The taste of dried bay leaves far surpasses that of fresh leaves, they taste up to four times more intense. Bay leaves can be used to flavor meats, sauces, soups and many other dishes. Air-drying them is the best way to preserve their tasty and fragrant essential oils, but you can also use the oven, microwave or dryer.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Air Dry Bay Leaves
Step 1. Line a baking sheet with kitchen paper
Choose a baking sheet large enough to comfortably accommodate all the bay leaves, without them touching each other. Use 2-3 sheets of kitchen paper, depending on the size of the pan. Place them side by side in the pan until completely coated.
Step 2. Spread the bay leaves on the paper
Do not overlap them and leave some space between them so that they dehydrate evenly. If there are a lot of leaves, use more than one baking sheet.
Do not mix bay leaves with other herbs as they have different drying times
Step 3. Store the pan in a warm, dry and well-ventilated place
The kitchen table or counter is the perfect place. Make sure the leaves are not exposed to direct sunlight or they will wilt and turn brown.
Indirect sunlight is acceptable, but not ideal
Step 4. Check and turn the bay leaves after one week
Turning them upside down allows them to dehydrate evenly and at the same rate. If you notice that some leaves are drying out faster than others, make a note of their location and check them again after 3-4 days.
Step 5. Let them dry for another week
See if there is any residual moisture in the leaves. If in some places they are still soft or dark green in color, it is best to wait another 3-4 days and then check again.
If some of the leaves are already dry, remove them from the pan and store them in an airtight container
Step 6. Detach the stems from the leaves and store them in an airtight container
Only the whole leaves of the laurel are used, so remove and discard the stalk before placing them in an airtight bag or food container. Depending on how you plan to use them in the future, you can leave them whole or crumble them before transferring them to the bag or container. Keep them in a dark and cool place, where the temperature always remains between 18 and 24 ° C.
- If you prefer to crumble the leaves, break them up with your hands and then crush them with the back of a spoon until they are reduced to a coarse powder. Alternatively, you can use pestle and mortar.
- Note that the whole leaves keep their taste and scent intact longer.
- If you store them properly, bay leaves can last up to a year.
Method 2 of 4: Dry Bay Leaves in the Dryer
Step 1. Set the dryer to a temperature between 35 and 45 ° C and let it warm up
Turn it on and let it warm up for about 30 minutes. If you live in an area with high humidity, set the dryer to a temperature of 50 ° C.
Before you begin, consult your dryer instruction manual to see what the suggested temperature is for drying bay leaves
Step 2. Rinse the bay leaves under a gentle stream of cold water
Adjust the tap so that the water comes out with little pressure. Hold the leaves in your hand and massage them gently to remove dust and any other impurities. After rinsing them, shake them gently to drain them and finally pat them dry with absorbent paper.
- If you prefer, you can put the leaves in a colander and move them gently with your fingers.
- At this point let them dry for a couple of hours before putting them in the dryer.
Step 3. Arrange the bay leaves on the trays
Make sure they don't overlap and don't touch each other, otherwise they won't dry out evenly. If the dryer has several shelves, you can use more than one tray to keep them at the right distance.
Keep in mind that the temperature inside the dryer is not uniform. The leaves placed on the higher shelves will dry out more slowly than those on the shelves below. Use the lower shelves if you want to shorten the time
Step 4. Let the leaves dry for 1 to 4 hours, checking them every hour
The time it takes to dry bay leaves in the dryer varies from 1 to 4 hours, depending on the model and the humidity in the air. If after an hour they are still not dry and crumbly, put them back in the dryer and check them again after 30-60 minutes.
Consult the dryer instruction manual to see what the suggested time to dry bay leaves is
Step 5. Remove the bay leaves from the dryer when dry and let them cool
You will know they are completely dehydrated when they start to sag or crumble and some stalks will split in two. Place the trays on the kitchen worktop and let the leaves cool for an hour.
Protect bay leaves from direct sunlight as they cool
Step 6. Remove the stems from the leaves and store them in an airtight container or food bag
Carefully separate the petioles from the leaves and decide whether to keep them whole or crumbled. Keep in mind that whole leaves retain their taste and scent longer, but if you intend to use them crumbled you can crush them now to save time in the future.
- Keep them in a cool, dark place. Ideally they should remain at a temperature between 18 and 24 ° C.
- You can use the stalks to fertilize the garden or for compost.
