Are you ready to master the art of drying oregano? It's easy, rewarding, and saves you money - all at the same time!
When it comes to drying herbs, you'll always get excellent results when you use oregano from your herb garden. It's so aromatic, so fresh, and grows quickly and easily.
We have a bunch of oregano growing in our garden, and every summer the family helps harvest it. Then, we have enough dried oregano to last us for the following year.
We love the flavor of oregano and use it in a bunch of Italian recipes, Greek recipes, and American comfort food recipes. We sprinkle it in tomato sauce and use it on Italian Sausage Pasta. It also adds a burst of freshness to chicken bruschetta.
Keep reading and you'll learn the best way to dry oregano so that you can enjoy it long after the plant is gone.
Jump to:
💚 Why you'll love drying your own oregano
When you grow and dry your own oregano, you'll notice how much bolder and sweeter it tastes in your recipes. Dried oregano from the store has a muted aroma that just doesn't compare.
Growing and drying fresh herbs also saves you money, too. You won't have to run to the store and pay a high price for organic herbs when you have homegrown herbs in your kitchen.
Plus, drying fresh herbs is just so satisfying and fun. You can do it yourself or with your friends and family.
🌿 Tips for harvesting oregano
To get the most flavor and the biggest harvest from your kitchen garden, follow these simple tips.
First, harvest it at the right time. It's best to cut the oregano plant in the morning after the dew is dried from the leaves. If you wait too long, the flavor could be slightly bitter.
Pick the oregano leaves in the spring or early summer before flower buds form. The blooms change the flavor too, and not for the best.
And don't be afraid of harvesting too many oregano leaves. Even if you take every single stem, they will regrow.
Where you cut the plant matters a lot. Cut right above the set of leaves. This will signal to your oregano to grow more stems.
✅ Step-by-step instructions
There are basic steps to harvesting and drying oregano.
Follow the harvest tips listed earlier to cut or remove the oregano leaves from the plant.
Then, rinse them in cool water and pat them dry with paper towels.
Air Dry
Tie the bunch of leaves together with kitchen twine. Hang the oregano bunch in a well-lit window that receives plenty of sunshine.
After about three or four days - or when the leaves are dry and brittle - take the bunch down and remove the leaves from the stems.
Crushing
After the leaves are completely dried, crush them. Either use a mortar and pestle or crumble with your hands.
Storing
Place them in an airtight container. Label the jar and place it in a cool, dry, and dark place.
⏲️ Oven drying method
Place the leaves in a single layer on a baking sheet. Heat them in the oven at 180F for about two hours.
If they aren't completely dry after two hours, keep warming them in the oven, checking every 15 minutes. It might take as long as four hours.
👩🏻🍳 Common FAQs about drying herbs
This depends on how much time you have. I like to do both methods. I air dry the oregano first and then use the oven to finish the job. Some people claim that air drying the oregano from start to finish preserves the aroma compounds from degrading. Air drying could take up to two weeks.
Yes, you can dehydrate or dry the oregano in the microwave, too. Place the oregano on a paper towel and put it on a plate. Microwave in 30-second increments. If your microwave is too powerful, you might have to reduce it to 50% power. Keep microwaving them until the leaves are completely crispy, but not burned.
For the best flavor, store the dried oregano in a glass jar with a lid that keeps out all of the air. Leave it in a cool and dark place, like a pantry or cabinet.
🍽 Ways to use dried oregano
My favorite way to use dried oregano is to enhance the flavor of pasta dishes. These are my favorite recipes that use oregano.
🍳 Kitchen tools and equipment
Ready to dry your own oregano? Here are the kitchen tools and equipment you'll need:
More recipes using oregano
Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to leave a 5-Star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card, and if you really loved it, please leave a comment further down on the page. Thank you!
Drying Oregano
Ingredients
- 1 bunch oregano leaves
Instructions
- Gently rinse oregano in cool water, taking care not to remove the leaves from the stems.
- Pat the leaves dry with paper towels.
Air drying method
- Tie the ends of the oregano branches together with kitchen twine.
- Hang in a wel-lit sunny window.
- When the leaves start to get dry and brittle, about 3-4 days, remove the bunch and remove the leaves from the stems.
Oven method
- Remove leaves from stems. Discard stems.
- Place the leaves on a baking sheet in a single layer.
- Heat the oregano leaves in the oven at 180° F for two hours. Check them to see if they've dried out completely. If so, they're done. If they are not yet dry, continue warming in the oven and checking on them in 15-minute intervals. Watch them carefully during this time to make sure they don't burn.
- It can take as long as four hours for them to dry completely in the oven.
Crush oregano leaves and store
- Crush oregano by placing leaves in a mortar and crushing with a pestle. You can also crumble with your hands until the leaves are crushed.
- Place dried oregano into an airtight container. Label and store in a cool dry dark place and use as needed.
Notes
- freeze with olive oil to use in cooking
- use in sauces and dips
- cook with in soups, stews, pastas and more
Nutrition
Nutrition information is a general estimate. Actual nutrition details may vary depending on the exact foods & brands you use to make this recipe. It does not take into account any substitutions, toppings, or optional ingredients.
Leave a Reply