How To Dry Basil: 14 Steps (with Pictures) - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Dry Basil PDF download Download Article Co-authored by Artemisia Nursery

Last Updated: February 24, 2025 Fact Checked

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  • Harvesting and Trimming the Basil
    • |
  • Hanging the Basil to Dry
    • |
  • Using Quick Drying Methods
    • |
  • Q&A
    • |
  • Things You'll Need
|Show more |Show less X

This article was co-authored by Artemisia Nursery. Artemisia Nursery is a retail plant nursery in Northeast Los Angeles specializing in California native plants. Artemisia Nursery is a worker-owned small business with plans to become a worker-owned cooperative. In addition to California native plants, Artemisia Nursery offers a selection of succulents, heirloom veggie and herb starts, house plants, pottery, and gardening tools and supplies. Drawing on the knowledge of the founders, Artemisia Nursery also offers consultations, designs, and installations. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 532,454 times.

If you love the flavor of basil, drying your own basil leaves will ensure that you have flavorful herbs to cook with all year long. Basil should be harvested just before it flowers for maximum flavor. The best way to dry basil is by hanging it upside down in a warm, dry place. If you're in a hurry, though, you can dry basil in the oven or a food dehydrator instead.

  • Prep time: 2-3 weeks

Steps

Part 1 Part 1 of 3:

Harvesting and Trimming the Basil

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  1. Step 1 Harvest the basil just before it flowers. 1 Harvest the basil just before it flowers. Basil will flower after all the leaves on one stem are full-grown, but the herb loses some of its flavor after flowering occurs. The flowers appear in the middle of a bunch of leaves in a pyramid shape. Plan to prep and dry basil once all the leaves have sprouted, but before you see flowers on the stems.[1]
    • Basil leaves have the most oil just before the plant flowers, so harvesting them at this point will ensure that the dried basil has as much flavor as possible.
    • Harvest at mid-morning. This is the best time to harvest because the plant has been watered but the sun has dried the leaves.
    • If the plant starts to flower, just follow the stem back to where there are two leaves emerging from a node and cut just above that.[2]
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Dry Basil 2 Cut basil leaves from the stems. You want to cut the basil just above the node.[3] Separate bunches of basil leaves and cut the individual leaves from the larger stem. Separating them will help you lay them flat and clean them properly. Leave a small length of stem, no more than an inch, at the bottom of each leaf to help you bundle them and tie them together. Advertisement
  3. Step 3 Rinse the leaves well. 3 Rinse the leaves well. Rinse cut basil leaves under cold water before drying them. This will remove any dirt, chemicals or other debris that may have fallen onto the leaves while growing or while being shipped if your basil is store-bought.[4]
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Dry Basil 4 Pat the rinsed leaves dry. Lay the rinsed leaves on a paper towel and gently pat them dry with a second paper towel. Removing excess moisture before drying basil will prevent molding during the drying process.[5]
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Part 2 Part 2 of 3:

Hanging the Basil to Dry

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Dry Basil 1 Gather the leaves in bunches. Group the prepped leaves in a bundle and tie them together at their stems with a rubber band or twist tie. Make more than one bundle if you have lots of basil leaves.[6]
  2. Step 2 Hang leaves to dry. 2 Hang leaves to dry. Hang your bundles of basil from a hook or wall tack to dry. You don't have to hang them in your kitchen, but make sure you choose a place with freely circulating air and moderate sunlight to aid the drying process. Choose a room with a window that can be opened to let air and sunlight in and preferably one where bugs won't be able to get to your drying herbs.[7]
  3. Step 3 Let the basil hang for two weeks. 3 Let the basil hang for two weeks. Your basil will be dried and ready to use in about two weeks or when the leaves are dark green, dry and brittle to the touch. If the leaves or stems still feel a little flexible, let them hang another week.[8]
    • Remove the rubber band or twist tie, separate the dried basil bundle and crumble the dried leaves with your fingers. Store them in a labeled jar or container for future use.
  4. Step 4 Use the crushed dried basil now in your recipes. 4 Use the crushed dried basil now in your recipes.
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Part 3 Part 3 of 3:

