After getting into drying fresh herbs a few years ago, I’ll likely never buy dried herbs again. Oregano is a flavorful herb used in a variety of recipes, particularly recipes for Italian food. But, keep in mind that many ovens are off by 5° to 10°, and convection ovens will dry more quickly and evenly than conventional ovens. Make sure your oven rack is in the middle of the oven. That's right, you can dry herbs in a microwave and it's pretty easy to do! Continue this cycle until all of the leaves are dry. Turn your oven down to the lowest setting (mine was at 170F). Living in such a mild climate means I’m lucky to have fre… http://t.c…. Drying herbs is a great way to extend the flavor of a bountiful crop. Hanging the Herbs to Dry. Choose sprigs that have uniformly sized leaves so they all dry at the same time. But until that time arrives, it’s important to regularly prune/harvest the oregano to keep it producing. How to dry and store Oregano Leaves I don’t add any artificial plant … A chemical engineer (PhD) by training, I like to bring science and engineering into my cooking and baking. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Preheat your oven to 350ºF (175ºC), once that temperature is reached turn the oven down to 210ºF (100ºC). Make sure your basil is washed and completely dry. This method, while traditional and been used all over the world … Because the stems are woody, you want to have as little stem pieces as possible. Quick-Drying Oregano (and Other Herbs) in the Oven: This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Garden Betty independently selects products to feature on this site. Fold the parchment paper into a funnel and pour the dried oregano into an air-tight storage container (I like to use glass jars). I have tried to hang herbs before, and some of them have ended up moldy. What's the best way to dry oregano? Thanks again, so much Linda! The dried oregano will retain its flavor for up to one year. Although slower methods using low heat are better for flavor preservation, oregano can also be dried quickly in the microwave. The best time to harvest though, is the point right before it begins to flower. Learn how your comment data is processed. Do this because the leaves come off easily when dry, and you don’t want to lose any if you can help it. The oven-drying method works for oregano as well as for parsley, sage, thyme, mint, and basil (that I’ve tried). But of all the dried herbs I use on the daily, dried oregano is right up there in my top three. Step 4. Cut the herb's stems off about halfway down and discard any bits with obvious flaws like bird poop, insect infestation, or dead leaves. Preheat oven to 350F. It smells pretty bad too. Follow us on social media to get the lastest recipes! This post updated from an article that originally appeared on October 30, 2013. In the case of the dehydrator, this requires a separate piece of equipment that most people don’t have or don’t want to (or don’t have the financial means) to purchase. The fastest way just happens to involve your microwave. Basil will be ready when it is dry to the touch. Use a wooden spoon to prop the oven door open. Very good timing and so much easier than the hanging method, thanks! Really thank you with the information you have provided, it rather interesting. Continue to share the same information offline, I’m looking forward to. After washing the fresh oregano, you are also going to need to dry it thoroughly before placing in the oven. Place baking sheet with the oregano in the oven. Oven Drying Herbs. The Panicked Foodie explores a large range of diets, with an emphasis on vegan and gluten-free baking and confections. Lay the leaves flat, in a single layer on a baking sheet. You can use oregano for pizza and pasta sauces – even out of season. Click here to learn more information on caring for oregano from the Farmer’s Almanac. If you don’t have a lot of flat space or a bunch of trays to dry the … Thoroughly dry the fresh oregano, and lay on a parchment-lined baking sheet. This allows any moisture from the herbs to exit the oven, so it doesn’t inhibit the drying process. Preheat the oven to 175 degrees. Because oregano stems are woody, it makes it easy to strip the leaves off from the stems after it’s dried. If your oven goes lower (170°F or so), you can likely leave the oven on for the whole duration of the drying process, but you’ll have to be vigilant to ensure you’re not “cooking” the herbs or leaving them in for too long. Then (important step!) Quick-Drying Oregano (and Other Herbs) in the Oven http://t.co/Aour15sMVb #recipe. Harvest on warm, dry mornings after the dew has evaporated. You may have to play around with the time it takes to dry, since it depends on how thick or large the leaves are. Separate the herb leaves from the stems and discard the stems. After your herbs are all dried off, separate the leaves from their stems. Rinse and dry your herbs. Kelly Dugan Guerin liked this on Facebook. Yeah! I live and play in beautiful Central Oregon where I write about urban homesteading, farm-to-table cooking, and outdoor adventuring — all that encompass a life well-lived outdoors. Arrange in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet and bake until the leaves are slightly dry and reduced in size, 20 to 30 minutes. Be sure to take notes as the timing for each herb will be specific to your oven. The best way to dry oregano is the bunch drying or hang drying method. I’m in the same boat, what a coincidence! Air drying method. Simply tie up the stems with string and hang upside down in a cool, dry, well-ventilated spot away from direct sunlight. These statements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. It also goes into salad dressings, marinades, and dry rubs for meat. I’ve even picked fresh bay leaves from my mother-in-law’s backyard to dry at home, and foraged pink peppercorns on visits to California. Turn your oven down to the lowest setting (mine was at 170F). Put your tray of herbs into your oven at the lowest possible temperature (150-170 degrees, depending on your oven). Once they are all dry and cooled, gently remove the leaves from the stems. Assemble oregano sprigs in the first part of the day exactly when the sun … Don't toss out leftover oregano. Set your oven to its lowest temperature setting; mine hovers around 200°F. I kid you not. There are several ways to dry the herb including air-drying, using a dehydrator, and oven drying. In the oven, fresh oregano dries within 15 minutes, so you can harvest a large handful of sprigs in the afternoon and use them for dinner that evening. I use a lot of it. Growing, harvesting, and drying fresh herbs is easier than most people think. While there are other methods of drying, I find this one to be the quickest and one that makes use of equipment that you already have in your house (i.e., you don’t have to go out and purchase a dehydrator). An oven is something that most people have or have access to, and it takes less than 30 minutes to do. It took my oregano (still on the stem) about 20-25 minutes to dry in the oven. Step 5. Fold the parchment paper into a funnel and pour the dried oregano into an air-tight storage container (I like to use glass jars). Dried oregano is an herb that I use a lot. If an herb can be dried, I probably have it stashed somewhere. I believe the secret to a good life is... Read more. When oven drying herbs, place the leaves or stems on a cookie sheet and warm them about one to two hours with the oven … It’s too small, too sunny, and merely a matter of when — not if — someone bumps into the hanging herbs and scatters crumbs across the floor. Also between us, I’m extremely impatient so I love this quick drying method! Drying the herbs indoors is the most popular method, especially for low-moisture leaves such rosemary and thyme, because you retain most of the important qualities such as flavour, smell and colour.. Content includes images, text, audio, video, and any other forms of content appearing on The Panicked Foodie. The cilantro shown here dried in only 30 minutes in the oven! Preheat oven to 350F. Although time-consuming, taking several days to finish, this produces the best results for low-moisture herbs with tiny leaves that dry out quickly. They should be picked before the flowers develop. All information is intended to motivate readers to make their own health and wellness decisions after consulting with their health care provider. To see this page as it is meant to appear, please enable your Javascript! I had a few different herbs to dry: flat-leaf parsley, basil, mint, lemon thyme, and rosemary. What I like about it is that the mess is better contained, and the process is much much faster. The dried oregano will retain its flavor for up to one year. It’s best to pick and prepare one variety of herb for drying at a time.Discard any damaged leaves. Remove the baking sheet from the oven. Harvesting should be done late morning if possible. Step 1. Using your fingers, crumble the dried … If basil is overlapping, it may steam instead of dry out. I like to use my free hand to kind of swish it around under the running water. … How to store dried herbs Store dried herbs in glass jars, ideally dark ones, clearly dated and labelled in a cool, dark, dry cupboard or similar. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Quick-Drying Oregano (and Other Herbs) in the Oven http://t.co/KwIhdOfDtO, “Quick-Drying Oregano (And Other Herbs) In The Oven” http://t.co/MlOfERhML4 #herbchat, Drying your own fresh herbs at home is quick and easy. There are three main ways to dry oregano: hanging it to dry in a cool and dry spot, dehydrating it, and drying it in the oven. This is definitely something we don’t want. Drying herbs in the oven is another effective way to preserve and avoid wasting leftover herbs. If you don't already grow your own herbs, here's a great guide on How to grow herbs for drying by Burpee that will point you in the right direction. But leave small, feathery herbs, like dill and fennel, on the stalks until drying is co… Place baking sheet with the oregano in the oven. No, not hung up in neat little bundles, not in a dehydrator... My favorite method is in the oven and it takes less than an hour, so you can pick oregano fresh from your garden in the afternoon, and have it ready for dinner that evening. Step 3. How to Dry Herbs in Your Oven. Home » Recipes » Herb Harvesting & Preservation » How To Dry Oregano In The Oven. If they are too crowded, the leaves might not dry all of the way. While one of the easiest ways, air drying oregano isn’t the best for flavor … If your oven only goes down to 180 degrees F, that’s ok. Place oregano in a single layer on a baking sheet. Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram. Once they are all dry and cooled, gently remove the leaves from the stems. I generally wait for my plant to be between 6-8″ tall before I harvest. This notice is required by the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Make sure your oven rack is in the middle of the oven. My oven’s lowest temperature was 170 degrees. I mean, just look at the difference in color between the dried oregano from my garden on the left, and the store-bought organic version on the right. If you turn the temperature up too high, you will burn the leaves of your herbs. Gently crush the leaves with your fingers. I like to fold a spoonful of crumbs into my artisan bread dough, or sprinkle it onto homemade garlic bread. Check the leaves to make sure they are dry (i.e., they shouldn't feel wet and they should crumble easily). This method ensures the delicate leaves won’t burn. ), Acknowledging the source of the copyrighted material does not substitute for obtaining explicit written permission. Remove the baking sheet from the oven. Dry it for 20 minutes (or shorter, if your lowest temperature setting is higher than mine). Step 