Start with clean, dry fresh oregano leaves on the stem
8-9 stems Oregano
Place a paper towel on a microwave-safe plate
Lay the fresh oregano stems on top of the paper towel in a single layer, avoiding overlap as much as possible
Cover the oregano with another paper towel (I recommend tucking corners under the plate so they stay in place)
Microwave your oregano on high for 1 minute, then check it
Add any additional cook time needed in 30-second increments and check frequently to prevent overcooking
Oregano is completely dried when it appears crispy and leaves crumble easily when touched
Remove leaves from stem by holding the base of the stem in one hand, and running the other hand gently along the stem, over a plate or bowl
Crush leaves finer if desired using a mortar and pestle (though oregano leaves are often small, so this step is optional)
Store in an airtight container, ziploc bag, or spice jar
Notes
Average drying time is about 2 minutes in a 1000W microwave
Dry in batches if necessary. If you overlap the oregano stems and leaves too much, you’ll get wet pockets
Tucking the ends of the paper towel under your plate keeps it from flying off and knocking your herbs around in the microwave
This amount of fresh oregano should give you between 2 tsp - 1 Tbsp dried depending on the size of your bunches and leaves
Be gentle with the motion to remove leaves. If you squeeze or try to quickly and aggressively take the leaves off, the brittle stems will break
If preferred, you can remove the leaves from the stems before dehydrating, but I feel it’s easier to lay them out nicely while still intact
Dried oregano keeps well for 1-2 years, though it is most potent in the first 6 months. After that, while still safe to consume, it continually loses potency and flavor over time
Keyword dried oregano, dry oregano in microwave, drying herbs, drying herbs in the microwave, how to dry oregano in the microwave, how to dry oregano leaves in microwave, how to dry oregano quickly, oregano