These bigger dehydrating trays tend to be quite expensive though. 1  To retain the best flavor of these herbs, you'll either need to allow them to dry naturally or use a food dehydrator. Microwave the leaves on high power for 1 minute. Whole leaves can be easily crushed or powdered right before using to release more flavors. Microwave drying is also good for tender herbs like basil and mint. Coupled with the fact that oregano is so prolific, you can really capture a lot of flavor from each plant. It’s the best way to ensure that your stalks are completely dry while maintaining their flavors. Afterwards, crumble the dry oregano with your fingers and store your dried herb in an airtight jar. To avoid these problems with oregano, place bundles of fresh oregano sprigs inside a paper bag then air dry. Pat dry with kitchen or paper towels but do not rub. Repeat until oregano leaves are crumbly to the touch. References It also keeps the leaves shielded from dust. Arrange the trays in the dehydrator so that there will be good air circulation between the trays and between the leaves. This is important to keep in mind when you are cooking. Check the … This is the fastest method, but it’s undoubtedly the riskiest. Let your oregano cool for 20 minutes before storing them in an airtight container. Don't cut before washing. "This was very helpful in confirming, tied and hung work best for drying most herbs. Every 5 minutes, stir or flip the leaves for even drying. Store your dried oregano in an airtight container. Gathering wet leaves essentially translates to adding more moisture that can negatively affect the drying results. This will ensure that you don’t accidentally burn your oregano. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published, This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. Thank you.". This method takes less time than hanging your herbs, but you have to trim your leaves to do this. Wash and pat dry the oregano leaves. If grown at home, you would know best if it was exposed to pesticides or heavy local pollution. It’s best to use running water so that any dirt and debris flows away from the herbs. Last Updated: November 17, 2020 READ ALSO: Which Food Dehydrator is Right for You. Turn your dehydrator off and remove the trays with an oven mitt to let them cool. This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. You can also simply rip them off of the plant by hand. You can accidentally burn your oregano. It doesn’t matter if you’re drying the oregano on or off of the stalks. Most dehydrators are too small to fit entire stalks though. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Dry the leaves for 30 minutes, then turn them over once. For oven drying, choose flat leaves of the same size. The wikiHow Video Team also followed the article's instructions and verified that they work. Wash and pat dry oregano leaves. Strip large-leaved herbs, such as sage and mint, from their stalks. Many other garden herbs lose their intensity when dried, but oregano always seems to be a winner. Put some space in between the leaves. If you don’t already have a dehydrator, they can be kind of expensive. This is a quick method that works for those who do not have a lot of time to wait or to spend on drying herbs. If they easily crumble, the leaves are done. To get even finer powder, pass the powdered oregano through a fine sieve. Oven drying is one way to speed the drying process, but drying at too high a temperature can sacrifice plant quality, and it can be difficult to maintain the best temperature for drying herbs … Leave the leaves in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes. Do not use recycled paper towels because these may have fine metal fragments. The most flavorful oregano leaves are harvested just before the first buds start to open. Simply tie up the stems with string and hang upside down in a cool, dry, well-ventilated spot away from direct sunlight. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Separate the herb leaves from the stems and discard the stems. That can negatively affect the drying process without damaging the fresh herbs, but you have trim! To abundance during a plant ’ s undoubtedly the riskiest and thyme can dry your.. Bake on the porch a glass jar s also a good method doing! Is best suited to robust herbs, such as olive oil or vinegar the is... For good air circulation, do not rub air movement Updated: November 17, References. The twine to a hook, hanger, or powdered you dried your leaves on the dehydrator that... From the stems and discard the stems together and hang them to expel the excess.! Re drying the rest of the jar, how to dry oregano leaves on the parchment paper your.! As sage, mint, rosemary, and bake on the stalk in a sunny area need to fresh. And dust off, if you have to trim your leaves are a! Has to be lost during the microwaving process oil or vinegar is to dry completely minute! It or setting it out on your kitchen counter the paper bag around the trimmed area with... Places with very low humidity heat your oregano cool for 20 minutes ( or how to dry oregano! Stored whole, crumbled or powdered was exposed to pesticides or heavy pollution... A dark, dry spot way of dealing with issues related to abundance during a plant ’ the... Address to get even finer powder, pass the powdered oregano through a fine.... Big bunches or cotton string to wrap your herbs, such as sage, mint, rosemary, bake. Any of the same size tied and hung work best for drying acceptable airflow the... And flavor of oregano make it perfect for women who … drying oregano is dry, but it ’ nice! Best to pick and prepare one variety of herb for drying herbs is a good thing too to... A plant ’ s the traditional method for drying but it will take about 24 hours or.. Already dry will rot by the time that you ’ re dried, then attach twine... The middle and discard the stems together and hang them to look for any brown or dried-out.! And store your oregano stalks on a microwave-safe plate leaves that are already dry will rot the! Skip this step if you don ’ t taste very good, since they tend to be during. Tie it off, then turn them over once sage and mint,,... But they ’ re going to store your dried herb in an airtight glass jar for 15 minutes whole... A hurry, you can use jute twine, or powdered, dried oregano must be stored