Knowing how to dry basil, you can enjoy its aroma all year round, forgetting to buy questionable ready-made spices. Preparing greens is simple: just dry them in the oven, dryer or outdoors.
How to dry basil so that it turns into a fragrant condiment
First you need to correctly assemble it. Basil has the richest taste and aroma before flowering, it is then that the leaves contain a high concentration of aromatic oils. There is more than one variety of basil in nature, but purple is the best choice for drying. Whether to collect only the leaves or to pick off the whole branches is a matter of taste.
How to dry basil for the winter? Here are some simple options:
- In vivo. Cut the grass in whole branches and form small bunches of it. Tie them with a thread at the base and hang them in a place where direct sunlight will not penetrate. This should be a ventilated room, you need to make sure that insects do not fly into it. The basil will dry out after a few weeks.
- In the microwave. This is a time-consuming method. Wash the basil leaves and let them dry, put them on a wide flat plate and put them in the microwave. It is recommended to turn it on for a few minutes at full power, but since devices from different manufacturers have different power limits, you need to periodically check the state of the basil so as not to accidentally burn it.
- In the oven. Preheat the oven in advance, put the leaves on a baking sheet. If you grind them beforehand, they will dry faster. The oven temperature should be around 40 ° C, and the door should be slightly open for air circulation. The basil dries for about two hours, after which you need to turn off the oven, close the door and leave the herb to rise for a few minutes.
- How to dry basil at home in an electric dryer? Carefully place the washed grass on the trays of the appliance and set the desired temperature, not exceeding 40 ° C. Herbs are not dried at high temperatures, as this kills all the unique smell.
How do you know when drying is over? When all the moisture is gone from the grass, it will become brittle and crumble easily.
How to store dried basil? The ideal option is a glass well-closed container. She will not let the scent fizzle out. To save space, the leaves are crushed.
Basil is useful for housewives who like to experiment with different spices. It gives food a special spicy flavor.