How to Dry Basil

Oven dry basil in these 3 easy steps: Dry: Set your oven to the lowest temperature. Place the basil leaves on a parchment-lined baking sheet, then place it on the upper rack of the oven. Bake for 2-4 hours, until the leaves are crumbly. Crumble & store: Remove the basil from the oven and cool.

Can you air dry fresh basil?
How do you preserve fresh basil leaves?
Do you wash basil before drying?
How do you dry basil in the oven?
Can I eat basil raw?
How long does dried basil last?
What can I do with lots of basil?
How do you dry basil leaves naturally?
When should I cut basil?
Should you rinse fresh basil?
Can you dry basil in the sun?
Is it better to tear or cut basil?

Can you air dry fresh basil?

Air-drying basil is a really simple and easy way to preserve this yummy herb. The main requirement is time - it takes about 4 weeks for basil to dry properly. If you're looking for a good way to preserve basil immediately check out my Basil and Olive Oil icecubes Instructable.

How do you preserve fresh basil leaves?

#1 The Very Best Method

Trim the cut ends, put the bunch in a glass, jar, or vase of water that will fit in the fridge, and cover the whole thing, or at least the basil leaves, with a plastic bag. Put the whole in in a refrigerator. Basil kept that way will stay vibrant and green for up to a week.

Do you wash basil before drying?

Wash basil by gently swishing in a bowl of running water. ... It's very important to remove surface moisture from basil before you hang or bag it to dry. If you do not, you risk getting mold or brown water spots on your leaves – and you really don't want that! In other words, dry your basil before you dry it!

How do you dry basil in the oven?

Instructions

Preheat oven to 170 degrees. ...
Place basil leaves on a baking sheet, making sure the leaves don't overlap. ...
Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until basil leaves are dried and can easily crumble. ...
Remove basil from oven and crumble in bowl. ...
Store dried basil in jar for storage.

Can I eat basil raw?

The leaves are also commonly used in cooking, though some people eat the leaves raw. Holy basil tastes spicy and bitter. There are many ways to incorporate holy basil into your daily life. You can cook with it, take it in supplement form, or make a tea with it.

How long does dried basil last?

Basil Expiration Date

	Pantry
	Past Printed Date
Fresh Basil lasts for	5-9 Days
Dried Basil lasts for	2-3 Years

What can I do with lots of basil?

How to Use Basil

Top whole leaves onto pizza.
Finish pasta with whole or thinly sliced leaves.
Blend it into sauces.
Puree it into soups.
Chop it up to add to a salad.
Use it to garnish avocado toast.
Turn it into an ice cream topping! Jazz up vanilla ice cream with fresh strawberries, basil, and a balsamic reduction.

How do you dry basil leaves naturally?

Oven dry basil in these 3 easy steps:

Dry: Set your oven to the lowest temperature. Place the basil leaves on a parchment-lined baking sheet, then place it on the upper rack of the oven. Bake for 2-4 hours, until the leaves are crumbly. Crumble & store: Remove the basil from the oven and cool.

When should I cut basil?

When to trim basil

And when trimming basil it's best to start early when the seedlings are about six to eight inches tall and have three to four sets of leaves. At that point, each plant is likely a single stem. I like to pinch that main stem back to a strong set of side shoots, removing about one-third of the plant.

Should you rinse fresh basil?

“Washing right away is actually good for the shelf life of the herbs, as it allows you time to inspect them and remove any damaged leaves, which can hasten the shelf life of the herb bundle,” says Siegler.

Can you dry basil in the sun?

Others prefer to crush the leaves after drying basil so it can be stored in small jars and then sprinkled on top of food. There are several methods of drying basil: air drying, sun drying or using the oven, microwave or food dehydrators.

Is it better to tear or cut basil?

Alton Brown said on a "Good Eats" show about knives and how to care for and use them that you should chiffonade your basil with a sharp knife to avoid bruising the basil. ... Some other show I saw advised tearing your basil leaves, rather than cutting them, because tearing them releases more flavor.