I loved your video.. you have a pleasant voice and a down to earth way of talking.. no fancy equirpment , just down home instructions.. now to go out and pick my basil!! thanks
I watch a lot of how to videos, and this one covered everything really well. You've got a knack for teaching and I really enjoyed this video. Thank you.
I've got to get busy and this info will be very helpful just now. Basil is so easy to root that I've been rooting them in the kitchen window all spring and summer and have ended up with basil everywhere I look in my back patio area.
Hey J Bird! Bea and I harvested my two different types of basil today. We googled how to harvest basil and Bea saw you right away and said, Hey, it's uncle J! Dirt Farmer Jay...so we followed your video and have two pans of basil processing. The house smells WONDERFUL!
Thanks, I used my Air Fryer on bake, and used two trays, and baked as you directed! I will keep cutting back my plant as needed and fill my basil spice bag!😌
Basil dries so fast without all the heat. I do have a pilot in my oven so it is about 90 F all the time. or some folks just leave the oven light on or start the oven for a little heat and then turn it off. I pull out the rack and place a floursack towel on it and then arrange the basil leafs. This gentle drying keeps so much flavor. Thanks for showing your beautiful gardens and the basil prep! So yummy to have it on hand.
Such a great and informative video! Thank you! I'm a first time gardener this year so I love when the information is presented in such a straightforward and knowledgeable manner!
I watched several videos on this subject, and yours is the most succinct and helpful. You seem to have a knack for knowing what to include and what to skip. You comments below on washing and the pros & cons of freezing are very informative, too. Well done. I've subscribed.
DirtFarmerJay Basil is now in plastic baggie.! I only had a small batch ( wanted to test it first) and this took about 1 hr and 10 min. I rinsed it first. Not sure if you were supposed to do that.
Love Basil so much, l have to harvest mine tomorrow as it's turning wet and cold here in the UK. I will definitely do what you have just done it's so easy. Many thanks. 😊😊😊🐱🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧
I’m back to comment, I made spaghetti the other night & used basil from my herb garden, you’re so right, it takes MORE fresh to flavor a dish than the dried. The same with my rosemary, my oregano hasn’t grown large enough to harvest, but these are my 3 favorites. I will use your technique on them all. Thanks!!
That was super easy!! I watched another video a few weeks ago and tried drying my basil that way and it was a painfully long process. Can’t wait to try again using your method!!
turkish and kurdish people love dried basil we put in almost any meat dish, it goes great with veg is well, fried tomatoes little butter, little chilli flakes, little dried basil on top lovely..
I just subscribed and I dried 3 cookie sheets full of sweet leaf basil, 2 sheets of pineapple sage and 1 sheet of stevia yesterday in a 170F oven. Sure is better than tying up bunches of herbs and drying for days and days. Thanks very much!
Thank you for getting right to the point! I kept trying to find a video on basil because it's my first time trying to grow it and process it. Great job!
I have to say perfect video. Not too much yap yap yaping. To the point. I can understand what you are saying and very informative. Thank you please keep making videos like this.
Enjoyed your video! I’m going out to pick my basil today and will follow your easy steps to do you hydrate it and store it for the winter! Thanks so much!
Wow!!😲That is a great idea.😯 I just started few months ago growing basil. I dont have a dehydrator,was wondering how to preserve the leaves.🌿🌿 Now I Know, very easy instructions. Thank you for sharing🤗🌿
Tried to keep basil fresh with just the single plant. But it grows so fast! Today I learned dried is more potent. Now I can just harvest anytime. Thanks!
Wow, thanks for watching and commenting darren lloyd. I had the pleasure to visit your beautiful country about 20 years ago. I'm jealous that you get to LIVE THERE!!! Best to you and your family, DFJ
I rooted my basil from a store cutting. i planted it in a pot then put the pot in a container filled with water and let the roots grow out the bottom of the pot and into the water for a hydroponic effect of sorts. been using the same plant for like the last 5 yrs. when I think it's time for a new plant I just snip the top off and put it in water till it roots then plant and repeat the process. easy peasy. I really want to get my hands on the purple one tho ... I currently have the typical green variety you see in markets ...
Thank you for your time. I’m sorry for the rude comments. I am actually growing basil this year and they are blooming. I have to do something now to save all this work that I’ve done
My first batch of basil is in the oven as I type this.. wish i had known about drying years ago.. Threw away so many good basil plants in Fall each year.. Thank you for this great video!
Thanks for sharing. This is my first year growing basil. I can just run my hand across it and it smells so fragrant! Love it. Will be harvesting and drying some out tomorrow. Thanks for sharing!