Method 3 of 4: Dry the Bay Leaves in the Oven
Step 1. Set the oven to the lowest available temperature
Ideal for drying bay leaves is to set it at a temperature of around 40-45 ° C. If the lowest available temperature exceeds 45 ° C, leave the door slightly open all the time. Alternatively, you can use an electric food warmer.
- If the temperature exceeds 45 ° C, the bay leaves will lose some of their flavor; it is therefore important to leave the oven door slightly open.
- If you leave the oven door open, make sure there are no children or pets nearby.
Step 2. Arrange the bay leaves on a baking sheet
The pan must be clean and large enough to comfortably accommodate all the leaves. Arrange them so that they are at least half an inch apart.
Make sure there are no oil residues on the surface of the pan; they could interfere with the dehydration process
Step 3. Place the pan on the lowest shelf of the oven
The shelf closest to the lower coil is the best place to dry the leaves. Bay leaves must become dry and crumbly. If you know that the temperature is higher in the back of the oven, remember to turn the pan halfway through the process.
Remove any other shelves or trays from the oven to allow hot air to circulate freely
Step 4. Turn the bay leaves after 30 minutes
Flip them over one at a time to make sure they dehydrate evenly on both sides. Put on an oven mitt and place the pan on the stove or slide it out so you don't have to put your hands in the oven. Grab the leaves by the stem and turn them carefully.
If you had to keep the oven door slightly open, rotate the pan as well so that the leaves that were previously placed near the door are now on the opposite side of the oven
Step 5. Allow 45 minutes to pass before checking the leaves
Put on the oven mitt again and slide the pan out. Touch the leaves to see if they are already completely dehydrated. If you can bend them without breaking, put them back in the oven for 15-30 minutes, then check them again.
If the bay leaves are already very dry and crumbly, take them out of the oven and let them cool in the pan
Step 6. Turn off the oven as soon as the leaves have become dry and crumbly
Generally it takes about an hour to dry them in the traditional oven, but it may take longer if the air is very humid. Once ready, turn off the oven and let them cool for about an hour in the pan.
If the leaves are very crumbly and faded, remove the pan from the oven and place it on the stove to limit residual heat
Step 7. Remove the stems from the leaves and store them in an airtight container or food bag
Separate the petioles from the leaves and use them to fertilize the garden or for compost. Transfer the leaves to an airtight container or resealable bag. If you store them properly, they will keep all their scent and flavor intact for over a year.
- You can use dried bay leaves for up to three years, but over time they will lose their aroma and flavor.
- You can crush the leaves and grind them into a coarse powder that is convenient to use in the kitchen, but in that case they will lose their properties faster.
- If you are cooking, you can use bay leaves right away. Remember that it only takes a couple of them to add flavor to most dishes.
Method 4 of 4: Microwave the Bay Leaves
Step 1. Line a microwave-safe dish with kitchen paper
Do not use paper made from recycled paper as it contains small pieces of metal that could generate a spark. Alternatively, you can use a clean kitchen towel.
If you are using a cloth, make sure it has no metal labels to prevent it from sparking in the microwave
Step 2. Arrange the bay leaves on the paper and then cover them with another sheet of absorbent paper
Arrange them so that they are not overlapping or touching each other, then cover them with another sheet of kitchen paper.
If you have chosen to use a cloth, fold it over on itself to cover the leaves
Step 3. Place the dish in the microwave and turn the oven on at maximum power for 35-45 seconds
Bay leaves are rich in oils so they dry out slowly, but be careful not to burn them. The time it takes to dehydrate them varies according to the power of the microwave oven. If it reaches 1,000 watts, set a time of 35 seconds. You can reduce the interval to 30 seconds or increase it to 50 seconds depending on the oven power.
Don't leave the bay leaves in the microwave for more than 70-80 seconds or they will likely burn
Step 4. Remove the stalks and store the leaves in an airtight container
Bay leaves are ready when they are dry and crumbly. If they are still soft and you can bend them without breaking, put them back in the microwave for 10-20 seconds, then check them again.
- If the leaves have turned brown and smell burnt, throw them away and try again with more fresh leaves.
- Whole leaves keep their taste and scent intact for longer, but if you prefer, you can crumble them and grind them into a coarse powder that is convenient to use in the kitchen.
Advice
- Remember that dried herbs have a more intense taste than fresh ones. Pay attention to the directions in the recipe and adjust the quantities accordingly.
- Use the microwave if you only want to dry a few bay leaves.