Using Quick Drying Methods

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  1. Step 1 Remove the leaves from the stems after harvesting. 1 Remove the leaves from the stems after harvesting. If you want to dry the leaves more quickly, you can go ahead and remove the leaves from the stems. Discard the stems along with any leaves that are bruised or broken.[9]
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Dry Basil 2 Rinse the leaves and pat them dry. Rinse them gently in water, then set them on paper towels and gently pat them dry.[10]
  3. Step 3 Prepare your oven or food dehydrator. 3 Prepare your oven or food dehydrator. Basil leaves dry beautifully in either an oven set to very low heat or a food dehydrator.
    • If you're using the oven, set it to the lowest temperature - 150 °F (66 °C) or lower.[11]
    • If you're using a food dehydrator, ready it for operation according to the manufacturer's instructions.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Dry Basil 4 Spread the leaves on trays in a thin layer. Either spread them on a baking tray or the food dehydrator tray. Make sure none of the leaves overlap. They should be arranged in one thin, even layer.[12]
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Dry Basil 5 Dry the leaves to the correct moisture content. The leaves should be dried over the course of 24-48 hours until they are no longer moist; they should crumble easily when pinched between your fingers.[13]
    • If you're using the oven, place the tray of leaves inside the preheated oven and let them bake for 20 minutes. Turn off the oven and leave the leaves inside overnight. In the morning, they should be sufficiently dry.
    • If you're using the food dehydrator, place the tray of leaves inside and operate the food dehydrator for 24-48 hours.
  6. Step 6 Store the dried leaves. 6 Store the dried leaves. You can store them whole in plastic food storage bags or bins, or crush them and store them in spice bottles.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question Can I hang them with the basil on the stem instead the little bunches Community Answer Community Answer Yes, but it will take about four weeks to dry. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 4 Helpful 74
  • Question Can I still cut the basil after the flower has appeared? Community Answer Community Answer Yes! But after the plant has flowered it is likely to have a much stronger flavor and smell, so you won't need to use as much. Some people prefer it once it has flowered and some do not like it at all, it's really a matter of preference. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 15 Helpful 49
  • Question What are the uses for basil leaves? Community Answer Community Answer One way to use basil is to snip and wash one leaf and drop it into bottled water at night. By morning, the water is infused with a light and refreshing taste. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 17 Helpful 49
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Things You'll Need

  • Cold water
  • Scissors or gardening shears
  • Paper towels
  • Rubber bands or twist ties
  • Hook or wall tack
  • Oven or food dehydrator (optional)

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References

  1. ↑ https://www.todayshomeowner.com/how-to-harvest-and-use-fresh-basil-from-your-garden/
  2. ↑ Artemisia Nursery. Plant Nursery & Garden Shop. Expert Interview
  3. ↑ Artemisia Nursery. Plant Nursery & Garden Shop. Expert Interview
  4. ↑ https://njaes.rutgers.edu/fs1283/
  5. ↑ https://thecookful.com/store-dry-basil/
  6. ↑ https://thecookful.com/store-dry-basil/
  7. ↑ https://www.themanual.com/food-and-drink/how-to-dry-fresh-basil/
  8. ↑ https://www.themanual.com/food-and-drink/how-to-dry-fresh-basil/
  9. ↑ https://www.littlehomeinthemaking.com/how-to-dry-basil-dehydrator-or-oven/
More References (4)
  1. ↑ https://www.alphafoodie.com/how-to-dry-basil-leaves/
  2. ↑ https://extension.umn.edu/preserving-and-preparing/preserving-herbs-freezing-or-drying
  3. ↑ https://www.alphafoodie.com/how-to-dry-basil-leaves/
  4. ↑ https://www.littlehomeinthemaking.com/how-to-dry-basil-dehydrator-or-oven/

About This Article

Artemisia Nursery Co-authored by: Artemisia Nursery Plant Nursery & Garden Shop This article was co-authored by Artemisia Nursery. Artemisia Nursery is a retail plant nursery in Northeast Los Angeles specializing in California native plants. Artemisia Nursery is a worker-owned small business with plans to become a worker-owned cooperative. In addition to California native plants, Artemisia Nursery offers a selection of succulents, heirloom veggie and herb starts, house plants, pottery, and gardening tools and supplies. Drawing on the knowledge of the founders, Artemisia Nursery also offers consultations, designs, and installations. This article has been viewed 532,454 times. 4 votes - 100% Co-authors: 12 Updated: February 24, 2025 Views: 532,454 Categories: Featured Articles | Preserving Herbs Article SummaryX

Before you can dry basil, harvest it when all the leave have sprouted but before you see flowers on the stems. Cut the basil leaves from the larger stems and rinse them well. Next, preheat your oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit and arrange your basil leaves in a thin layer on a baking sheet. Place the tray in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, then turn the oven off and allow the basil leaves to remain in the oven overnight. By morning, the leaves should crumble when pinched. For a slow drying method, keep reading! Did this summary help you?YesNo

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Reader Success Stories

  • Susan Hodgin

    Susan Hodgin

    Aug 23, 2016

    "Step by step instructions with visuals made this task simple; plus, the article offered readers three basil drying..." more
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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Artemisia Nursery Co-authored by: Artemisia Nursery Plant Nursery & Garden Shop Co-authors: 12 Updated: February 24, 2025 Views: 532,454 100% of readers found this article helpful. 4 votes - 100% Click a star to add your vote 100% of people told us that this article helped them. Susan Hodgin

Susan Hodgin

Aug 23, 2016

"Step by step instructions with visuals made this task simple; plus, the article offered readers three basil drying..." more Janet Edens

Janet Edens

Jul 8, 2016

"I had only heard of the oven drying method and wasn't sure how long to dry the leaves. Now, I have learned two..." more Jules Henry

Jules Henry

Apr 26, 2017

"I'm growing basil and have too much to use fresh. I needed to understand the drying process so I can dry and..." more Rated this article: Faith Calka

Faith Calka

Sep 1, 2016

"This was so helpful. I just love storing basil in olive oil, as I only have one plant. Thanks so much!" A. Succarotte

A. Succarotte

May 22, 2017

"Very easy instructions. Great pictures. I think I will try both oven and hanging techniques." Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories

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