Content
Drying basil at home is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance. This is a great seasoning and is perfect for most dishes In some countries, it is used in the preparation of meat, soups, sauces. In order for the finished product to retain its properties and aroma, it is necessary to properly collect and process it.
Is it possible to dry basil for the winter
Unfortunately, it is impossible to use fresh herbs throughout the year, not always and not everyone has the opportunity to purchase them in winter. In this case, making dried seasonings at home is a great option. It should be borne in mind that basil does not lose its taste, aroma and beneficial properties. There are several ways to dry herbs, which allows you to choose a suitable and affordable option for everyone. The main thing is to adhere to all recommendations.
Do basil flowers dry
It all depends on everyone's tastes. For example, some people use only leaves, others cut plants to the very root, using even sticks, and there are those who like to add flowers to dishes.
Some housewives say that if you dry flowers and sticks, and then grind them in a coffee grinder, you get an excellent seasoning. They begin to harvest the inflorescences at the moment when they acquire a dark shade. During this period, it is necessary to collect the seeds and place them in a cloth bag. In this state, they will ripen and dry at the same time. After a while, the product is separated from the garbage, crushed and used as a seasoning.
Benefits of Dried Basil
If you adhere to all the recommendations and rules, then the dried product will be as useful as the fresh one. Basil is very rich in vitamins, which is not found in all herbs.
Dried plants with beneficial properties:
- Prevents vitamin deficiencies during the diet. Quite often, women are on diets, the result of which is a deficiency of nutrients in the body. You can replenish them with fresh or dried basil.
- Remove toxins from the body.
- They have anti-inflammatory properties, help in the rapid healing of wounds, and reduce toothache.
Also, dried herbs help to improve the functioning of the brain, give strength, and have a calming effect on the nervous system. Thus, basil does not lose its beneficial properties and vitamins.
When to harvest basil for winter drying
To dry basil for the winter, you need to properly prepare it. It is recommended to collect raw materials until the moment when flowering begins. If you cut the herbs at the time of flowering, then there is a chance that the dried leaves will not be as tasty and aromatic.
As soon as the plant begins to gain color, you need to choose a sunny day and collect young shoots for drying. This must be done during the second cut - in September. If necessary, you can use the raw material that was cut the very first. It is best to harvest the leaves in the middle of the morning. At this time, they are completely dry.
How to dry basil at home
Some people dry basil at home in different ways. This applies not only to the methods of which there are a large number (in the microwave, oven, electric dryer, naturally), but also to the choice of raw materials. For example, some use only leaves, excluding sticks, since they are quite coarse, others pick only flowers. In any case, the preparation of dried herbs must be approached as carefully as possible, which will preserve not only aroma and taste, but also useful properties.
How to dry basil naturally for the winter
First of all, the collected raw materials are carefully sorted out, and then washed under running water. Since wet herbs cannot be used for drying, the basil should be shaken off, which will get rid of some of the water, and then spread on a towel to remove the remaining moisture. After the grass is ready, it is laid out on paper in one layer and left in a dark place, covered with gauze. It is not recommended to dry herbs on newspaper, as printing ink is poisonous.
How to microwave dry basil
The main advantage of microwave drying is the fact that by choosing this option, you can achieve the desired result in a matter of minutes, and not in days or hours. It should be noted that the aroma, taste and useful properties of dried plants remain at the proper level and are not lost.
The work algorithm is as follows:
- Collect herbs.
- Rinse thoroughly under running water.
- Allow to dry so that no moisture remains on the leaves.
- You should first put a napkin on the plate.
- Put the basil leaves on it in one layer.
- Turn on the microwave at full power
- Leave on for 2-3 minutes.
After that, you can send the dried herb for storage and add to dishes.
How to dry basil in an electric dryer
To preserve the smell and taste, many people prefer an electric dryer. To dry herbs in this way, you must adhere to a certain algorithm:
- The collected raw materials are washed, the water is shaken off. It is recommended to use only leaves for drying, as the sticks are rough and not suitable for this purpose.
- Spread the herbs on a pallet in a thin layer.
- The drying process is carried out at + 35 ° C.
- The pallets must be changed every hour.
- After 4 hours, the dried basil is completely ready.
If you do not have an electrical appliance at hand, then you can do the work naturally.
How to dry basil in the oven
Before you start drying herbs, they must be collected, rinsed and dried. The leaves are laid out on a paper towel to absorb the water. Change the towel as needed.
You can start drying in the oven after a few hours:
- The first step is to preheat the oven to +100 ° C.
- Parchment is placed on a baking sheet and the leaves are laid out.
- Basil should be in an open oven for 2 hours.
The leaves are reduced in size several times, while their aroma is enhanced.
Where to add dried basil
Dried basil is a great seasoning to add to minced meat, sauces, first and second courses. The spice, universal in every sense of the word, is capable of improving the taste of meat and fish, and is ideally combined with a large number of products.
Some varieties have a lemon aroma, which makes them great for making aromatic teas and compotes. Dried herbs can replace fresh herbs in canning and marinade making. There are no strict rules for use. The main advantage of dried herbs is their unique taste and aroma.
Terms and conditions of storage
Many people use different storage methods for dried greens.If necessary, you can use a coffee grinder and grind the herbs into small crumbs, and then add them to the dishes. You can also store whole leaves and twigs. In this case, everyone chooses a method at their own discretion. Experienced housewives prefer to use the second option for storage, and the basil is ground just before adding to the dish.
Whole leaves are folded in paper bags, but jars that close tightly are perfect for crumbs, since basil loses its aroma quickly enough.
Conclusion
Drying basil at home is easy enough; no special skills or knowledge are required. If you know how to properly prepare the seasoning, then you can get by with the means at hand, for example, choose the natural method, a microwave or an oven, which is available in every home. Dried basil can be kept whole or grated and stored in glass jars.
