What is the best way to dry fresh oregano?
There’s 2 popular ways to dry fresh herbs. You can hang the herbs up indoors and let them dry naturally. This works great, but it takes up space, and it takes time. I live in a NYC apartment, and I’m impatient, so I usually don’t do this method.
The other way, the one I prefer, is drying herbs in the oven. This method only takes around an hour, from start to finish. It’s really as easy as putting the herbs in the oven, checking on them, and crumbling the dry leaves into a jar.
And if you have a garden filled with lots of different herbs, you can easily make this a drying day (herb party everyone!) and get everything done quickly.
Here’s a video I made to show you how easy it is to dry oregano!
How long does it take to dry fresh oregano?
Fresh oregano takes 1 hour to dry in the oven. You want to make sure the oregano is completely dry before putting it into the oven. If it’s wet, it’s going to take longer.
Do you wash oregano before drying?
If you’re drying organic oregano that hasn’t been sprayed with chemicals (like in your own garden) then you don’t have to wash it. I like to just shake the oregano to remove any remaining dirt on it.
If you bought the oregano and unsure if any chemicals were used, it’s best to wash it to be safe. Gently run the oregano under cold running water and then pat dry. I recommend leaving the oregano on a towel overnight to make sure it’s completely dry. You can also give the oregano a spin in the salad spinner to speed up the drying process.
Do not move on to drying the oregano in the oven until it’s completely dry.
How to Dry Oregano in the Oven
Wash and dry oregano (if needed). See above for directions.
Preheat oven to 170 degrees F. If your oven only goes down to 180 degrees F, that’s ok.
Place oregano in a single layer on a baking sheet. You can dry directly on the baking sheet or put down parchment paper. Place in the oven for 1 hour.
After 1 hour the leaves should be completely dried. If they aren’t, continue baking for 10 minutes. Repeat until oregano leaves are crumbly to the touch.
Remove from the oven and crumble the leaves into a bowl. You can easily do this by hand.
Alternatively, you can use a mortar and pestle to crush them finely.
Store your dried oregano in a glass herb jar, in a dark cabinet. If stored properly your dried oregano will last 2-3 years.
Hope you enjoyed this post! Have fun drying your oregano!
Can I dry different herbs together?
Yes, you can definitely dry some herbs together. This makes things easier if you have a herb garden and want to dry a bunch of different things at once. I have a couple herb drying posts that might be helpful to you. Find the ones that have similar temperatures and dry together.
How to Dry Parsley in the OvenHow to Dry Basil in the OvenHow to Make Mint TeaHow to Dry Garlic to Make Garlic Powder
Other Garden Posts You Might Like:
How to Dry Parsley In The MicrowaveHow to Make Parsley TeaHow to Make Tomato Powder Out of Tomato SkinsHow to Store Lettuce to Last for a MonthCarrot Tops Vegetable BrothBroccoli Leaves Vegetable Broth Pin for later:
