How to Dry Turmeric

Co-authored by Dee Dine

Last Updated: November 29, 2024 References

Not only does turmeric taste delicious in everything from tofu to a cup of tea, turmeric is also known for its health benefits. When you learn to dry turmeric at home you will have easy access to a seasoning that fills your dishes with flavor and enhances the health of your heart. For all of the following methods it’s necessary to boil the turmeric for around 45 minutes before beginning the drying process.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Drying Turmeric with Natural Sunlight

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Aim for thin slices so that you can create the greatest amount of surface area. The more surface area, the faster your turmeric will be ready to star in its first recipe.^{[1]
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Once you have sliced the rhizomes, it’s time for them to sunbathe. Spread the rhizomes in a 5–7 centimetres (2.0–2.8 in) layer on either a bamboo mat or a drying floor. Be sure to avoid direct sunlight since it will drain your turmeric of its prized yellow color.

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Cover your turmeric in cloth or heap it together. This will help control air flow and help enhance the quality of your turmeric.
The dry time of your turmeric will vary based on climate. You will know your turmeric is ready when it seems like there is 5-10% of the original moisture remaining.^{[2]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Drying Turmeric with a Dehydrator

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Begin by peeling the skin from your turmeric. Once you have removed the skin, slice the turmeric into thin, equal portioned pieces.^{[3]
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Spread your freshly chopped turmeric on a dehydrator tray and cover it in parchment paper. Place the tray in the oven and get ready to bake!
At the end of four hours, remove the tray from the dehydrator. Your turmeric is now ready for grinding, storing, and cooking.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Drying Turmeric with an Oven

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Aim to get as close to .15 centimetres (0.059 in) as possible when slicing your turmeric. These thin slices will help reduce dry time and speed up dinnertime!^{[4]
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While every oven is different, setting the temperature at around 115 °C (239 °F) will guarantee a steady drying process.^{[5]
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Dry time will depend on the thickness and initial water content of your turmeric. Start checking for results at around 90 minutes. It's almost time for your first tasty turmeric-based meal.^{[6]
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Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Drying Turmeric with a Microwave

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Begin the drying process by slicing your turmeric into thin vertical slices. This will increase the surface area of your turmeric and help speed up dry time.^{[7]
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Spread your turmeric slices in a thin layer on a microwave-safe surface. Set the temperature to 445 watts and pop the turmeric in.
If you cook the turmeric for too long, then it’s color will be depleted. Get the richest turmeric possible when you cook it for about 55 seconds.^{[8]
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Tips

Be sure your turmeric is 7-10 months old at the time of drying. If the plant has been picked prematurely it will still be too moist for effective drying.

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Be sure to process the turmeric within 2-3 days of harvest. The longer you wait to boil, slice, and dry your turmeric, the less resilient your results will be.

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Warnings

Avoid personal microwaves if possible. While microwaves are helpful in locations lacking in sunlight, they should be used only as a last resort.

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Avoid sunlight if possible. Drying in the sun will cause more bleaching of color than the other methods listed.

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