How to dry basil (unwrap 5 of the best drying methods!)

After finishing your favorite pasta dish with sliced basil leaves, you realized that you overbought the herb and ended up with some leftovers. 

If you don’t want them to go to waste, then I have one best solution for you–dry them!

Drying basil is one of the easiest ways to preserve and provide you with that familiar, delicious taste of summer. 

From oven drying down to dehydrating, these niftiest methods should sure remove your leftover worries. But wait!

Before I share the four drying methods, let’s tackle first this aromatic spice, its usage, and why it’s considered king of herbs by many cooks. 

Basil is one of the popular culinary herbs that appeared in many cuisines.

It’s used in both dried and fresh form to season dishes ranging from zucchini noodles to spaghetti sauce.

The fresh herb is notable for its sweet and savory taste with a hint of anise, while the dried ones have a stronger flavor profile. 

Moreover, the spice has a different variety and complements with tons of ingredients such as chicken, beef, eggs, rosemary, oregano, thyme, and many more.

1. 1. First, wash the herbs and ensure that the excess water is removed. If it’s clean, leave it as is.
   2. Preheat the oven to 170 °F.
   3. Place basil leaves on a baking sheet. Make sure the leaves don’t overlap and have the same sizes so they’ll dry at the same time.
   4. Bake them for 45 minutes.
   5. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let the basil cool down in a few minutes.
   6. Lastly, store them in an airtight container or glass herb jar. Don’t crumble them to retain their flavor.

1. 1. Start with washing the herbs and ensure the excess water is removed. If it’s clean, washing them isn’t necessary.
   2. Remove leaves from the stem. Discard anything that’s discolored.
   3. Sandwich the herbs in a single layer between two pieces of paper towel. 
   4. Microwave it on medium to high power for 30 seconds.
   5. Remove them from the microwave and let them cool for a few minutes.
   6. Store it in an airtight container or glass herb jar. 

1. 1. Preheat the air fryer at 360°F for two minutes.
   2. Wash the herbs if it’s dusty and make sure to remove the excess water. If it’s clean, leave it as is.
   3. Remove the leaves from stems. Discard anything that’s discolored.
   4. Place the basil leaves on the basket. Make sure to choose leaves that have the same sizes so they’ll dry at the same time. 
   5. Cover them with a rack or place a trivet over the herbs so they won’t fly up.
   6. Dry it for three minutes at 360°F.
   7. Remove the basket from the device and let the basil cool down.
   8. Store them in an airtight container or glass herb jar.

1. 1. Wash the herbs if it’s dusty and make sure to remove the excess water. If it’s clean, leave it as is.
   2. Remove the leaves from stems. Discard anything that’s discolored.
   3. Place the leaves on the drying screens. Make sure to create a space between them for air to circulate.
   4. Place the screen or tray in the dehydrator and set it at 95°F. Wait until completely dried.
   5. Remove the tray and let it cool.
   6. Store the dried basil leaves in an airtight container or glass herb jar.

1. 1. Wash the basil if it’s unclean.
   2. Group four to five stems of basil and tie them together with a rubber band or kitchen string around the end.
   3. Place the bundles inside a brown paper bag to avoid the exposure of the leaves from molds, dust, and sunlight.
   4. Tear holes all over the sides of the paper bag using a pen. This allows the air to flow in and out.
   5. Then hang the bag upside down inside a room that has air circulation. Just make sure not to hang them above the stove so it won’t damage the herb’s flavor.
   6. Store them in an airtight container or glass herb jar.