How to Dry Bay Leaves_Food and Entertaining_Common Sense of Life

Method 1 Method 1 of 3: Harvesting Bay Leaves for Drying

1 Harvest bay leaves from plants that are at least 2 years old.
2 Pick leaves during the middle of summer. The midsummer season allows bay leaves to produce their oils more abundantly, making harvesting easier.
3 Take 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.
4 Choose leaves that are healthy and undamaged. You should pick the largest leaves that are available, as these will have the strongest flavor and fragrance.

Method 2 Method 2 of 3: Drying Bay Leaves Naturally

1 Rinse the bay leaves under a cool, gentle stream of water. Shake off the water and pat them with a paper towel to dry.
2 Place 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.
3 Spread 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.
4 Leave the bay leaves in a warm, dry room that has plenty of ventilation. They should not be in direct light of any kind.
5 Allow the leaves to dry for 2 weeks. You can flip them once during the 2 week period to ensure each side dries evenly.
6 Notice 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.

Method 3 Method 3 of 3: Drying Bay Leaves with a Dehydrator

1 Pre-heat your dehydrator to 95 to 115 degrees Fahrenheit (35 to 46 degrees Celsius).
- 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.
2 Rinse the bay leaves under a cool, gentle stream of water. Shake off the water and pat them with a paper towel to dry.
3 Arrange 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 Check the instruction booklet that came with your dehydrator for any other instructions.
5 Check the bay leaves periodically. You will know they have completed drying when they begin to curl or crumble and the stems start to split.

How to Dry Bay Leaves