Learn how to dehydrate basil fresh from the garden and make it last longer with this step-by-step guide on dehydrating basil. Follow these easy instructions and have delicious, dried basil all year long!
Pick or buy fresh basil. Wash the basil under cold water until the water runs clear of debris. Dry the basil by patting it dry with lint free dish towels. Or use a salad spinner to spin all the water off the herb.
Strip large basil leaves from the stems and arrange on mesh lined dehydrator trays. Place the trays on the dehydrator base and place the lid on. Turn the temperature on the dehydrator to 95 °F. Dry the basil for any where from 2 hours to 12 hours.
Check the basil every couple of hours. If the basil leaves are stacked on top of each other flip them each time you check them so they dry evenly. Allow the leaves to cool completely before storing in an airtight container.
Once the dried basil has cooled to room temperature crush the dried leaves. You can rub the leaves between your hands to crush them or use a mortar and pestle.