So glad I stumbled onto your channel! I have WAY too much basil & it is going to seed. I was fixing to chop & drop. But after watching your video, I now know how to dry it & save!!! Will do that today. Many thanks!
Thank you . I've never dried it in the oven but I'm going to now ! 👍🏼✌🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 I don't have as much as you so I leave it whole to store it and crush it as I use it . 🥰
I just started growing basil here in Phx area as a no-nothing-about-it beginner. Glad I found your video. This video is so helpful. Right to the point and lighthearted. The only suggestion I have is to include how to prune it correctly. I have a rather large plant right now and knew I needed to do it right. So, my 3 trays of leaves are in the oven now and I look forward to your other videos.
Welcome back! I subscribed just about the time you posted your last video. While waiting for your next one, I was able to catch up with your previous videos. Now I wait for you to show me all the great simple things that my Grandfather would have taught me, God bless his heart.
You are so welcome, glad I could help. I have basil in my cabinet year round from our summer harvests. Fresh basil for Caprise Salad and dry the left overs for winter soups and spaghetti sauces. It stores well in a glass mason jar. Best to you Clelia. Dirt Farmer Maggie
I love this video. I don’t even have to turn on my dehydrator. I grew mine in a hydroponic garden so the leaves are massive and smells.beautiful. Thank you 🥂
So happy I found your video. Buying an expensive dehydrator and finding a place to store it was not an option. Thank you for the oven drying instructions. Much happiness to you and yours.
What an awesome video. I'm a military member stationed in Japan and I really miss having basil. Your video gave me great idea on how to preserve for the Winter months. Thanks much!
i’ve been growing sweet and purple basils for 15 years or so. built a spice dryer with a 2 bulb fixture; can use combinations of 40 and 60 watt bulbs to heat at different temps. it makes up to 200 degrees. about to have a huge harvest in may instead of later june. started seeds in cellflats during february for the sweet, the purple volunteer by the thousands every year since the first. both are great in italian dishes and make your own pizza night(s)! i like your idea too...
Hi Dave, I have large beds of Thai basils, oregano, thyme, rosemary and also harvest wild fennel... making a savory seasoning blend..for now I just hang everything in well ventilated cool shade....would you be willing to send me a pic of your dryer?
Lol! Jay this video was made just for me! How did you know? Seems the only thing in the garden growing with this Texas heat is the basil! Mammoth, large leaf italian, siam queen, holy....it is all growing up like trees!! Huge beautiful fragrant! But wayyyyyy more than i can use, or even use and give away!! Freezing hasnt come out as well as id like and i hate for it to waste! But its showing no signs of bolting any time soon! Thanks for the tip! Haha your kitchen is a mirror of mine! Great minds and all that jazz!
Brenda, sounds like you're gonna have some great eating over the cold months! Glad to be of help. Having a great workspace in the kitchen sure makes it more enjoyable and productive. Thanks for writing! Best, DFJ and DFM
I just did it this morning, following your technique, the result was, it absolutely took the Basil’s smell away. It’s no good when no smell and tasted like weeds.
Nootinusa - I'm sorry to hear this! We've used this technique for some time and end up with a wonderful aromatic product that we use over the winter months. Something clearly didn't work. Let's see if we can get to the bottom of this! A couple of things come to mind. First, I assume you used a low temp. Whatever temp you were at, even the one we recommended, could have been too high for the variety of basil you have. Take it down more on a smaller batch, and see what you get. Also, I have found that some varieties of basil are more flavorful than others. Not sure if that's a consideration in your situation or not. We use the Genovese variety. Large flavorful leaves with plentiful oil that will remain in the dried product. Sorry this didn't work out as well for you as it has for us and others that have written in and let us know they got good results. Let me know if you try it again with modification and get any different (better!) results. Thanks for watching - and taking time to write. The best to you and yours! DFJ
I grew Basil & other herbs this year for the first time and I can't believe how wonderful it smells! It's super easy to propogate Basil so now I literally have it growing everywhere so that it could bolt & attract bees and even my Hummingbirds liked it! It's now early Nov & temps are in the 40s in GA and while the H'Birds have migrated south; the remaining Basil blooms are still attracting bees. BTW: I had to hand-pollinate squash this spring which was really sad because of NO BEES so I'm more conscience of planting pollinator attractors and using organic / natural fertilizers. Also, my parsley was filled Swallowtail Butterfly caterpillars this year and I gladly shared my herbs with them! Haha!
Awe! You have a good soul. First time also I am having a garden the mainly reason for pollinators! I have a lavender as well and I saw some visiting as well as hummingbirds since I hanged 3 feeders around the house, only one came to eat the sugar syrup, gave me so much joy, I also installed a bird bath and water for them all the time.
