Here’s how to quickly dry basil in the microwave. A great technique when you have just a little basil at a time.
Course: dehydrated foods
Keyword: dehydrated, dehydrating, dried herbs
Author: Getty Stewart
Ingredients
Fresh Basil Leaves
Instructions
Wash basil and remove leaves from stems.
Dry well. Use a salad spinner or gently pat dry with a towel. The more moisture on the leaves the more likely you’ll get brown spots.
Sandwich basil in a single layer between two pieces of paper towel.
Place in microwave for 30 seconds at medium to high power. NOTE: All microwaves are different – you don’t want to burn the basil, lower power and shorter time periods are best, use the setting that work best for your microwave. If you’re not sure, do a small batch to test results.
Take herbs out of the microwave and allow to cool for 30 seconds, then test to see if any are dry and brittle. Remove those that are, rotate those that aren’t and return them the microwave for another 30 seconds. Repeat until all leaves are dry.
Allow basil to cool for an hour before storing in a paper bag or glass container. This allows them to cool thoroughly and avoids condensation build up in the storage container. Check the container for signs of condensation within the first 24 hours. Any moisture, will lead to mold, which will quickly destroy the entire batch!
Keep basil leaves as big as you can to retain maximum flavour. Crumble or crush them into the desired size when you’re ready to use the basil in your favorite recipe.
If you have any doubts as to whether or not your basil leaves are fully dried, store them in the freezer.
Video
Notes
Dried basil will last for about 6 months before the flavor starts to fade.