3 – Remove Leaves. This method leads to the familiar herb bunches seen in many rustic country kitchens. Instead, dry the leaves and save them to use when it's too cold to grow fresh herbs. Your timing is stellar! Strip large-leaved herbs, such as sage and mint, from their stalks. You can dry directly on the baking sheet or put down parchment paper. Diana Heffernan-Schrader liked this on Facebook. That is when the oregano will have maximum flavor. If you are using an oven, you can dry a single batch of fresh oregano in less than 30 minutes. Try not to overlap them too much as you want air to circulate between the leaves. If your oven goes down to 170°F, try that first as you’ll significantly reduce the chances of burning the leaves. I’m not using anything fancy — just a conventional gas oven. What I do is plain and simple, and takes under an hour as opposed to a week: I use my oven! Line two large rimmed baking sheets with parchment or a silicone baking mat. All Rights Reserved. Place basil in the oven for 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Continue this cycle until all of the leaves are dry. Living in such a mild climate means I’m lucky to have fre… http://t.co/FSTE5SahfM, Blogged on Garden Betty: Quick-Drying Oregano (and Other Herbs) in the Oven http://t.co/9dHW9uoKbT. It’s important to harvest herbs at the right time. By dry, I mean that they shouldn’t feel wet and they should crumble easily. Arrange washed and dried oregano sprigs on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Make sure you place the baking sheet on the center rack and position it away from any known hot spots. Step 2: Arrange the sprigs of oregano on a baking sheet.. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. It depends on whether you are hanging the herbs up, dehydrating them, or drying them in the oven. How to dry. Once it’s preheated, place your tray of herbs on the center rack and prop the door open slightly with a wooden utensil to allow some air movement. Though some cooks don't use this technique anymore because it takes days or weeks to dry the herbs, this method is still relevant, especially on dry and hot days in places with very low humidity. All information and resources found on thepanickedfoodie.com are based on the opinions of the author unless otherwise noted. I'm a plant lover, passionate road-tripper, and cookbook author whose expert advice and bestselling books have been featured in TIME, Outside, HGTV, and Food & Wine. If you have a lot of oregano to dry, you might need to do this in two or more batches. After 1 hour the leaves should be completely dried. Oregano ist harvested in July, when the aroma of the seasoning herb is most intense. © Garden Betty 2010-2021. How to dry herbs in the oven The first few steps are the same for any type of oven. Air drying bay leaves is the easiest way to preserve their flavor and I always like to have a jar of ready-dried leaves on hand for when I need a bay leaf in my cooking. While you can dry any type of fresh herbs in a very low oven, some people prefer using the oven for woody (thyme, rosemary) herbs, rather than tender (basil, parsley) ones, which are more delicate. 1) Pick your herbs early in the morning when their oil content is the highest. If you can get the top rack in, put it over the whole tray this helps stop any danger of paper rising as well. Remove any ratty leaves and spread the herbs out, stems and all, in a single layer across a baking sheet. Most ovens at home have a low temperature of 200°F which is what I go with in this guide. Using any of my content in an app is expressly prohibited without prior written permission. When you use the halogen oven to dry bay leaves you will need to weigh down the top sheet as in halogens the paper will rise with the movement of air. Preheat oven … Preheat oven to 350F. Preheat the oven to 175 degrees. For herbs with small leaves and woody stems, such as thyme, the leaves can stay on the stem. Because who doesn’t like sweets?!? When to Harvest Bay Leaves Unlike other herbs which tend to have the best flavor when the leaves are young and tender, bay leaves have more intense flavor when they are older. RT @theGardenBetty Quick-Drying Oregano (and Other Herbs) in the Oven http://t.co/YJ0ApIZA2q. A kitchen oven is often used for drying herbs. Leaves with higher moisture such as lemon balm, mint, tarragon and basil are better oven dried. Get More Organized With This DIY Spice Drawer Hack, 3 Best Ways to Freeze Parsley, Cilantro, Chives, and Other Herbs, How to Trim an Artichoke (Or… How to Get to the Good Stuff Right Away), How to Stop a Broody Hen: 4 Humane Ways That Work, How to Plant Tomatoes in a Trench: A Gardener's Trick for Tall Plants, Getting Stoned on Soil: How to Dose Yourself With Nature’s Happy Drug, Ultimate Guide to Decoding Your Garden Seed Catalogs, Make the Best Seed Starting Mix for Dirt Cheap (It’s Organic Too). I may receive a commission when you buy something through one of my links. You want to get any bugs, dirt, and debris off before drying. The third method is to use your oven to dry the oregano, this will be the quickest way to do it. Microwave ovens can also be used for quicker drying of herbs. Because the stems are woody, you want to have as little stem pieces as possible. After harvesting fresh oregano from your garden (or gathering any store-bought fresh oregano), give it a good rinse in a strainer. Hanging Oregano to Dry It Gather your oregano into groups of 2-4 stalks and put them in a … After crushing them, I like to put the sheet back in the oven for another 5 minutes at 170F to make sure there is no moisture left. Instructions Make sure your oven rack is in the middle of the oven. After all, the secret to a good life is... Read more », RT @TuffGuardHose: “Quick-Drying Oregano (And Other Herbs) In The Oven” http://t.co/MlOfERhML4 #herbchat, RT @theGardenBetty: Fire up the oven for a few minutes, then let the herbs dry slowly.