I have bad luck growing Basil outside.. There's always these pests I believe theyre called "Scales" that build these hard little shell huts on the stalks of the Basil and multiply quite quickly.. they'll destroy all my basil if i dont remove them by hand since their shell huts protect them from my homemade pesticides. Caterpillars will all destroy your crops if you let them go.. might not want to share with them too often.. some people grow extra away from their gardens just for the pests to attack those and not the stuff they want to harvest.
Thanks for watching and commenting Cmcn143. Glad it was helpful. Thanks for the compliment on the kitchen. It's over 20 years old now! But we still love it. Best, Dirt Farmer Maggie
Thank you, love Basil, did not know i should dry them in the oven. I air dried them in the past and the flavour is not there. Thank you again, I will try. like your video, good and to the point no nonsense.:-)
Maybe it's not important with herbs used for cooking, but I was raised to believe that sunlight compromises the medicinal properties in the drying process. That's why they dry tobacco in sheds. We always hung our herbs from the rafters inside the cabin.
@@helenpatterson3858 for tabacco it's vulnerable to mold so keeping it out of the rain while it dries is necessary. It doesn't happen quickly so a rack outside isn't feasable.
Thank you, DirtFamerJay, for this instructional video. We are getting a large basil harvest, and I wasn't sure how to dry it properly. (posted July 24, 2020)
Good video.... I dry down in a cheap 'dehydrator' instead of the oven, and store the leaves uncrushed (rub them into the 'crushed' state at at the time of use). I love basil, but winter comes and it's hard to keep it alive (even in a greenhouse). The crushed product might not be exactly the same, but it's pretty close (at least for a year or two). One caveat: Thai basil just isn't the same, and it loses most of it's flavor in the drying process. If you like Thai basil (and, I love it), the best you can do is use traditional dried Italian basil and add some fennel seed.
Good job! But if you really love Basil you might wanna try putting it in a food processor with garlic and a good olive oil. Then transfer to ice cube trays. Really fresh Basil when and for what ever you need it!
That's called Basil Pesto when you throw it in a food processor with olive oil and garlic. Also add Pine Nuts, Salt and Pepper. Salt helps preserve it. Usually with Pesto you add Parmesan Cheese, but dont add it if your going to freeze it.. just add it to pesto you're going to keep in the fridge.. add the cheese to the frozen pesto when you plan to use it if youre going to use it as Pesto...
@@ChristopherJones16 yes well noted. I dont add anything else bevause thats how i preserve my basil. So i have it all winter long to add to my sauces or appies as needed.
I was learning and getting all sorts of information on this video....and then 3:35 happened and the lesson FLIES out of my head and I start cracking up!
good video and this how i dry my basil. but, i found out a long time ago that crushing the dried herbs prior to storing releases some of the oil. that means taste and aroma are lost. Better to just pack whole into a container. some will crush and that's OK. oregano and thyme I store on the branches that were cut down and separated prior to drying.
Thank you for this informative video. No need for a dehydrator. Just didn't know how low to set oven . You definitely solved that matter . Does it work with all the herbs ? I assume so. 😊
Mmmm....love BASIL...Great for sooo msny things...garden uses of course...but Oh Boy...just the aroma is stress relieving! =) It has tons of Medicinal value too! We grow so many wonderful varieties too! My 4 year old granddaughter is crazy about Basil! Says purple is her favorite color and flavor! Good thing it's easy to propagate because that child would eat a whole plant at a time if we let her! 🤣 One of our favorites is Thai Basil and we like it fresh in our ice water...Of course Lemon and Lime Basil are huge hits too! And Holy Basil! Yum!!! When drying to keep the best and highest nutrient levels go as low on the heat as possible! It makes a great dry tea as well...also great in Shakes! Experiment!
To be honest, Anna Paen, I don't dry any other herbs than basil. But I would think that the bigger the leaf, the better it dries without dissappearing!!
Thank you so much Just found your channel I have been wanting to do this but thought it would be difficult We will have a frost soon so now I will know what to do
Thank you for sharing this, my basal plant is growing like it is on steroids and I couldn't use it faster than it was growing. I have the worst green thumb ever, but my basal plants love me. This is an awesome idea, I just finished picking through my washed basal leaves to remove the stems as you suggested and they are in the oven now at 190 degrees. I am so excited about doing this I don't know what to do. I believe I will get some small spice jars and make some labels and give some to my family and friends during the holidays as I do when I make my vanilla extract. Thank you again and God Bless!