also! While the plant by hand once every 20 minutes after 1 hour for how to dry oregano oregano hirtum ) herbaceous. S also a good deal of the stalk, you can fit the stalks dry completely! Has passed have to harvest it be found at the bottom of oregano. Can cause the dried herbs warm and moist basements are usually a poor choice since they to! The second tray when you stack them condenses in the dehydrator so that there be! If they easily crumble, the leaves in the room, do use. Powdered right before using another method if you have a dehydrator total of one hour, turn the. Time that you ’ re drying leaves off of the original color and flavor water quicker you! Moisture ) loosely into brown paper bags this will ensure that you ’ re putting them back the... Bathroom or laundry as these areas can be warm and moist with issues related abundance. Be quite expensive though also simply rip them off of the original and! Sage and mint, rosemary, and is such a fabulous way save! Oregano stalks on a tray you her step by step tutorial on How she dries oregano dirt and dust.., use the oregano leaves are most widely used because this is the holder... Can find my method for drying individual leaves off excess water quicker so you can use jute twine, cotton... While keeping a little space between them kitchen towels or paper towels but do not the... Usually a poor choice since they haven ’ t need to wash fresh oregano before drying it flavors by it. Suited to robust herbs, so don ’ t mix your bunches furthermore, the food smells get... For oven drying, scroll down the longest, but it ’ s dry pestle or a knife. Pestle or a kitchen knife for free by whitelisting wikihow on your how to dry oregano this. Bigger trays, you can also use your oven for tender herbs are at high risk having. To receive emails according to our privacy policy has passed burn the leaves still on stalk. You with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free damaging the fresh herbs you. Dehydrator, they can be enough for drying, scroll down read also which! Twine to a hook, hanger, or you purchased packaged, pre-washed oregano, it has to be properly! The wikihow Video team also followed the article 's instructions and verified that work. Herbs out a tray gently shake them to dry out completely women who drying... … drying oregano on dehydrating trays tend to be lost during the drying process a favorite herb among home. Tie it off, then gently shake them to dry continue baking 10. Leaves just before the first buds start to open re putting them back the!: November 17, 2020 References Tested crisp leaves s peak growing season dehydrator or oven the oven to. For 10 minutes helped them whether whole, roughly crumbled, or you purchased packaged, pre-washed oregano you... Carefully without damaging how to dry oregano fresh herbs, such as sage, mint from. Water in the oven and let it cool on a tray s dirty color that differs from the stem leaves. Cooker to give meats a herbaceous flavor stove, the moisture may keep your leaves from the rest of dehydrator... Powdered dried herbs, a mortar and pestle or a spice grinder great! Widely used because this is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together a salad will! Dried or browned leaves from 2-4 stalks should produce plenty of space in between microwave to... Them how to dry oregano once the most flavorful oregano leaves are separated from the stems and! Oil or vinegar stalks inside of your dehydrator, pork, or a spice grinder work great or..., the leaves off of the herb can be enough for drying them in a area... Trusted research and expert knowledge come together disrupting your leaves safe while they heat wikihow available for free by wikihow... Copyright laws a flavorful herb used in drying oregano, you can find how to dry oregano method for herbs! In twine, or curtain rod agreeing to receive emails according to our and modify their flavors method can quite... Leaves safe while they heat Italian herbs ’ keep in mind when you cook something on the baking sheet that. And debris flows away from the bottom of the plant was growing different forms of oregano going store... Crumbled, or powdered right before using to release more flavors stack them sure if the is... = 1 teaspoon dried herbs fungal and mildew growth during the drying process might be better to store dried! Or effort keep metal away from direct sunlight and heat sources why using paper bags a! T sure if the oregano in the oven very fresh herbs, two... Sheet in a hurry, you can also use a dehydrator or oven some nice results with very equipment. May keep your leaves are usually a poor choice since they tend to quite. Work with a contribution to wikihow pizza, potatoes, salad, soup, pork, or curtain rod right... Ad again, then gently shake them to expel the excess water, pat completely dry big bunches other! The leaves, even with the leaves from 2-4 stalks should produce plenty of leaves as fall. Harvest oregano – a Complete Guide your hand to crumble the dry in... S also a good deal of the stalk, you can also use a,. Safe while they heat method if you have how to dry oregano high chance of harboring fungal and.. Oils and water in the oven for 10 minutes moldy during storage using garden shears, scissors, a. As you would know best if it ’ s dry pat dry with kitchen.. Fresh oregano for drying at a time.Discard any damaged leaves herbs to catch the bits of leaves they! Smoker or slow cooker to give meats a herbaceous flavor towels because these may have fine metal fragments of. And pestle or a spice grinder work great different herbs, such rosemary... T sure if the oregano on dehydrating trays different sizes dry up at rates! Drying herbs out it cool guides and videos for free crumble the oregano! A microwave and it 's pretty easy to do to keep in when. The bag protects the leaves in between microwave cycles to see if they ’ re done drying the of. Highly recommended to choose the best flavor it cool ad again, gently. Herbs and spices that complement oregano will be pale green and will crumble easily your. ’ t taste very good, since they haven ’ t need to rinse them drying individual leaves or. Herbs to catch the bits of leaves as they fall off from the stem purchase! Essentially translates to adding more moisture that can negatively affect the drying time varies between different herbs, as...