Tools for Drying VegetablesChoosing a Bamboo Basket, Hanging Net or Cooling Rack
All you need to dry vegetables is sunlight, a breeze, and something to lay them on.
What you lay them on should let light and air through. Which tool suits you depends on where you live and how much you dry, so this page shows the tools we actually use, with their pros and cons.
| Tool | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Bamboo basket | Laying flat on a balcony or windowsill. Small batches you want to turn often | Blows away easily. Needs a net to keep bugs off |
| Hanging drying net | Hanging from a clothesline to dry a lot at once. Keeping bugs and dust off | Turning things over inside the net takes a little more effort |
| Cake cooling rack | Starting with what you already have. Drying garlic or fruit | Pieces can fall through a wide mesh as they shrink |
Bamboo basket
A flat bamboo basket (zaru) lets the vegetables soak up plenty of sun. Most of the photos on this site were taken with vegetables drying on a bamboo basket.
- It sits flat, so it’s easy to lay vegetables out and turn them over
- Bamboo absorbs and releases moisture, so the vegetables don’t get steamy
- It’s a natural material, and its color deepens nicely with use
On windy days, put a weight on it or move it somewhere sheltered so it doesn’t blow away. If bugs or dust bother you, cover it with a net, or choose one with a net attached.
After use, scrub it with a brush and let it dry completely before putting it away. If you store it damp, the basket itself can go moldy.
Ours is a Japanese-made bamboo basket, 36 cm (14 in) across, from Umezawa Mokuzai Kogeisha in Mie Prefecture. More in Japanese Bamboo Basket by Umezawa.
Hanging drying net
A three-tier drying net that hooks onto a clothesline.
- The fine mesh and zipper keep out bugs, birds and dust
- With three tiers, you can dry a lot at once
- It hangs, so air flows from underneath too
A type with a wide opening, like the one in the photo, makes it easier to lay vegetables out and turn them over. More in Onoe Hanging Drying Net.
A hanging dry net made for drying dishes at a campsite also works for vegetables. A purpose-made drying net is easier to use, but a camping net folds up small and takes no storage space. More in Coleman Hanging Dry Net.
Cake cooling rack
A metal rack for cooling baked cakes. Even without a bamboo basket or a drying net, a cake cooling rack, oven rack or frying rack will do.
- Metal is easy to wash and doesn’t hold smells, which is handy for strong-smelling vegetables like garlic, or juicy fruit
- Racks with feet leave a gap underneath, so air flows better
With a wide mesh, vegetables can fall through the gaps as they dry and shrink, so once they’re partly dry, move them to a basket. More in Tiger Crown Cake Cooling Rack.
Other handy things
- Paper towels: For drying the vegetables well before laying them out. Leftover water slows drying and can lead to mold.
- Clothespins and weights: To keep the basket from blowing away.
- Insect netting or cheesecloth: To cover the basket and keep bugs and dust off.
For storage
We store dried vegetables in zip-top bags such as Ziploc. They’re clear, so you can see what’s inside at a glance, and you can write the date and the vegetable on the outside with a marker.
- Desiccant: A food-safe silica gel packet keeps out moisture. You can save the ones that come in snack and seaweed packages.
- Airtight jars: Herbs and finely crumbled vegetables can go in a jar and be used like a seasoning.
More in How to Store Dried Vegetables.