Learn how to dry oregano easily at home so you can enjoy it year-round. Oregano keeps its taste when dry and is a great ingredient to have on the seasoning shelf!
I like to think that no recipe is complete without the addition of some fresh herbs, particularly Oregano. This is especially true when added to some of my favorite Mediterranean dishes like stuffed peppers or zucchini casserole or shakshuka. But honestly, I add dry oregano to a lot of my dishes and the result is always the same… delicious.
Oregano is the perfect complement to sauces, soups, and grilled meats. It takes little effort after harvesting to get such big payback by adding this seasoning to our favorite dishes. The best part is, that we have access to dried oregano all year long because you can easily grow it indoors.
How to Dry Oregano…
If you have never dried oregano, no worries, it’s an easy process. You can dry oregano in the oven, use a food dehydrator, or hang it to dry. All methods will produce a savory seasoning that you can keep on the spice rack and use for all your favorite dishes.
Three Ways to Dry Oregano…
- Hang drying – This method is the most timely for drying oregano and requires patience. Tie a few oregano bundles together with a piece of string or twist tie. Hang to dry and place out of direct sunlight in a warm room with low humidity. Your bundles should dry in two weeks.
- In the dehydrator – This is my preferred way to dry oregano because I can control the temperature and moisture of the drying process. I can also dry multiple herbs at the same time.
- In the oven – If you don’t have a dehydrator this method would be my next choice. Place oregano stems on a baking sheet with parchment paper at a temperature under 200 degrees or the lowest temperature. This method will take one to two hours.
Ingredients…
- Oregano – I used a bunch of oregano and got 1/4 of a cup of dried oregano
Kitchen Tools…
- Dehydrator – I am using a nice dehydrator that allows me to control the temperature and produces a better end result. If you don’t have one of those, you can still dehydrate oregano in the oven, hang it dry, or in a cheap (no temperature control) dehydrator. More on this in the FAQ section below.
- Air tight storage container (I use jars)
Dehydrating Oregano Step By Step…
Step one – prep the oregano. If possible don’t wash the oregano. If you need to wash the oregano, make sure it is completely dry before dehydrating.
Step two – add to the dehydrator. For best results, set the oregano sprigs in one layer on the tray of the dehydrator allowing for space in between.
Step three – dehydrate. Place the trays in the dehydrator. Dehydrate at 95 degrees F for 8-10 hours. If oregano sprigs are completely dry and crispy (the leaves break easily) you can remove them from the dehydrator. If your oregano isn’t completely dry, leave them in the dehydrator for another hour or so.
How to Store Dry Oregano…
Once the oregano is dry, let cool for a few minutes and then transfer to an air-tight container or use them in your recipe. You can vacuum seal them or use zip-lock bags. I also love using jars with two-piece lids for herb storage. Not only are the jars functional, but they are also pretty to look at on a shelf.
How to Use Dry Oregano…
- As seasoning – Oregano seasoning can take recipes from just alright to amazing. It’s the must-have seasoning on your spice rack. I love how it complements just about every dish including breads and salads. I also use it to season home-canned vegetables like stewed tomatoes or marinara sauce.
How to Make and Use Oregano Powder…
One of the best things about dehydrated food is that you can turn it into a powder. To make oregano powder, place the dry oregano leaves in a coffee grinder and grind them until you get a powder. Store your powder in jars at room temperature. Use the oregano powder to season your favorite recipes.
Frequently Asked Questions…
It’s better if you don’t. If you do need to wash your oregano, just make sure that you let it dry all the way before dehydrating it.
Yes. You can dry all herbs the same way… Basil, parsley, tarragon, thyme, sage… All the herbs can be dried the same way together.
Not really, most of the time, once the oregano is dry we use it dry to season dishes.
The cheaper Presto Dehydrator is very popular and you can find it at any Walmart or online. It runs at a temperature of 165 degrees F and there is no way to control the temperature. Yes, you can use this kind of dehydrator to dry thyme. Again, for best results, we want to process herbs at a temperature of 95 degrees F but a higher temperature will work as well. Drying time will probably be shorter, around 3-4 hours or so.
If you haven’t tried drying fresh herbs, start with oregano. The process is simple, and your food will thank you for it. Have you ever dried herbs? If so, which one’s?
More Dehydrating Tutorials…
- How to Dehydrate Radishes
- Dehydrating Parsley
- Dehydrated Kale Chips
- How to Dry Apples in the Oven
- Purple Sweet Potato Chips Recipe
- How to Dehydrate Mushrooms
- How to Dehydrate Pineapple
- How to Dry Cayenne Pepper
How to Dry Oregano
Learn how to dry oregano easily at home so you can enjoy it year-round. Oregano keeps its taste when dry and is a great ingredient to have on the seasoning shelf.
Ingredients
- One bunch of Oregano sprigs
Instructions
- Step one – Prep the oregano. If possible don’t wash the oregano. If you need to wash the oregano, make sure it is completely dry before dehydrating.
- Step two – Set the oregano sprigs in one layer on the tray of the dehydrator allowing for space in between.
- Step three – Place the trays in the dehydrator. Dehydrate at 95 degrees F for 8-10 hours. If oregano sprigs are completely dry and crispy (breaks easily) you can remove them from the dehydrator. If your oregano isn’t completely dry, leave them in the dehydrator for another hour or so.
- Step four - Once the oregano is dry, let cool for a few minutes and then transfer to an air-tight container or use them in your recipe.
Notes
Frequently Asked Questions...
- Should I wash my oregano before drying it?
It’s better if you don’t. If you do need to wash your oregano, just make sure that you let it dry all the way before dehydrating it. - Can I dry a few different herbs together?
Yes. You can dry all herbs the same way… Basil, parsley, tarragon, thyme, sage. All the herbs can be dried the same way together. - Can I rehydrate oregano?
No. Once the oregano is dry, it is ready to use as a season. - I can’t control the temperature on my dehydrator, can I still use it?
The cheaper Presto dehydrator is very popular and you can find it at any Walmart or online. It runs at a temperature of 165 degrees F and there is no way to control the temperature. Yes, you can use this kind of dehydrator to dry thyme. Again, for best results, we want to process herbs at a temperature of 95 degrees F but a higher temperature will work as well. Drying time will probably be shorter, around 3-4 hours or so.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1tspAmount Per Serving: Calories: 3Total Fat: 0.9ggSaturated Fat: 0.1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 0.3mgCarbohydrates: 0.6ggFiber: 0.4gSugar: 0gProtein: 0g
Hi! I’m Lady Lee. I help homesteaders simplify their homesteading journey while still producing a ton of food! I am a single mother of four, I was born in Israel and raised in an agricultural commune called a Kibbutz. Now I homestead in central NC.