Whenever my herb garden decides to cooperate and give me a plentiful harvest, I find myself buried in fresh herbs. Instead of letting them go to waste, I dry them for later! I’ll teach you how to dehydrate parsley in the air fryer for a quick and easy drying method.
Then, you’ll be able to use your parsley all year long in your favorite dishes!
Can I Dry Parsley in My Air Fryer?
Yes, you can dry parsley in the air fryer.
While it isn’t the quickest method it’s still very fast and very low maintenance. I actually prefer the texture I get from drying parsley in my air fryer over other methods.
However, if you’re in a rush, check out the quickest method to dry parsley in the microwave in less than 2 minutes!
How Long to Dehydrate Parsley in an Air Fryer
Generally, it takes between 2-3 minutes to dehydrate parsley in the air fryer.
This time may vary depending on the size and power of your particular air fryer model, as well as how thick you layer the parsley in the basket.
You can always start here and add a minute or two as needed to get your parsley completely dry.
How to Dry Parsley in the Air Fryer: Step By Step Instructions
Start with clean, dry, fresh parsley
Preheat your air fryer to 360 degrees F, following manufacturer guidelines
Trim the stems to get rid of excess (so it fits better in the basket too)
Spread out your parsley in a single layer in the preheated air fryer basket (if you have a lot, you may need to do this in batches)
Tie parsley stems together, or top with a rack or trivet to keep it from flying up during cooking
Air fry at 360 for 2-3 minutes, then check for doneness
If additional time is needed, make sure to shake or rearrange for even air circulation
Parsley is completely dehydrated when leaves are dry and crispy to the touch (but not blackened – that is overdone)
Separate leaves from stems by holding the stems in one hand and using your other hands to squeeze the leaves over a bowl or plate. They’ll drop down and then you can crush up finer if desired
Store dried parsley in an airtight container or spice jar
On average it takes me about 2 ½ minutes in the air fryer to dehydrate my parsley to a full dry state.
Make sure that you preheat your air fryer as indicated, or you’ll need to add 2-3 extra minutes to cook time just to get it up to temp. Learn more about how to preheat a Ninja air fryer for more assistance.
Note that this drying method works with both curly and italian flat leaf parsley, so you’re covered no matter what you have on hand!
Most fresh herbs can be dried in an air fryer, so feel free to experiment with whatever you have on hand!
Dehydrating and storing herbs for later is a great way to make sure you always have flavorful seasoning on hand all year round.
Final Thoughts
As you’ve seen, you can dry your parsley by dehydrating it in the air fryer, and all in under 5 minutes, including preheat time. While it’s not quite as fast as the microwave, it’s still a quick and easy way to get it done.
I actually find I have to “babysit” the parsley less this way and prefer the texture, so I often opt for it over the microwave even if it takes a few minutes longer.
Quick Dehydrated Parsley in the Air Fryer
Dehydrate your fresh parsley to dry it for later use quickly and easily in the air fryer!
Start with fresh parsley, washing and drying it if needed
12-14 sprigs Parsley
Preheat the air fryer to 360°F, following manufacturer guidelines
Trim the ends of the stems off the parsley, making them easier to fit in the basket
Spread out your parsley in a single layer in the preheated air fryer basket
Bind the stems with a heat safe tie, or add the rack, trivet, or shelf on top of the parsley to keep it from flying around during cooking
Air fry the parsley for 2-3 minutes
Continue to cook in 1-minute intervals, flipping between each, until parsley leaves are completely dry and crinkly to the touch
Remove from air fryer and cool for 1-2 minutes
Separate leaves from stems by holding the stems in one hand and using your other hands to squeeze the leaves over a bowl or plate. They’ll drop down and then you can crush up finer if desired
Store dried parsley in an airtight container or spice jar
Notes
When dealing with a lot of parsley, make sure to dry in batches. Stacking up beyond a single layer won’t heat evenly
There’s no need to add oil or anything when drying in the air fryer
I’ve used heat safe silicone food bands to tie my parsley together. However, cooking twine or foil work as well if your air fryer doesn’t have a rack to use.
Should your parsley leaves start to turn brown or blackened, you have overcooked them
To crush the leaves, I honestly just use my hands to scrunch them around a bit. Alternatively, a mortar and pestle works well, or put them in a ziploc style bag and crinkle them around a bit
Dried parsley keeps well for about 2 years in an airtight container, after that it tends to lose flavor
I enjoy trying new recipes, creating my own, and dabbling with new techniques all the time. My husband loves to protest when I make him my guinea pig, but it’s all for the love of food!
