Drying my Basil out?

Question

Can I dry out my Basil with a dehydrater? I've rinsed them off & put them on a tray with a towel under them & it's taking forever? And now have lots more to do yet! Help!!!

Walderez Abreu da Silva · Answer

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Sia@South 47th · Answer

@Ann S Sure! Just make sure it's on the lowest setting. I've done herbs this way for YEARS! ;)

Ann S · Answer

Cool thanks, then for how long about @ Sia@South 47th. Will get it out tomorrow to look at it, Hubby wanted it yrs ago but hasn't been used for yrs either & was used only a couple of times.

Sensible Gardening and Living · Answer

Sounds reasonable to me too. You can also use your oven on lowest setting and watch carefully.

Catherine Smith · Answer

Of course you can do them in your dehydrator. I do most of my herbs that way all the time. Not a problem.

KMS Woodworks · Answer

Dried basil is pretty easy to get in bulk from spice suppliers...When I had my garden running I would use the FRESH basil for pesto. A simple mix with olive oil and garlic (I would add the cheese when cooking) is 'made' in the food processor, then packed in small ziploc freezer bags and frozen. Fresh garden pesto in Jan...is a treat.

Sia@South 47th · Answer

@Ann S It all depends on the type of dehydrator you have. I really don't time mine, I just put them on each layer, being careful not to 'crowd' them, turn on low and ck back every so often to see if they're ready. ;)

Ann S · Answer

Ok thanks everyone, got it all washed in cleaned & ready to go, so giving it a try!

Phillip Williams · Answer

Several sources I have seen recommend that you roughly chop large leaved herbs to reduce the time needed for good drying. The smell of the basil drying in the dehydrator really perfumes the house!

Kathy · Answer

I have dries my basil, but I also freeze it. I chop the leaves with a little water to help the leaves chop finer. I then squeeze out some of the water and place the basil in ice cube trays and freeze them. It takes a short while to freeze. I then take them out of the trays and bag them put them back in. When I want fresh basil I just take a cube out and add it to what ever I am cooking.

Marilee H · Answer

You might also want to try freezing. Chop, put in olive oil or water in ice cube trays, and freeze. Then transfer to bags. I prefer this, because they still taste like fresh (I think dried basil tastes different).

Cynthia B · Answer

I cut the stalks low on the plant and tie 6-8 together with twine. Then I hang them upside down for a week or so. Once they are dry, I put the tied stalks into a paper bag and mash. The leaves crumble and go to the bottom of the bag. The stalk and stems stay intact; and at the bottom of the bag you have crushed basil flakes.

Donna Fryman · Answer

yes you can dry basil in the dehydrator. or you can dry it in a microwave. I did some last night. this will work for small amounts easily. I have a higher watt microwave so i used it at 70% power for thirty seconds at a time. place the dry leaves on a paper towel.

Grannylannie · Answer

What about in the oven?

Desiree · Answer

Like @Kathy, I always freeze my basil. After washing the leaves, I let it dry, then put it in a Ziploc and freeze it. Then whenever I need to use it, just take some and crumble it into the dish. I do this every year when I make tomato sauce.

Charlene Waller · Answer

You can also dry in your car. Just put the herbs on a cookie sheet and put it in the car, on the seat or in the rear window. Works great for me.

Helena · Answer

I dont dry my herbs.I rinse,let dry and freeze them as is.

Pauline Cobb Choate · Answer

I put my basil in the blender with a bit of olive oil and freeze in ice cube trays. Once frozen I store in freezer bags. Then when I need a bit of seasoning in a sauce or soup, I take out a cube or two and I'm set. SO many ways to preserve the fruits of Nature. :-)

Phillip Williams · Answer

I did a big batch yesterday. Because of the thick fleshy nature of Basil doing a rough chop on it helps speed the process. My dehydrator uses a very low temp, but I increase it to about 120 degrees F so that it doesn't take two days...

Diane · Answer

Near the end of the season of leafy herbs, I found the easiest way to dry lots of herbs was to cut them close to the base & tie them together w/string. After that, you can swish them in water to clean them & then hang them in cool place to dry. Doesn't take very long at all because air circulates around them. Now they are ready to go!

Ann S · Answer

Thanks everyone for all the great ideas!

Janice · Answer

Here are directions for drying herbs including basil in your microwave. http://www.homegrown.org/profiles/blogs/drying-basil-in-the-microwav

Terry C · Answer

These are all great ideas! I love Charlene's idea of putting the leaves in the car and letting them dry out naturally! Now, that's creative! Makes your car smell good too!

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