Basil is an annual herbaceous cultural plant, which housewives are often grown on beds or in pots. The stunning properties of this herb have made it extremely popular and in demand in cooking , cosmetology and even in medicine. The fragrant aroma of basil will transform any dish, and its unique composition will fill the menu with vitamins and valuable elements. At one time, healers used grass as a means to treat many diseases, while achieving a significant improvement in the patient's condition. Thanks to this, in Russia at one time, basil was considered royal grass, and in India - a sacred plant.
Of course, it is most convenient to use for your purposes fresh twigs and basil leaves. But it is not always possible to constantly maintain the presence of a young crop. It is advisable to simply prepare summer fragrant grass for the winter. One of the most accessible and convenient ways to preserve the plant and all its properties is drying. About it, we'll talk today and tell you when to collect and how to dry the basil properly at home.
When to collect basil, and what parts can be dried?
For drying, as well as for the application of basil in fresh form, it is necessary to take young twigs of four to six leaves, not allowing their flowering. It is at this stage of plant growth in leaves that the maximum amount of essential oils and valuable properties is concentrated. Collect it is recommended to produce in dry weather. You can dry both stems and leaves. The latter are perfect for adding to various dishes, and the stems can be used to flavor and infuse them with vegetable oil or to enrich the taste of various marinades and pickles.
Undoubtedly, the easiest way to dry is to hang the small twigs gathered in small bundles in a dry, warm and well-ventilated place. In this case, it is necessary to avoid direct sunlight entering the basil, which will promote the volatilization of essential oils and the loss of all valuable and aromatic properties of the herb. The drying of basil in this way will be on average about three weeks.
To speed up the process, you can use the oven or in the presence of an electric dryer .
How to dry basil in an electric dryer?
Before drying the basil in an electric dryer, it is necessary to rinse the sprigs, dry and dry the leaves, separating them from the twigs. Cut the stems into fragments about three centimeters long. We lay out the leaves and prepared pieces of stems on different pallets and have in the electric dryer. The temperature during drying should not exceed forty degrees, then the leaves will remain as fragrant, fragrant and useful as fresh ones.
The stems dry longer than the leaves and, unlike the last, who need about six hours, will remain in the electric dryer under the same conditions for about a day.
How to dry basil in the oven?
If there is no electric dryer, then the basil can be dried in the oven. Similarly, prepare the twigs, rinsing them, drying, dividing the leaves and stems and laying separately on different baking trays. The temperature during the whole drying process should be maintained at forty degrees, and the oven door is slightly ajar to allow moisture to come out. The degree of readiness is checked periodically. Depending on the size of the leaves and their juiciness, drying leaves this way will take from five to eight hours. The stems will dry slightly longer, and the time they stay in the oven will depend on their thickness.