How to Dry Oregano in Just 10 Minutes (Hands-On Time)

There’s nothing like having your own homegrown herbs for cooking and garnishing. The flavor of fresh herbs is so far above anything you’d buy at the grocery store! Even though we can’t always sustain fresh plants all year long, drying your own oregano for your spice cupboard is still a huge step up in flavor and nutrition compared with purchasing it off the shelf. 

There are many different ways to dry oregano, but for an abundance of herbs, I love using this super easy method that preserves the oils and flavor, uses 50¢ worth of equipment, and only takes about 10 minutes of hands on time. 

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Favorite Ways to Use Dried Oregano

Oregano plants can be quite prolific! If you’re not sure how to use your own oregano from your kitchen garden, here are some favorite recipes and uses to try using either fresh or dried herbs.

• Sauces and Dressings: Oregano is perfect for pizza and pasta sauce, chimichurri, and cream sauces.
• Rubs and Seasoning Blends: Add dried oregano to seasoning blends for grilled meats, sprinkle it on vegetables, use it to top pizzas, or mix it in marinades. 
• Breads: You can incorporate oregano into Italian breads, crackers, and other baked goods. 
• Soups and Stews: Oregano is delicious in any sort of tomato sauce or tomato-based soups, Italian and Mediterranean blends, chunky beef stews, and broths.

How to Harvest Oregano

Oregano is an easy herb to harvest, and the best part is that after you take some cuttings, more will grow back! 

The best time to harvest is in the mid-morning, after the morning dew has evaporated but before the hottest part of the day. This is when the essential oils concentration will be the highest. (The sun begins to degrade the oils later in the day.) 

Most gardeners also prefer to harvest before the plant flowers, which is typically in the early summer.

To harvest, simply gather some stems of oregano and cut the entire stem using a sharp scissors. As a rule of thumb, don’t cut more than half the plant back. If you want bushier growth, cut the stems just above a leaf node or a set of leaves.

You did it! Take your stems inside and either keep them in the fridge for immediate use, or you can dry them.

4 Drying Methods for Oregano

There are many different methods you can use for drying herbs. My favorite way is the paper bag method, because it’s so hands off and simple! 

You do not have to wash your oregano before drying if it’s clean and you know the source. However, if you do want to wash it, use cold water and be sure to dry thoroughly to remove an excess moisture before you start any of the drying methods below. Be sure to dry gently so as not to bruise those deliciously tender leaves. 

You can use a salad spinner to help as well as blot it with a paper towel or a clean kitchen towel.

1. How to Dry Oregano Using the Paper Bag Method

Why is the paper bag method so great?

• Minimal equipment. All you need is a paper bag and some string or twine.
• Very limited hands-on time. It takes about 5-10 minutes of hands-on time to dry herbs using this method, although the drying time itself typically takes around 10 days (give or take).
• Preserves the plant’s oils. Unlike the oven or dehydrator method, drying herbs in a paper bag preserves the plant’s oils, resulting in the best flavor possible. 
• So easy! It’s hard to mess up! No keeping an eye on the oven, no forgetting to unplug the dehydrator… pretty sure this is the easiest way there is!
• No mess. The bag catches everything!

Here’s how to do it:

1. Collect your herbs and place them in a grocery-sized paper bag. Take care to fill the bag only about 1/3 of the way full in order to create enough good air circulation. You can pull the leaves from the stem before you dry or after.  
2. Fold the top of the bag over, make two holes in the top, and thread some string or twine through them so that you can hang your bag. (Here’s a photo tutorial if you want to see how I do this.)
3. Hang in a dark, dry place for at least 5 days. I prefer to wait about 10 days to make sure my herbs are very dry. If you go a few days longer, don’t worry. (I often forget about mine!) When the leaves crumble easily in your hand, they’re ready.
4. Using your hands or a mortar and pestle, crumble your oregano leaves and store them in an airtight jar.  

2. How to Dry Oregano Using the Hanging Method

Probably the most common air-drying method for drying oregano and other herbs is the hanging method. This method is quite beautiful! 

1. ​Grab a handful of fresh oregano sprigs and tie them together tightly with a string or a rubber band. 
2. Hang your bunch of oregano in a dry place out of direct sunlight. 
3. Wait until the herbs get dry and start to become crumbly (around 5-10 days). You may want to keep a small bag underneath the herbs to catch any that begin to crumble and fall.
4. When they’re completely dry, crumble the leaves as you remove them from the dried stems.
5. Store in an airtight jar. 

This air drying method is another great way to preserve the plant’s oils and flavor. Plus, it’s so pretty. The main downside—and the reason I prefer the paper bag method—is that you do risk losing some herbs if they crumble to the floor too soon, and they could get dusty during the drying process. 

3. How to Dry Oregano Using the Oven Method

Oven drying is the fastest method, but it’s definitely more hands on. While it only takes about an hour to dry your herbs this way, you will need to keep a close eye on them during the process. 

