Once you learn how to dry oregano in the air fryer, you’re going to wonder why you didn’t start sooner. That’s right, in just a few minutes, you can perfectly dehydrate your fresh oregano and save it for when you need it!
Oregano is such a versatile ingredient, appearing in Italian, Greek, and Mexican cuisine, and that’s just getting started!
Can You Dry Oregano Leaves in an Air Fryer?
Yes, you can dry herbs such as oregano leaves in an air fryer.
By cooking oregano leaves in the air fryer for a few minutes, you’ll achieve perfectly dehydrated oregano (even without an actual dehydrator). Then, the leaves may be safely stored for use as dried herbs later.
It’s a great way to preserve fresh herbs from your summer herb garden, or just to use up leftovers from your groceries. I find it a great way to make sure things don’t go to waste (and it’s so easy too)!
Katie’s tip
If you don’t have an air fryer yet, don’t worry! You can also dry oregano in the microwave just as quickly and easily.
Quick + Easy Recipes
straight to your inbox
Ingredients Needed
- Fresh oregano
Ingredient Tips
- You can dry as much oregano at a time as fits in a single layer in your air fryer’s basket or rack (if you overcrowd you’ll end up with damp spots). Cook in batches if needed!
- This recipe works for many varieties of oregano, such as Greek, Italian, Mexican, and golden (plus more)!
How to Dry Oregano in the Air Fryer: Step by Step
- Start with clean, dry fresh oregano (leaves on stems)
- Preheat your air fryer to 350°F
- Place the oregano stems in the preheated air fryer basket in a single layer
- Cover oregano with a tray, metal rack, or trivet to prevent it from flying around (alternatively, tie in bundles with a heat-safe tie like cooking twine)
- Cook on air fryer setting for 3 minutes at 350°F
- Oregano should appear dry and break easily when touched
- If additional time is needed, add in 1-minute increments to prevent overcooking
- Once removed from the air fryer, separate the leaves and stems by holding the base of the stem in one hand. Then, run your other hand down the stem towards the top, while holding it over a plate or bowl
- Crush or crumble the oregano leaves up finer if desired (or use a mortar and pestle to grind it) (optional)
- Store in an airtight container or spice jar in a cool, dry place
Dried oregano is delicious in sauces, stews, roasted vegetable dishes, homemade teas, Italian cuisine, and much more!
Recipe FAQs
How Do You Dry Oregano?
There are 5 primary methods you can use to dry oregano: air drying, dehydrating, microwaving, air frying, and oven drying Using the microwave or air fryer to dehydrate your oregano are the two quickest methods, taking just a few minutes each.
The dehydrator and oven methods take a couple hours, but often allow for larger batches to be done at once. Air drying takes the longest, ranging from a few days to a week. However, no electricity is even required here, so it’s a good option for homesteading.
How Long Does Homemade Dried Oregano Last?
Homemade dried oregano lasts, generally, 6-12 months if stored properly. However, it’s usually fine from 1-3 years, just losing a lot of its flavor and potency in this time.
Exposure to moisture, extreme temperature, air, and even light can change the color and potency of your dried herbs.
Is it Better to Freeze or Dry Oregano?
When it comes to whether it’s better to freeze or dry oregano, there are pros and cons to both methods.
The freezer helps keep your herbs more potent and not hard or crunchy. However, the leaves often discolor, get mushy, and you can only store them for a few months before you need to worry about freezer burn.
Drying oregano gets you a longer shelf life (6-12 months at a minimum), saves you space because of the loss of volume, and maintains the green color of the leaves. However, drying does lose some potency, and of course you’ll need to rehydrate during cooking (no one wants to crunch on hard leaves).
I personally feel it’s better to dry oregano versus freezing, simply because I believe it produces a nicer-looking finished product that keeps longer. No judgment here, though, if you want to freeze yours instead!
Tips For the Best Air Fryer Dried Oregano
- You don’t need to shake or flip your oregano during the air frying process. However, if you end up with wet pockets due to too much overlap, you will want to move them around a bit before cooking for additional time
- It generally takes me 3 minutes in total to completely dehydrate oregano in my Ninja Foodi Dual Zone air fryer. Your time may vary slightly depending on your specific air fryer, so adjust as needed in small increments
Storage Tips
- Use an Airtight Container: Store dried oregano in airtight glass jars or spice containers to preserve its flavor and aroma. Avoid plastic if possible, as it can absorb odors over time
- Keep It Cool and Dark: Place the container in a cool, dark pantry or cupboard—away from heat, light, and moisture. Direct sunlight or heat from the stove can degrade the oils that give oregano its flavor
- Avoid Humidity: Never store oregano near the stove, dishwasher, or sink where steam and moisture are common. Moisture can cause clumping or even mold!
- Label and Date It: Dried oregano typically retains its best flavor for 6 to 12 months. Label the container with the date you dried or purchased it so you can keep track. After that time, it won’t be bad necessarily, but will lose a lot of potency and flavor
- Whole vs. Crushed: If you dried whole leaves or sprigs, consider leaving them whole until you’re ready to use them. Crushing releases oils and speeds up flavor loss
More Air Fryer Dried Herbs
Final Thoughts
I love to dry oregano in the air fryer. It’s such a quick and easy way to dehydrate fresh oregano to save it for later use. Whether you have an overabundant herb garden or just extra from the grocery store, drying oregano ensures it doesn’t go to waste.
Whether it’s going in a tasty taco filling, marinating some Greek kabobs, or finishing off a perfect pizza, I always have to have some dried oregano in my spice cabinet!
For one of my favorite applications, try sprinkling some oregano on Bagel Bites in the air fryer for that real pizza taste in your snack!
Dried Oregano in the Air Fryer
Equipment
- Rack, trivet, or oven-safe tie
Ingredients
- 10-12 stems oregano (washed and dried if needed)
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 350°F
- Place the oregano stems in the preheated air fryer basket in a single layer10-12 stems oregano
- Cover oregano with a tray, rack, or trivet to prevent it from flying around (alternatively, tie with a heat-safe tie)
- Cook on air fryer setting for 3 minutes at 350°F. Oregano should appear dry and break easily when touched. If additional time is needed, add in 1-minute increments and check frequently to prevent overcooking
- Once removed from the air fryer, separate the oregano leaves and stems by holding the base of the stem in one hand. Then, gently run your other hand down the stem towards the top, while holding it over a plate or bowl
- Crush the oregano leaves up finer if desired (optional)
- Store in an airtight container or spice jar in a cool, dry place
Notes
- Total drying time in a Ninja Foodi Dual Zone air fryer was 3 minutes. However, other models may vary slightly. If you need to add additional time, make sure to shake and separate strands to promote even drying
- This amount of fresh oregano should give you between 1.5 – 2 Tbsp dried depending on the size of your bunches and leaves
- When removing leaves, just gently run your hand along the stem. It doesn’t take any pressure to knock the leaves off in their brittle state, and you don’t want to break the stems
Nutrition