My Backyard Garden, thanks for stopping by and taking time to write! We enjoy the ongoing interaction with our subscriber family. so make sure to join us on upcoming adventures! Best Regards, DFJ
I put them in a dehydrator at 108*f.. All veggies have enzymes built in, those enzymes make it possible to assimilate all the nutrients in the leaves. When you cook it, you kill up to 75% of the enzymes, therefore you kill up to 75% of the nutrients and flavor. Dehydrating is a great way to preserve the nutrients and flavor.
Thank you for this concise and easy to understand video. After we dry the basil, how is it stored? Can we just put it in a glass jar? Is there a shelf life? Thanks so much!
33goldengirl - thanks for watching and writing! We store the basil in a screw-top clear canning jar in our spice cabinet, out of the light. I'm uncertain about the shelf life, as we've just added to it as we go, and have been able to have great results ongoing, even from last year's batch! Best Regards, DFJ and DFM
Not even a second of this video was a waste. Keep up the good work and thanks for the tips
Emre, thanks for the very kind compliment! What a great note to receive. Thanks for watching and taking time to write. Best, DirtFarmerMaggie
This is my first time drying Basil.
Thanks-so-much for all the great advice.
Appreciate it greatly!
You're welcome!
😮I did NOT KNOW you could dry basil like THIS!!! I always hung them up to dry! This is a game changer for me! Thank you for sharing this gem! ❤
Happy to help!
I wish everyone had such an organized and articulate video. So well done.
Christine Donellan I totally agree!
@@pampixley2300 why are you calling her Christine?
I love how detailed this video is! I have repeatedly looking for a detailed step by step video on how to store my fresh herbs. Thank you so much!
Glad it was helpful!
I loved your video.. you have a pleasant voice and a down to earth way of talking.. no fancy equirpment , just down home instructions.. now to go out and pick my basil!! thanks
I watch a lot of how to videos, and this one covered everything really well. You've got a knack for teaching and I really enjoyed this video. Thank you.
Simply stated, no superfluous family stories, etc. Gentleman was well prepared with utensils and spoke clearly. Great!
Wow, thank you! Thanks for stopping by and taking time to write! Best, DFJ
I've got to get busy and this info will be very helpful just now. Basil is so easy to root that I've been rooting them in the kitchen window all spring and summer and have ended up with basil everywhere I look in my back patio area.
Hey J Bird! Bea and I harvested my two different types of basil today. We googled how to harvest basil and Bea saw you right away and said, Hey, it's uncle J! Dirt Farmer Jay...so we followed your video and have two pans of basil processing. The house smells WONDERFUL!
Thanks, Jay! Our basil is dried and stored now. Your technique worked really well. :)
Great to hear!
Thanks, I used my Air Fryer on bake, and used two trays, and baked as you directed! I will keep cutting back my plant as needed and fill my basil spice bag!😌
Sounds great! I'll be doing the same as we approach the end of summer. Best to you, Dirt Farmer Maggie.
I like to leave the leaves whole after drying because I feel there's more flavor when you crush the leaves as you use them. Good video
Basil dries so fast without all the heat. I do have a pilot in my oven so it is about 90 F all the time. or some folks just leave the oven light on or start the oven for a little heat and then turn it off. I pull out the rack and place a floursack towel on it and then arrange the basil leafs. This gentle drying keeps so much flavor. Thanks for showing your beautiful gardens and the basil prep! So yummy to have it on hand.
Such a great and informative video! Thank you! I'm a first time gardener this year so I love when the information is presented in such a straightforward and knowledgeable manner!
Glad it was helpful! Best, DFJ
Me too!!!
I watched several videos on this subject, and yours is the most succinct and helpful. You seem to have a knack for knowing what to include and what to skip. You comments below on washing and the pros & cons of freezing are very informative, too. Well done. I've subscribed.
Thanks, Jay. This'll be my 1st time attempting crying basil! Looks very easy
Thank you. Just started herb growing. Can't afford a dehydrator. So this I can do. I really appreciate it. May God Bless you always!
Excellent video. You really made me laugh when you sped up the video while crushing the bag. Thank you!
I was just now going to research drying basil and here you were. I am subscribing to you. I like your no nonsense approach. Thank you.
Great video! Concise and informative. I am a teacher so I appreciate a lesson well taught. Mine is in the oven right now!
Glad it was helpful! Best, DIrtFarmer Maggie
DirtFarmerJay Basil is now in plastic baggie.! I only had a small batch ( wanted to test it first) and this took about 1 hr and 10 min. I rinsed it first. Not sure if you were supposed to do that.
Love the way you assembled the presentation …I am now a subscriber
Welcome aboard, luthier47! Thanks for your kind comment! - DFM
Love Basil so much, l have to harvest mine tomorrow as it's turning wet and cold here in the UK. I will definitely do what you have just done it's so easy. Many thanks. 😊😊😊🐱🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧
Just finished drying some of my basil, my house smells so good now.
