Spicy Sprigs: Growing and Drying Oregano

Growing and drying oregano is an easy and rewarding process.  The foods you make using “homemade” oregano will taste better, too!

Whether planted in the ground or a container, Greek oregano grows and spreads quite readily.  I normally keep all of my herbs in pots on my front porch; others like to create in-ground herb gardens.  Oregano is a low-maintenance herb – it only needs regular sunlight and moisture to thrive.

Drying oregano does not require a dehydrator.  The following list of everyday household items will accomplish the task:

·         Scissors

·         Ties, strings, or rubber bands

·         Large paper lunch bag

In my opinion, the single most difficult part of drying herbs is waiting for the plants to get large enough to cut.  I wait until the branches are a minimum of 4-6 inches long before I cut them.  I also try to cut sprigs of different sizes from various places on the plant, or from a couple of locations on multiple plants, in order to promote further growth. 

Never cut your herbs in the heat of the day, especially in warmer climates.  A good general rule to follow is to cut the branches at the same time of day that you might water the plant.  Generally speaking, that time should be early to mid-morning, or mid- to late evening. 

Once you’ve got a bunch of cut oregano in hand, wash the oregano in lukewarm water.  Run your hands gently over the leaves and move the branches through running water to remove any hidden dirt or bugs.

Dry the oregano thoroughly.  Remember, our goal is to quickly dry the oregano so we can crumble it up into seasoning, so a good job here is essential to the success of the entire task.  I usually shake any obvious water drops off of my oregano, pat it gently with paper towels, and then spread the cuttings apart on a wire rack, leaving them to dry for just an hour or two. 

When dry, put your oregano in a bunch, with the cut edge of the stems arranged evenly on the bottom.  Use a tie, string, or rubber band to secure the bunch right above the bottom edge.  You may need to strip a few leaves at the base of the bunch in order to get a tie securely in place.

Hang the oregano in a well-ventilated area that is not exposed to much sun.  I’ve heard that some people hang their herbs to dry from their garage, shed, or barn rafters.  During summer months in humid climates, however, it is not ideal to hang the herbs anywhere outdoors.  In some cases, it’s possible to run string underneath bookshelves, and attach the oregano to hang under the shelves to dry.      Personally, I use paper bags to store my oregano while it’s drying.  I simply take a large paper lunch bag, cut a few holes and slits in it to allow a little air to move into it, and place the oregano upside-down in the bag, with the bunch of leaves at the bottom and the cut stems at the top.  I then close the very top of the paper bag in a bunch, around the base of the stems, and secure it with a rubber band.  I usually place it in a location that has some air movement, but away from anything that could knock over the bag or get it wet.  If you must locate your herbs in a safe place that does not get much air movement, you can also place a rotating fan nearby to promote air flow.

Now comes the second hardest part – more waiting!  Usually, oregano should sit for a minimum of one to two weeks.  The leaves will wither, dry, and shrink.  However, if you walk by the paper bag and smell it during this time period, you’ll find that the aroma remains quite potent! 

To verify that the oregano is dry enough to use or store, take the oregano out of the paper bag, and put your index finger and thumb around one of the leaves, and rub them together.  If the leaf readily and easily crumbles, with no additional effort needed, the oregano for crushing.

To remove the dried oregano leaves, simply place the oregano over a storage container or into a sealing plastic bag.  Place your thumb and forefinger around the base of each stem, and run them along the length of each stem to strip the leaves.  After the leaves are removed, you can crush the leaves further, or use them as they are. 

After you seal the bag or container, observe it for a few days.  If you notice drops of moisture appearing inside the storage container, your oregano is not completely dry yet, and you must give it access to fresh, circulating air immediately to allow the moisture to escape.

Plan to use your oregano within a few months.   If you do not plan to use the oregano within the next 3-4 months, you can store it in the freezer and take it out only when using it.

Lastly – don’t forget that oregano dried from the garden will be quite a bit stronger than the kind you buy in the baking aisle of the grocery store.  Take that into account when adding it to your recipes.  Enjoy!