7 Best Powdered Basils (+How To Make Your Own)
Quick Answer
The 7 best powdered basils include:
- Simply Organic Basil
- McCormick Culinary Ground Basil
- Amazon Brand Happy Belly Basil Leaves
- Watkins Gourmet Spice Organic Basil
- Badia Spices Organic Basil Leaves
- The Spice Hunter Basil
- McCormick Gourmet Thai Basil
You can also make your own by harvesting fresh basil, drying it, blending, and storing. This ensures you have fresh-flavored powdered basil anytime!
Read on for more detail
Powdered basil is definitely something you should keep in your pantry. It helps add a subtle pop of herby flavor to your dish, and it can last much longer in the kitchen compared to fresh basil.
The beauty of dried basil is that you can make your own as well — this is especially helpful if you have an abundance of fresh basil leaves, and no way to use them before they spoil!
It really will make a huge difference in your cooking if you put in the effort to choose the best dried basil leaves since this way you can get the authentic flavor of basil without having to use fresh leaves.
Which are the best powdered basils to use? The best powdered basil to use (if you aren’t making your own) should be made from the best quality basil leaves, should have a full flavor, and should come in a bottle or container that allows you to easily measure and use the basil leaves.
Luckily for you, we have compiled a list of our top recommendations and a step-by-step guide on how to make your own powdered basil!
How To Choose The Best Powdered Basil
Taking time to choose the best powdered basil is worth it since the quality of the powdered basil you choose will directly affect how your food tastes.
While powdered basil is a simple enough ingredient on its own, here are some things to consider when picking one out!
Ingredients
The ingredients for powdered basil should be basil alone.
This seems fairly straightforward, but there are some powdered basil brands that include filler ingredients that could be other herbs, which could take away the flavor of the basil.
Make sure to choose powdered basil that is made with 100% basil — ideally, organic, high-quality basil — to ensure you get the best flavor.
Flavor
There are a few different varieties of fresh basil, which means that there are a few powdered basil varieties to choose from as well.
You could go for a basic powdered basil, but there is also the option of sweet basil as well, which obviously has a sweeter flavor to it, and also can taste slightly mintier.
Strength
Take into account the strength of the basil leaves you are looking to purchase. Some powdered basil options are stronger in flavor than others, and some are obviously weaker.
This will be up to personal preference, but the benefit of choosing stronger-tasting powdered basil is that you can use less per meal, so the bottle lasts longer.
Coarseness Of Leaves
Powdered basil should be a little coarser than a powder, but the leaves should not be so big and coarse that they add a new texture to your meal.
Finding the right coarseness of the dried basil leaves will depend on what you prefer, so keep this in mind when choosing the best option for you.
Also consider what you will be using the powdered basil for most often, as basil for pizza toppings can be coarser than basil for tomato sauces and so on.
Ease Of Use
The last consideration to keep in mind is how the powdered basil has been packaged, and how easy this packaging is to use.
A spice bottle with small holes or openings might make it easier to evenly measure and add the basil to a meal, but bags of powdered basil are best if you like to reuse spice containers.
The Best Powdered Basils
Now that you are ready to choose the best powdered basil to use in your kitchen, here are our top recommendations!
| Rank | Product | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Simply Organic Basil | 100% organic Egyptian basil, potent and aromatic, no additives |
| 2 | McCormick Culinary Ground Basil | Fine ground basil, no MSG, 12 oz shaker bottle, hand-selected basil leaves |
| 3 | Amazon Brand Happy Belly Basil Leaves | Great flavor, small bottle with a lot of aroma, Kosher |
| 4 | Watkins Gourmet Spice Organic Basil | Organic, Kosher, high-quality, fresh and peppery taste |
| 5 | Badia Spices Organic Basil Leaves | No additives or fillers, top-quality basil leaves, organic |
| 6 | The Spice Hunter Basil | Sweet and aromatic, organic, Kosher |
| 7 | McCormick Gourmet Thai Basil | Thai basil, sweet and aromatic with licorice flavor |
1. Simply Organic Basil
Simply Organic is a great brand, and as the name suggests, Simply Organic Basil is Certified Organic, so you know you are getting the best of the best!
Other than being organic, the powdered basil is also non-GMO, Kosher, and ETO-free. Made from organic Egyptian basil leaves, this powdered basil is pungent, woodsy, aromatic, herbaceous, and with sweet and minty notes,
There are no additives or fillers used to make the powdered basil — it contains 100% basil, and that’s it!
The pure, potent flavor from Simply Organic Basil pairs well with many meals and makes a great additive with other herbs too, such as parsley, oregano, rosemary, and thyme. It will soon be one of your go-to herbs in the kitchen.
2. McCormick Culinary Ground Basil
The McCormick Culinary Ground Basil is a very fine powdered ground basil that is ideal to add to soups, sauces, and various meals.
The flavor of the basil is mint-like with hints of anise, making it slightly bitter and musty. It is uniformly ground down to provide a consistently soft and lump-free texture, which will give you great quality with each meal.
Made from just basil, this ground basil is created from hand-selected whole basil leaves, and the powdered basil is Kosher and features no added MSG.
Sold in a 12-oz shaker bottle, the ground basil is perfect to be kept away in the pantry and then easily added to sauces and meals when needed.
3. Amazon Brand Happy Belly Basil Leaves
The Happy Belly Basil Leaves is a great powdered basil to keep in the pantry to flavor meats, vegetables, fish, sauces, soups, pizza toppings, and so much more.
It is an essential seasoning packed with pure basil flavor which will bring that authentic Italian flavor to your food. It also pairs so well with many other spices, herbs, and ingredients.
The small bottle packs a punch of flavor, and you will only need a small amount in each meal to bring out great flavor. It is certified Kosher, too!