Thank you so much for wonderful instructions 💚
Me too!!!
What did your house smell like before?
I’m back to comment, I made spaghetti the other night & used basil from my herb garden, you’re so right, it takes MORE fresh to flavor a dish than the dried. The same with my rosemary, my oregano hasn’t grown large enough to harvest, but these are my 3 favorites. I will use your technique on them all. Thanks!!
Great! Glad I could help 10TOES. Keep watching and commenting. Best to you, Dirt Farmer Maggie.
That was super easy!! I watched another video a few weeks ago and tried drying my basil that way and it was a painfully long process. Can’t wait to try again using your method!!
Thankyou so much. I just picked a bunch of basil and didn't know how to dry it. So easy !
Glad we could help! Best Regards, DFJ
turkish and kurdish people love dried basil we put in almost any meat dish, it goes great with veg is well, fried tomatoes little butter, little chilli flakes, little dried basil on top lovely..
There are also the Italians...(Italian Basil) which is a little more pungent
@@maryloujohnson8610 basil is very used in South Italy and France...but only fresh. I think dried basil loses most of its aroma
@@DavideGobbicchiTrue, but dried basil is certainly better than no basil
I really enjoyed that. first time doing anything like this, that is growing basil. So it was great to know how to save them as well.
Thanks for the lesson on how to preserve our Basil plant. now my wife will be happy its not getting tossed out.
I just subscribed and I dried 3 cookie sheets full of sweet leaf basil, 2 sheets of pineapple sage and 1 sheet of stevia yesterday in a 170F oven. Sure is better than tying up bunches of herbs and drying for days and days.
Thanks very much!
Thank you for getting right to the point! I kept trying to find a video on basil because it's my first time trying to grow it and process it. Great job!
Great video, no messing around taking up our time. You get right to it. Fabulous! Will watch more from you.
I have to say perfect video. Not too much yap yap yaping. To the point. I can understand what you are saying and very informative. Thank you please keep making videos like this.
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you! I am growing two types of basil this year a thai sweet basil and an Italian basil! Love it. The flowers taste like candy too.
Sounds great!
Enjoyed your video! I’m going out to pick my basil today and will follow your easy steps to do you hydrate it and store it for the winter! Thanks so much!
Wow!!😲That is a great idea.😯
I just started few months ago growing basil.
I dont have a dehydrator,was wondering how to preserve the leaves.🌿🌿
Now I Know, very easy instructions.
Thank you for sharing🤗🌿
Tried to keep basil fresh with just the single plant. But it grows so fast! Today I learned dried is more potent. Now I can just harvest anytime. Thanks!
That's great!
I followed your steps the kitchen has the most beautiful odour darren from coffsharbour Australia
Wow, thanks for watching and commenting darren lloyd. I had the pleasure to visit your beautiful country about 20 years ago. I'm jealous that you get to LIVE THERE!!! Best to you and your family, DFJ
I rooted my basil from a store cutting. i planted it in a pot then put the pot in a container filled with water and let the roots grow out the bottom of the pot and into the water for a hydroponic effect of sorts. been using the same plant for like the last 5 yrs. when I think it's time for a new plant I just snip the top off and put it in water till it roots then plant and repeat the process. easy peasy. I really want to get my hands on the purple one tho ... I currently have the typical green variety you see in markets ...
AnyWho - this is brillant! Thanks for sharing. We may do a video on this and give you the nod for the idea. Thanks again. Best, DFJ
Thank you for your time. I’m sorry for the rude comments. I am actually growing basil this year and they are blooming. I have to do something now to save all this work that I’ve done
I will definitely dry my Basil, I had no idea how easy it was. Thanks!! ❤️😊
My first batch of basil is in the oven as I type this.. wish i had known about drying years ago..
Threw away so many good basil plants in Fall each year..
Thank you for this great video!
Thanks Green Phone. Hope your first time turns out well. Best, Dirt Farmer Maggie.
@@DirtFarmerJay
It worked perfectly.. now I have a jar full of dried basil for the Winter.. thank you so much again👍❤️
Thanks for sharing. This is my first year growing basil. I can just run my hand across it and it smells so fragrant! Love it. Will be harvesting and drying some out tomorrow. Thanks for sharing!
So glad I stumbled onto your channel! I have WAY too much basil & it is going to seed.
I was fixing to chop & drop. But after watching your video, I now know how to dry it & save!!!
Will do that today. Many thanks!
