This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards.
wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article received 20 testimonials and 96% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status.
This article has been viewed 292,376 times.
Learn more...
Bay leaves grow on a bay laurel tree, which can be found outdoors in the natural ground or planted in large containers (do not confuse with other laurels,whose leaves are poisonous). People cook with bay leaves in order to season their meats, sauces, soups and other hearty dishes. Bay leaves are also used in herbal remedies, to soothe inflammation and it has also been effective in keeping out weevils and other pests. When bay leaves are dried, they can be stored and used for up to a year. Dry bay leaves by picking and separating them, then leaving them in a well ventilated area that is warm and dry until all the moisture has evaporated.
Steps
Harvesting Bay Leaves for Drying
-
1Harvest bay leaves from plants that are at least 2 years old.[1]
-
2Pick leaves during the middle of summer. The midsummer season allows bay leaves to produce their oils more abundantly, making harvesting easier.Advertisement
-
3Take the bay leaves off the trees in the morning, after the dew has evaporated. This will ensure your leaves do not wilt.
- Detach the bay leaves gently from the trees. You do not want to bruise them.[2]
-
4Choose leaves that are healthy and undamaged. You should pick the largest leaves that are available, as these will have the strongest flavor and fragrance.
Drying Bay Leaves Naturally
-
1Rinse the bay leaves under a cool, gentle stream of water. Shake off the water and pat them with a paper towel to dry.
-
2Place paper towels on a baking sheet. Make sure you have enough paper towels to cover the sheet, but you do not need more than a single layer.
-
3Spread the bay leaves onto the paper towels. Do not put leaves on top of one another; they should be separate and have their own space.
-
4Leave the bay leaves in a warm, dry room that has plenty of ventilation. They should not be in direct light of any kind.
-
5Allow the leaves to dry for 2 weeks. You can flip them once during the 2 week period to ensure each side dries evenly.
-
6Notice whether there is any remaining moisture left in the leaves. If they are still dark green in spots or soft, they may need 1 more week to dry.
Drying Bay Leaves with a Dehydrator
-
1Pre-heat your dehydrator to 95 to 115 degrees Fahrenheit (35 to 46 degrees Celsius).[3]
- Set the heat level higher depending on the area you live in. Places with high humidity, such as Florida, will need a higher dehydrator setting.
-
2Rinse the bay leaves under a cool, gentle stream of water. Shake off the water and pat them with a paper towel to dry.
-
3Arrange the herbs on dehydrator trays, in a single layer. Place the trays in the dehydrator and allow them to dry for 1 to 4 hours.[4]
-
4Check the instruction booklet that came with your dehydrator for any other instructions.
-
5Check the bay leaves periodically. You will know they have completed drying when they begin to curl or crumble and the stems start to split.
Community Q&A
-
QuestionCan I dry them in the oven?Community AnswerYes, you can, but you need to dry them on a low temperature, or use the drying mode on your oven if your model has one.
-
QuestionCan I dry bay leaves in a microwave?Community AnswerThat's not a good method for drying them.
-
QuestionDo I have to wash the bay leaves first?Community AnswerYes, in a way. You should blanch them in boiling water to remove the slippery film off the leaf before drying.
Warnings
- Do not dry your bay leaves outside in the sun. This will cause discoloration of the leaves and the herbs will lose their flavor.⧼thumbs_response⧽
Things You'll Need
- Baking sheet
- Paper towels
- Dehydrator
References
About This Article
To dry bay leaves, place paper towels in a single layer on a baking sheet and spread the bay leaves onto the paper towels. Leave the bay leaves for 2 weeks in a warm, dry room with plenty of ventilation, flipping them once during that period. If you prefer, you can place them in a dehydrator instead. Rinse the bay leaves in cool water and pat them dry with a paper towel, then place them in a single layer into the dehydrator. Let them dry for 1-4 hours, with the dehydrator heated to between 95° and 115°F. Keep reading to learn how to harvest bay leaves!