Quick Answer: How to Dehydrate Pumpkin Leaves at Home
Here are the best ways to dry pumpkin leaves at home – air drying (the good age-old method), using a Food Dehydrator, and drying them using an oven. Air drying is slowest and cannot be done at will, but cheapest while food dehydrator and oven are faster but needs appliances.
Pumpkin, commonly considered as a cultivar of winter squash, is consumed for its pulp, leaves, and seeds.
The low-calorie vegetable assists with losing weight, incorporates numerous vitamins, along with several antioxidant properties. Dried pumpkin leaves are enriched with Vitamin C, and Vitamin C.
One of the simplest ways to provide flavor during the winter is to dry pumpkin leaves. There are a multitude of alternatives for preparing them; how do you pick the simplest one?
Don’t worry; we’ve put in hours of testing and practice to come up with three simple ways to dry pumpkin leaves.
How to Dry Pumpkin Leaves Using Air Drying
Time needed: 7 days.
You can air-dry your pumpkin leaves as it is the simplest method available for doing so.
Minimal efforts are required and you will be able to dry pumpkin leaves in bulk.
- What will you need?
1. Pumpkin leaves
2. Colander
3. A pair of kitchen scissors or a sharp knife
4. Baking sheets
5. Trays
6. Cloth
7. Foil - Wash the Leaves
Place your fresh pumpkin leaves under running water and rinse them thoroughly. Use your fingers to get rid of any dirt participles or insects from the pumpkin leaves.
Do this 3 to 4 times. Place these soaked pumpkin leaves in a colander to remove the access water. - Cut the Leaves
To make the drying process simpler, cut the pumpkin leaves into small pieces. This is possible by a pair of kitchen scissors or you can chop them with a sharp knife.
- Arrange the Leaves
Place the baking sheets or tissue paper on the tray. You may also use a clean, old newspaper.
These will absorb any moisture from the pumpkin leaves as they dry.
Make sure that you are placing the pumpkin leaves in a single layer.
They should not be on top of each other and should have a tiny gap in between them. This way, air will be able to circulate nicely. - Air-dry the Leaves
To keep bugs away, keep the tray of dried pumpkin leaves in the shade and cover it with a cloth or foil. To allow air to pass through, pierce holes in the foil.
Allow the leaves to air dry for seven days. - Check the Leaves
Keep an eye on the condition of the leaves after 3 to 4 days. Continue this process for a week or until the pumpkin leaves begin to crack.
Watch how to check the condition of leaves this here.
Dry Pumpkin Leaves Using a Food Dehydrator
Time taken: 6-8 hours
Optimum temperature: 125 degrees Fahrenheit
What will you need?
- Pumpkin leaves
- A colander
- Dehydrator trays
- A pair of kitchen scissors or a sharp knife
If you wish to dry your pumpkin leaves within a few hours, you can use a food dehydrator.
This will make the process quicker and you will have crispy pumpkin leaves within no time.
Pick the Leaves
Make sure the pumpkin leaves are tender, young, and soft. These have the most flavour in them when dried.
Wash the Leaves
Place your fresh pumpkin leaves under running water and rinse them thoroughly. Use your fingers to get rid of any dirt participles or insects from the pumpkin leaves.
Do this 3 to 4 times.
Place these soaked pumpkin leaves in a colander to remove the access water. If required, you should get rid of the stringy veins.
Cut the Leaves
To make the drying process simpler, cut the pumpkin leaves into small pieces. This is possible by a pair of kitchen scissors or you can chop them with a sharp knife.
Make sure you are cutting the pumpkin leaves into strips for speeding the drying process.
Arrange the Leaves
Make sure that you are placing the pumpkin leaves in a single layer. They should not be on top of each other and should have a tiny gap in between them.
This way, air will be able to circulate nicely.
Prepare the Dehydrator
Set up the food dehydrator. Dry the pumpkin leaves at 125 degrees Fahrenheit until they are crisp. Watch how to carry out this method here :
Watch the Leaves
Keep an eye on them to ensure that you don’t overheat them.
Let them Cool
Allow the dried pumpkin leaves to cool for a few hours.
Dry Pumpkin Leaves Using an Oven
Time taken: 3 to 4 hours
Optimum temperature: 170 degrees Fahrenheit.
What will you need?
- Pumpkin leaves
- A colander
- Baking sheets
- A pair of scissors or a knife
If you require dried pumpkin leaves instantly, you can use an oven. This is the fastest method to dry your pumpkin leaves properly.
However, you will need to keep a constant watch on the leaves as they dry to ensure they don’t overheat and burn.
Wash the Leaves
Place your fresh pumpkin leaves under running water and rinse them thoroughly.
Use your fingers to get rid of any dirt participles or insects from the leaves. Do this 3 to 4 times. Place these soaked leaves in a colander to remove the access water.
Cut the Leaves
To make the drying process simpler, cut the pumpkin leaves into small pieces. This is possible by a pair of kitchen scissors or you can chop them with a sharp knife.
Arrange the Leaves
Place these pumpkin leaves on cookie sheets, and then arrange them on the cooling racks.
Make sure that you are placing the pumpkin leaves in a single layer. They should not be on top of each other and should have a tiny gap in between them.
This way, air will be able to circulate nicely.
Preheat the Oven
Heat your oven beforehand, to the lowest setting. Ideally, we will recommend 170 degrees Fahrenheit or anything below.
Dry the Leaves
Allow the pumpkin leaves to bake for 3 to 4 hours. Let them dry until they are crispy and break easily between your fingers.
Watch the Leaves
Keep an eye on them to ensure that you don’t overheat them.
Let them Cool
Allow the dried pumpkin leaves to cool down for a few hours before you store them.
The Proper Way to Store Dried Pumpkin Leaves
You can use airtight containers, glass containers, or mason jars to store dry pumpkin leaves.
You should keep dry pumpkin leaves away from heat, and jars should be kept in a cool, dark place.
Pumpkin leaves that have been dried can be kept for up to a year in the refrigerator. One can use them in the same way as fresh ones are.
After a year, you can still use them, but the storage period will reduce the scent.
Knowing When the Pumpkin Leaves have Dried Properly
Dried pumpkin leaves will easily snap in between your fingers. They have a crunchy texture and are easily breakable. In case they feel a bit moist, you will need to dry them for some more time.
Our Take on Which Method is Best
For people who live in tropical climates, air drying is the best option. This process, combined with a food dehydrator, is ideal for drying pumpkin leaves in bulk for long-term storage.
You can use an oven to dry pumpkin leaves in a short amount of time. However, you will have to be on the lookout to ensure they don’t overheat and burn.
FAQs
No, it’s not needed. If you blanch your pumpkin leaves, it will extract the oxalic acids that prevent your body from absorbing critical nutrients, including calcium and iron.
Therefore, you shouldn’t blanch your dried pumpkin leaves.
You can use an oven to dry your pumpkin leaves. It will only consume 3 to 4 hours and you will have crispy dried pumpkin leaves in no time.
Cleaning your pumpkin leaves before you dry them is a crucial step. This will ensure there is no dirt on the pumpkin leaves and also get rid of any insects.
You can use a colander for effective results.
You should not let your pumpkin leaves overlap or be placed on top of each other. If you do so, they won’t be able to dry evenly and air would not circulate properly between the leaves.
Always ensure that there is a little gap between them for best results.
Bottom Line
We have discussed three easy methods to dry pumpkin leaves for different instances. We hope this guide made you familiar with how you can personally dry pumpkin leaves at home.
If you find this article insightful, kindly share it with your friends and family, and do not hesitate to leave any questions in the comments section below!