I keep it from going to seed by harvesting often
Thank you . I've never dried it in the oven but I'm going to now ! 👍🏼✌🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
I don't have as much as you so I leave it whole to store it and crush it as I use it . 🥰
Wonderful instruction! I also like pick few fresh leaves put each the ice cube tray with water, make basil ice tubes for the winter.
Cool idea! Thanks for sharing and your kind comment as well. The best to you and yours - DFJ
Thank you so much ! I have been growing herbs and hanging them to dry for years but never new how to dry basil properly :-) Blessings to you !
I made my own basil mix with garlic, onion, and dried tomato. It's put in bread, and if I do say so myself it's pretty good.
I just started growing basil here in Phx area as a no-nothing-about-it beginner. Glad I found your video. This video is so helpful. Right to the point and lighthearted. The only suggestion I have is to include how to prune it correctly. I have a rather large plant right now and knew I needed to do it right. So, my 3 trays of leaves are in the oven now and I look forward to your other videos.
Thanks for the video! We were able to dry our first basil ever and cannot wait to use it!
Glad it was helpful! - DFJ
Welcome back! I subscribed just about the time you posted your last video. While waiting for your next one, I was able to catch up with your previous videos.
Now I wait for you to show me all the great simple things that my Grandfather would have taught me, God bless his heart.
I love your way of preserving the basil im doin it this morning and it looks great .THANK YOU SO MUCH.
You are so welcome, glad I could help. I have basil in my cabinet year round from our summer harvests. Fresh basil for Caprise Salad and dry the left overs for winter soups and spaghetti sauces. It stores well in a glass mason jar. Best to you Clelia. Dirt Farmer Maggie
I love this video. I don’t even have to turn on my dehydrator. I grew mine in a hydroponic garden so the leaves are massive and smells.beautiful. Thank you 🥂
So happy I found your video. Buying an expensive dehydrator and finding a place to store it was not an option. Thank you for the oven drying instructions. Much happiness to you and yours.
Texas Rancher, glad you found our video and method to be helpful. This approach sure works well for us! Best, DFJ
What an awesome video. I'm a military member stationed in Japan and I really miss having basil. Your video gave me great idea on how to preserve for the Winter months. Thanks much!
L.L., thanks both for your service and for watching the video. Glad you like it. Enjoy the basil year round - and get back home soon. Best, DFJ
A well done video. Clearly stated, logical and helpful.
Glad it was helpful!
So happy I found your video! I have my basil in the oven right now. Can't wait to use my own freshly grown and dried basil.
Great job on the video Jay. I gathered several good tips from your tutorial. Thanks
I used this drying method last year and I am back to use it AGAIN!
Good for you Claudia Smith. Thanks for saying "hi". Best to your basil drying endeavours. Dirt Farmer Maggie.
Thank you for a concise video, going to harvest basil and parsley today
Awesome Mora Coolen. Hope your harvest and drying experience is great.
i’ve been growing sweet and purple basils for 15 years or so. built a spice dryer with a 2 bulb fixture; can use combinations of 40 and 60 watt bulbs to heat at different temps. it makes up to 200 degrees. about to have a huge harvest in may instead of later june. started seeds in cellflats during february for the sweet, the purple volunteer by the thousands every year since the first. both are great in italian dishes and make your own pizza night(s)!
i like your idea too...
Hi Dave, I have large beds of Thai basils, oregano, thyme, rosemary and also harvest wild fennel... making a savory seasoning blend..for now I just hang everything in well ventilated cool shade....would you be willing to send me a pic of your dryer?
Grew Basil in a container and didn't know how to dry it, thank you!
WOW, so glad your video popped up. We have loads of fresh basils, Italian and Lemon and thanks to you we will enjoy them year round. Thanks.
Lol! Jay this video was made just for me! How did you know? Seems the only thing in the garden growing with this Texas heat is the basil! Mammoth, large leaf italian, siam queen, holy....it is all growing up like trees!! Huge beautiful fragrant! But wayyyyyy more than i can use, or even use and give away!! Freezing hasnt come out as well as id like and i hate for it to waste! But its showing no signs of bolting any time soon! Thanks for the tip! Haha your kitchen is a mirror of mine! Great minds and all that jazz!
Brenda, sounds like you're gonna have some great eating over the cold months! Glad to be of help. Having a great workspace in the kitchen sure makes it more enjoyable and productive. Thanks for writing! Best, DFJ and DFM
Great! Now I learned how to save my basil. Glad that I came across on this video.
Glad we could help vida pdl. Best to you, Dirt Farmer Maggie
You are great at showing all this to us. Thank you Jay.
My pleasure!
I just did it this morning, following your technique, the result was, it absolutely took the Basil’s smell away. It’s no good when no smell and tasted like weeds.
