How To Dry Oregano

How to harvest and dry oregano from the garden, without a dehydrator, traditional and oven methods included.

Native to the Mediterranean oregano is an essential herb in Italian cuisine, used to flavor everything from pizza to pasta and sauces with its unique peppery warm flavor.

The dried variety has a stronger more intense aroma then the fresh herb.

How To Dry Oregano, Traditional Method:

1. Use your garden sheers and harvest entire stalks of oregano after the flowerbuds form, at the end of the summer season, early in the morning but after the dew of the night has dried.
2. Make a bouquet and tie it with kitchen twine or a soft string. 
3. Hang it upside down in a well ventilated warm area for a couple of weeks until completely dry.
4. At this point you can store it as is, or strip the leaves and flowers from the stalks by running 2 fingers up and down the stalk. Crumble them some more to your liking.
5. Transfer to an airtight jar and store with your other spices up to 1 year.

Oven Method

1. Spread the oregano stalks on a parchment lined cookie sheet in a single layer, and bake on the lowest setting until dry.
2. Make sure to toss it around a few times during the process.
3. Remove from the oven and allow it to cool completely, then strip the leaves off the stems and store in airtight jars in the pantry.

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