4. Watkins Gourmet Spice Organic Basil
Watkins Gourmet Spice Organic Basil is a bottle of superior quality basil leaves that will add amazing herby notes to any meal you want.
The basil is USDA-certified organic, non-GMO, gluten-free, and Kosher. The basil leaves are sourced from the Middle East and are known for their fresh, peppery taste, which shines in these powdered basil leaves. It is a great herb to add to tomatoes and other vegetables.
The coarseness of the Watkins Gourmet Basil is semi-coarse, which means you can use it in a variety of ways, whether for adding flavor to sauces and stews or topping onto a pizza for that extra herby-fresh flavor.
5. Badia Spices Organic Basil Leaves
The Badia Spices Organic Basil Leaves are USDA-certified organic, gluten-free, Kosher, and full of flavor!
The powdered basil leaves are sold in an easy-shake bottle, so you can simply add as much as you want into your meals for a kick of basil flavor.
There are no artificial flavors or preservatives in the bottle, so you are just getting pure, high-quality basil leaves — nothing else.
This small bottle will last for quite some time in your kitchen, as only a small amount of the aromatic basil leaves are needed to add great basil flavor to any dish.
6. The Spice Hunter Basil
The Kosher Certified basil leaves from the Spice Hunter are also organic — so you know you will be getting top-quality herbs that suit your needs.
These organic basil leaves are as close to fresh as you could get, which is especially helpful for when you want to flavor fresh foods such as tomatoes and salads, but they also do so well in sauces and other meals too.
These basil leaves add a sweet and aromatic flavor to food, and the bottle they come in is easy to use, so adding basil to your food is a breeze.
To top it off — there is a delicious Mediterranean recipe on the side of the bottle that makes the best use of the basil leaves!
7. McCormick Gourmet Thai Basil
If you are looking for something a little bit different, the McCormick Gourmet Thai Basil is a great option!
Thai basil is a blend between the flavor and aroma of traditional sweet basil, but with a hint of some licorice too.
This powdered basil is a darker color, as the herb has bright green leaves, purple stalks, and beautiful dark purple flowers.
Use Thai basil in soups, noodle dishes, salad dressings, and whatever you think it would taste best!
How To Make Powdered Basil At Home
If you have an abundance of fresh basil leaves at home, whether from a special at the local grocery store or from your herb garden, you want to make the most of the basil leaves, but you might not be able to use them all before they spoil.
The best way to preserve these basil leaves is to dry the basil leaves and make your own basil powder. To do this, you would simply need your basil leaves and a dehydrator!
Here are some simple steps to follow to make powdered basil at home.
1. Pick Your Basil Leaves
The first step is to pick out your basil leaves. You want to use as many of the basil leaves as possible, but make sure to discard any brown or slimy leaves if there are any.
2. Wash The Leaves
The leaves need to be dry when you place them in the dehydrator, but you also need to make sure that the leaves are clean and free from debris.
If needed, gently wash the leaves under running water, and then pat them dry with some paper towel or a kitchen cloth.
3. Dehydrate The Leaves
Place the basil leaves flat onto the dehydrator sheet, making sure that there is enough space between them and that they are kept in a single layer.
Use the dehydrator according to the instructions, and leave the basil leaves until they are dried out completely.
4. Blend The Leaves
Once the basil leaves have been left to dry, you can place them into a blender, a food processor, or coffee grinder, and blend until they reach the consistency that you prefer.
5. Bottle The Powder
Once the basil leaves are at your desired coarseness, pour them into a clean and dry spice jar, seal, and label.
How To Make Powdered Basil Leaves In The Microwave
You might not have a dehydrator sitting at home ready to use, and you might need another method of drying basil leaves out. Did you know that you could dry out your basil leaves in the microwave?
Drying basil leaves in the microwave is quick, and it is a great way to preserve the flavor of the fresh leaves.
Here is how to make powdered basil leaves using a microwave.
1. Pick The Leaves
Pick out the basil leaves you want to use, then rinse and dry them to remove any debris and moisture.
2. Place In Microwave
Place a paper towel down onto a microwave-safe plate, and lay the dry fresh basil leaves down in a single layer, leaving some space between them.
At medium-high power, place the basil leaves into the microwave for 30 seconds at a time. Keep checking the basil leaves every 30 seconds until they are fully dried.
If they seem to be burning, you can lower the power slightly. On medium-high power, the basil leaves should dry within 3 minutes or so.
Keep in mind that smaller leaves will dry out quicker, so these might need to be removed before the bigger leaves, or you can place similar-sized leaves together.
You might have to do this in batches so that you don’t overload the plate in the microwave, but it is still quicker than a dehydrator!
3. Blend The Basil Leaves
Once dry, place the basil leaves in a food processor and blend until the basil leaves are at your preferred consistency. Place this in a clean, dry spice bottle, then label and seal.
Final Thoughts
Powdered basil is definitely something your pantry needs, and you will find yourself reaching for it whenever you need a sweet, minty, and aromatic herb to add to your sauces, pizza toppings, stews, salads, and more.
Take a read through our above recommendations on the best powdered basils to choose from, as well as two methods on how to make your own powdered basil at home so that none of your fresh leaves ever have to go to waste!
Related Questions
Now that you’ve learned about powdered basil, our top recommendations, and how to make it at home, here are some additional questions we thought you might have.
Which type of basil is best for cooking?
Sweet basil is possibly the most popular type of basil used for cooking. It is aromatic, sweet, and minty, and adds wonderful flavor to a dish.
How do you make dried basil taste fresh?
To make the most of dried basil, and to bring out its fresh flavor, you need to place it into your cooking sooner.
The longer it has to cook, the more the flavor will be brought out, and it will need to absorb the liquids from the dish to bring out the flavor too.