Nootinusa - I'm sorry to hear this! We've used this technique for some time and end up with a wonderful aromatic product that we use over the winter months. Something clearly didn't work. Let's see if we can get to the bottom of this! A couple of things come to mind. First, I assume you used a low temp. Whatever temp you were at, even the one we recommended, could have been too high for the variety of basil you have. Take it down more on a smaller batch, and see what you get. Also, I have found that some varieties of basil are more flavorful than others. Not sure if that's a consideration in your situation or not. We use the Genovese variety. Large flavorful leaves with plentiful oil that will remain in the dried product. Sorry this didn't work out as well for you as it has for us and others that have written in and let us know they got good results. Let me know if you try it again with modification and get any different (better!) results. Thanks for watching - and taking time to write. The best to you and yours! DFJ
I grew Basil & other herbs this year for the first time and I can't believe how wonderful it smells! It's super easy to propogate Basil so now I literally have it growing everywhere so that it could bolt & attract bees and even my Hummingbirds liked it! It's now early Nov & temps are in the 40s in GA and while the H'Birds have migrated south; the remaining Basil blooms are still attracting bees. BTW: I had to hand-pollinate squash this spring which was really sad because of NO BEES so I'm more conscience of planting pollinator attractors and using organic / natural fertilizers. Also, my parsley was filled Swallowtail Butterfly caterpillars this year and I gladly shared my herbs with them! Haha!
Awe! You have a good soul. First time also I am having a garden the mainly reason for pollinators! I have a lavender as well and I saw some visiting as well as hummingbirds since I hanged 3 feeders around the house, only one came to eat the sugar syrup, gave me so much joy, I also installed a bird bath and water for them all the time.
I have bad luck growing Basil outside.. There's always these pests I believe theyre called "Scales" that build these hard little shell huts on the stalks of the Basil and multiply quite quickly.. they'll destroy all my basil if i dont remove them by hand since their shell huts protect them from my homemade pesticides. Caterpillars will all destroy your crops if you let them go.. might not want to share with them too often.. some people grow extra away from their gardens just for the pests to attack those and not the stuff they want to harvest.
far better than any store bought herbs for sure!
Thank you. First time for us to dry our basil
Thank you! I will definitely remember the 3-1 rule when using fresh basil as well! Envious of your kitchen 💓
Thanks for watching and commenting Cmcn143. Glad it was helpful. Thanks for the compliment on the kitchen. It's over 20 years old now! But we still love it. Best, Dirt Farmer Maggie
Thank you, love Basil, did not know i should dry them in the oven. I air dried them in the past and the flavour is not there. Thank you again, I will try. like your video, good and to the point no nonsense.:-)
I live in Arizona in the White Mountain. I will try leaving it out in the sun. Thank you 4 answering. 😉
Esther, we are familiar with that area, and have visited that area many times, including Greer, Show Low and Pinetop. Thanks for writing!
Maybe it's not important with herbs used for cooking, but I was raised to believe that sunlight compromises the medicinal properties in the drying process. That's why they dry tobacco in sheds. We always hung our herbs from the rafters inside the cabin.
@@helenpatterson3858 for tabacco it's vulnerable to mold so keeping it out of the rain while it dries is necessary. It doesn't happen quickly so a rack outside isn't feasable.
Very helpful. Headed out the garden now!
Glad it was helpful! Best, DFJ
Thank you for such an easy-to-do video!
You are so welcome!
Love❤❤basil. Thx for the winter storage tip!
You are so welcome!
Looks much easier than microwaving. I’ll be trying this method!
Thanks for your help Jay! Going to try drying our first batch now
Good luck! Let us know how it worked for you. Contact me at jay@dirtfarmerjay.com. Best, DFJ
I love my basil. I dry in my dehydrator then use my bullet to chop and then put in jars. An oven is a great idea.
Enjoyed your video.
Blessings To All Worthy Of Being Blessed
Thank you so much for watching and commenting. Keep it up!! Best, Dirt Farmer Maggie
Thank you, DirtFamerJay, for this instructional video. We are getting a large basil harvest, and I wasn't sure how to dry it properly. (posted July 24, 2020)
Good video....
I dry down in a cheap 'dehydrator' instead of the oven, and store the leaves uncrushed (rub them into the 'crushed' state at at the time of use). I love basil, but winter comes and it's hard to keep it alive (even in a greenhouse). The crushed product might not be exactly the same, but it's pretty close (at least for a year or two).
One caveat: Thai basil just isn't the same, and it loses most of it's flavor in the drying process. If you like Thai basil (and, I love it), the best you can do is use traditional dried Italian basil and add some fennel seed.
