon, lemon balm, and mints. 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. Though an Italian blend spice does sound like a good idea! Separate the basil leaves from the stems, keeping only the tender leafy part. Using a temp 115˚ F or lower on your dehydrator or oven, start dehydrating the basil. It is easy! Basil is an easy herb to grow and dry. 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. 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. In the height of summer, your garden may be flush with basil – perhaps more than you can enjoy fresh! I have never used oxygen absorbers and my goal is not extended long term storage. For example, if the recipe says to use one tablespoon of fresh basil, use only one teaspoon of dry. I done your drying basil and it’s great. Wash your sweet basil and press dry in a towel or paper towels. 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. Playing next. You can do this in whatever order works easiest for you. Temperature control. Store dried basil in a glass container with an air-tight lid in a dark, cool, dry location. #turmeric #growyourownmedicine #, Sourdough pancakes: more delicious and nutrit, You want the honest truth? These versatile machines can be pricey, but there are limitless possibilities for their use, especially if you have an over-productive garden. There are four main ways to dry basil: air drying, oven drying, microwaving, and using a food dehydrator. Wash the leaves in cool water. Repeat it a few times until the leaves are thoroughly dry. ❤️, Your email address will not be published. My favorite way to dry basil is via the food dehydrator. Thank you. This article will show you how to dry basil two ways: either using a food dehydrator or in the oven. Required fields are marked *. Place dehydrating trays in dehydrator and set at herb setting (just about the lowest setting there is) 35°C or 95°F. You can also dry basil in a food dehydrator. Allow the basil to dry until it is totally crispy and crumbles easily. Toss the stems (and any flowers) in your compost. My methods for determining are very subjective based on look, feel and everything I know about the drying process and conditions. Wash your basil. My hope is to inspire the love for a similar lifestyle or hobbies in others ~ by sharing real-life tips and tools to make “modern homesteading” activities easy, understandable, and enjoyable ~ so you can learn and dive in with me! Here are directions to dry Basil at home in your dehydrator. To lower the time needed to dry vegetables, they should be cut into small pieces. With those key points in mind, here’s how to dehydrate basil leaves. Drying the Basil -Put the sheets of basil in the dehydrator or oven. If it takes exceptionally long to dry the vegetable, its flavor is lost. It is better to cut larger leaves in half on the stem to help quicken the drying process. 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. Some folks put them in a ziplock bag and then smash the heck out of it. Tanacha/Bigstock 1. Thanks for sharing your pictures and ideas. Fresh basil can stay perky like this for many days! Keep it in your pantry or another relatively cool, dry, and dark location. Add a date and label if needed! 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. My name is Deanna, also known as DeannaCat just about the temperature! 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