I have some beautiful Thyme and Oregano in my garden. I am wanting to dry it and store for when I don't have any. I don't have a dehydrator but I was thinking of letting it air dry. I know thyme dries very quickly but not sure about oregano. Any other tips or ideas and how do I store it so that it lasts?

marcs - 2019-10-04 17:55:00

I prefer freezing. But I only preserve basil, it doesn't last over winter. Oregano, Thyme and all the rest last over winter, they slow down, and don't grow much but they sure don't die off either.

Edited by lythande1 at 6:26 pm, Fri 4 Oct

lythande1 - 2019-10-04 18:25:00

I've dried oregano and marjoram by simply cutting a big bunch, tying with string and hanging outdoors under shelter for about a week or until completely dry. I then rub off the leaves into a big paper bag, check for any big bits of stem and keep in a jar in the pantry. Both herbs gain character and are delicious when dried, marjoram is my preference as it is much the same as Greek rigani.

I don't dry thyme as I prefer it fresh.

davidt4 - 2019-10-04 19:06:00

marcs wrote:

I have some beautiful Thyme and Oregano in my garden. I am wanting to dry it and store for when I don't have any. I don't have a dehydrator but I was thinking of letting it air dry. I know thyme dries very quickly but not sure about oregano. Any other tips or ideas and how do I store it so that it lasts?

This may give you a few ideas.
https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-dry-and-store-herbs-1403397

I haven't air dried herbs, but that's how they did it before dehydrators.
I'm sure that you could oven dry them as well.
Have you thought of flavoured oils?
Even in a colder climate, I have them fresh all year.
The big thing with those herbs (& others) is to keep trimming them so that you always have the young fresh leaves.
Don't know if that's much help to you.

samanya - 2019-10-04 19:11:00

Samanya, it's well worth drying marjoram as it develops a different character, much more complex than when fresh. I have it in the garden all year and use fresh and dried in different contexts.

davidt4 - 2019-10-04 19:29:00

Just hang it in your garage or carport In bunches.

oramac - 2019-10-04 19:43:00

davidt4 wrote:

Samanya, it's well worth drying marjoram as it develops a different character, much more complex than when fresh. I have it in the garden all year and use fresh and dried in different contexts.

Thanks davidt4 I will give it a go.
I have an ancient deyhydrator

samanya - 2019-10-05 11:33:00

Tip I was given - label your jars that you put the herbs in as once tried they all look the same!

-nana- - 2019-10-06 15:28:00

-nana- wrote:

Tip I was given - label your jars that you put the herbs in as once tried they all look the same!

LOL Thanks. I can tell by smell but yes will label them.

I will air dry them as here in Perth things air dry very well especially on hot sunny days.

marcs - 2019-10-06 18:12:00