Great 👍 encouragement I truly appreciate 🤗
Good job!
But if you really love Basil you might wanna try putting it in a food processor with garlic and a good olive oil. Then transfer to ice cube trays. Really fresh Basil when and for what ever you need it!
Yes, I do this with basil and oregano
Fresh or dried basil?
@@shawnaoneill2325 fresh
That's called Basil Pesto when you throw it in a food processor with olive oil and garlic. Also add Pine Nuts, Salt and Pepper. Salt helps preserve it. Usually with Pesto you add Parmesan Cheese, but dont add it if your going to freeze it.. just add it to pesto you're going to keep in the fridge.. add the cheese to the frozen pesto when you plan to use it if youre going to use it as Pesto...
@@ChristopherJones16 yes well noted. I dont add anything else bevause thats how i preserve my basil. So i have it all winter long to add to my sauces or appies as needed.
I was learning and getting all sorts of information on this video....and then 3:35 happened and the lesson FLIES out of my head and I start cracking up!
Great to hear! Thanks for writing. Best, DFJ
DirtFarmerJay curious, how do you keep the leaves from curling?
That made me lol too!
Christy Bingham XD you have an EXCELLENT sense of humor then!!!
good video and this how i dry my basil. but, i found out a long time ago that crushing the dried herbs prior to storing releases some of the oil. that means taste and aroma are lost. Better to just pack whole into a container. some will crush and that's OK. oregano and thyme I store on the branches that were cut down and separated prior to drying.
Thank you for that demonstration! I have a lot of basil from my garden.
Thank you! I just dried some of my over-grown basil!
Thank you for this informative video. No need for a dehydrator. Just didn't know how low to set oven . You definitely solved that matter . Does it work with all the herbs ? I assume so. 😊
Mmmm....love BASIL...Great for sooo msny things...garden uses of course...but Oh Boy...just the aroma is stress relieving! =) It has tons of Medicinal value too!
We grow so many wonderful varieties too! My 4 year old granddaughter is crazy about Basil! Says purple is her favorite color and flavor! Good thing it's easy to propagate because that child would eat a whole plant at a time if we let her! 🤣 One of our favorites is Thai Basil and we like it fresh in our ice water...Of course Lemon and Lime Basil are huge hits too! And Holy Basil! Yum!!!
When drying to keep the best and highest nutrient levels go as low on the heat as possible! It makes a great dry tea as well...also great in Shakes! Experiment!
Thanks for sharing and keeping it simple!
Which herbs do you not recommend for using the oven method?
To be honest, Anna Paen, I don't dry any other herbs than basil. But I would think that the bigger the leaf, the better it dries without dissappearing!!
Thank you so much
Just found your channel
I have been wanting to do this but thought it would be difficult
We will have a frost soon so now I will know what to do
I love that you can store it in little jars....I'm gonna make some for close friends that love to cook and make pretty little jar lid decorations.
Thank you for sharing this, my basal plant is growing like it is on steroids and I couldn't use it faster than it was growing. I have the worst green thumb ever, but my basal plants love me. This is an awesome idea, I just finished picking through my washed basal leaves to remove the stems as you suggested and they are in the oven now at 190 degrees. I am so excited about doing this I don't know what to do. I believe I will get some small spice jars and make some labels and give some to my family and friends during the holidays as I do when I make my vanilla extract. Thank you again and God Bless!
Well done . Straight forward video. Im thinking this can be done for thai basil as well. Thank you
Straight to the point. Thank you!!
Excellent tutorial! Thanks for sharing Jay.
My Backyard Garden, thanks for stopping by and taking time to write! We enjoy the ongoing interaction with our subscriber family. so make sure to join us on upcoming adventures! Best Regards, DFJ
Thank you so much for this very educational video!!!
Glad it was helpful!
Great information!! Can't wait to try it!!
I put them in a dehydrator at 108*f.. All veggies have enzymes built in, those enzymes make it possible to assimilate all the nutrients in the leaves. When you cook it, you kill up to 75% of the enzymes, therefore you kill up to 75% of the nutrients and flavor. Dehydrating is a great way to preserve the nutrients and flavor.
Thank you for this concise and easy to understand video. After we dry the basil, how is it stored? Can we just put it in a glass jar? Is there a shelf life? Thanks so much!
33goldengirl - thanks for watching and writing! We store the basil in a screw-top clear canning jar in our spice cabinet, out of the light. I'm uncertain about the shelf life, as we've just added to it as we go, and have been able to have great results ongoing, even from last year's batch! Best Regards, DFJ and DFM
@@DirtFarmerJay Thank you so much!