1. Lay your clean, dry herbs on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper in a single layer. You can strip the leaves from the sprigs either before or after drying.
2. Turn your oven to the lowest setting, preferably 170° – 180°. You can also crack the oven door to let heat escape if you can’t get a low enough temperature. Convection ovens also work well for drying herbs, and you may be able to get the temp even lower this way.
3. Bake on the center rack for approximately 1 hour, checking every 15 minutes.
4. When the herbs are dry and crumbly (but before they become burnt!), remove, strip the leaves, and crumble into a jar for storage. 

While this is the quickest way, I don’t prefer it because it definitely takes more focus and hands-on time to ensure your herbs don’t burn. 

4.How to Dry Oregano Using the Dehydrator Method

​This is an easy method and another one of the fastest ways to dry herbs, though it does take a few more hours than the oven method. Thankfully, it’s pretty hands off and won’t burn your herbs as easily. 

The main downside to this method is that you have to have a dehydrator. 

1. Spread your clean, dry oregano in a thin layer on food dehydrator trays. Using a fine screen on your trays can be helpful if you’re concerned about the crumbling leaves falling through the cracks.
2. Set your dehydrator to the lowest temperature setting, about 95° is best. 
3. Dry for 2-10 hours, checking occasionally. 
4. Crumble and store in airtight jars in a cool, dark place. 

Storing Dried Oregano

Once your oregano leaves are dry and crumbly and stripped from the oregano stems, you can store them for up to a year or more. Dry herbs tend to have their best flavor in the first 6 months, but will last much longer than that. I have often kept mine for a year or more. If you open your spice jar and notice the herbs have lost their fragrance, it’s time to start over.

• Store dried oregano in an airtight container. Clear glass jars (like glass mason jars) work well. 
• Keep in a dry, dark location with low humidity (to avoid molding) and away from direct sunlight. If possible, keep away from the hottest areas of your home to preserve the best flavor.
• Thoroughly dried herbs will store for 6-12 months or longer.

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FAQs

What is the best way to dry fresh oregano? 

The paper bag method is an excellent way to dry oregano. It’s simple, mess-free, and preserves flavor by protecting the plant’s oils. Just hang a partially filled paper bag in a dark, dry place for about 10 days. When the leaves crumble easily, they’re ready to store.

This is my preferred method for drying all sorts of herbs! 

Does oregano grow back after cutting?

Yes! To encourage your oregano plants to keep growing, cut them regularly using a sharp scissors. Avoid cutting more than half of the plant at a time. You can harvest a large amount of this popular herb from your own garden by regularly cutting your plant back.

How do you convert fresh to dried oregano?

Use a 3:1 ratio to convert fresh oregano to dried or ground oregano. Fresh leaves have a higher moisture content and are slightly less flavorful than dried leaves, so you’ll use more of these in a recipe. For example, if a recipe calls for 1 Tablespoon of fresh oregano, you can use 1 teaspoon of dried oregano instead. (1 Tablespoon is equal to 3 teaspoons.)

When is the best time to pick and dry oregano?

The best time to pick oregano is before the plant flowers. Cut your stems in the mid- to late-morning after the dew has dried off the plants but before the hottest part of the day. This time of day is when you’ll get the best flavor of oregano since the sun has not yet evaporated the plant’s essential oils.

After picking, you can wash your herbs (optional) and pat dry thoroughly, then use one of the above drying methods.

How long does homemade dried oregano last? 

You’ll get the best flavor from your dried herbs in the first 6 months. However, they can typically last at least 12 months or even longer. It’s vital to ensure that your herbs are thoroughly dried and there’s no moisture on them before storing them in a jar. Moisture in the jar will cause your herbs to mold. 

Can you dry herbs in a microwave oven?

Yes, you can dry herbs in the microwave in a very short amount of time—typically less than 5 minutes. However, for maximum flavor, you’ll want to avoid this method. Not only does it cause the herbs to lose some of their aromatic compounds and flavor, but there’s also a high risk or scorching or uneven drying with this method. 

Can you freeze oregano?

Yes, you can freeze oregano! Simply remove the leaves from the stem, wash the leaves and pat dry, and spread them in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Freeze. When frozen, you can pull up the leaves and store them in a plastic bag either whole or chopped.

Other Favorite Herbs and Herbal Recipes

Try some more of our favorite recipes using foraged and homemade herbs! 

• Homemade Watermelon and White Clover Herbal Fruit Popsicles
• How to Make a DIY Mason Jar Herb Garden Indoors
• ​How to Make Loose Leaf Iced Tea—The Perfect Summer Drink
• How to Make Iced Stinging Nettle Tea
• How to Make White Clover Tea
• ​How to Dry Mint Leaves for Tea
• How to Make Fresh Chamomile Tea

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