Features of harvesting dried oregano and methods of its storage. Spice pics

Oregano, more commonly known as oregano, sweetheart or amulets, is a well-known medicinal herb. In addition, it is a good spice, cultivated in many countries and widely used in cooking.

Drying of oregano is not difficult in its technique, dried oregano is actively used in many medicinal teas and collections.

From the article you will learn what it is - home-dried oregano at home, how the grass is harvested and harvested.

Are the beneficial properties of dried oregano being lost?

Properly dried oregano practically does not lose or change its properties.. In dried oregano polyphenolic compounds appear that are responsible for the flavor of the seasoning.

When drying, the essential oils partly evaporate, which accounts for the strong aroma during the drying of the plant. However, even in dried oregano, essential oils are stored quite a lot, and they evaporate only during improper storage.

Which varieties are best suited?

There are many varieties and varieties of spices, but only a few varieties are suitable for drying and subsequent use:

• Oregano ordinary.
• Greek oregano.
• Lippia Graviononles - differs from its counterparts in that this plant is of a different genus and species, but also called spice, known as the Mexican oregano.
• Italian oregano.

All of them have different subtleties in their taste.

The most commonly used oregano, which is widespread in the wild and in a cultured environment.

A photo

In the photo you will see how dried oregano looks like:

When to collect for drying for the winter?

The plant grows on forest edges, in foothill areas, forest open glades. Flowering begins in late June and lasts until the end of July.. Harvest flowering plants.

How to collect?

It is best to collect clear, sunny weather. Plants are picked in the afternoon. All branches must be necessarily dry, dew or light rain interfere with the collection and subsequent drying and storage.

For harvesting take only flowering tops of plants with a length of no more than 30 cm, which is cut with a sharp knife, sickle or shears. Only healthy flowering branches can be cut.without spider plaque, signs of fungal infestations, the presence of points, spots or drying branches.

Important! The plant can not be uprooted, as this can completely destroy the population of oregano at the gathering place.

It is important to correctly select the place of collection. It is desirable that it be removed from dusty country roads, railway, residential premises. This reduces the risk of harmful substances getting on the flowers and the plant itself, which will affect both the quality of the spice itself and its properties.

When and how to start harvesting?

Consider how and when oregano is harvested. Drying is started immediately after collecting the plants., otherwise in large bunches, the branches will start to wither and rot. You can dry the oregano both at home and at your summer cottage - in the open air, in the attic, either under the ceiling of the room, or in an oven or a special dryer - the dehydrator.

In bunches

Drying in bundles is carried out in a well-ventilated area. Some recommend washing the plants and drying them thoroughly before drying, but this procedure is not necessary. The stalks are collected in small bunches of 10-12 branches (it is important that they are not too dense, if there are a large number of side branches on the branches, the number of stalks in the bunch should be reduced).

You can wrap the bundles with thin paper with cuts - this will protect them from possible dust. It is important to avoid direct sunlight..

Step-by-step instruction:

1. wash the branches under a weak stream of running water (not a mandatory item) and dry well from moisture;
2. gather stalks into bunches of several branches, trying not to thicken them too much for good air circulation;
3. if desired, wrap in thin paper with cuts;
4. tie the bundle with cotton strips of fabric near the end;
5. hang in a well ventilated area so that the beams do not touch each other, the top of the beam down;
6. as they dry, the bunches are removed, dry leaves and flowers are separated from coarse branches, crushed and poured into airtight containers for storage.

From the video below you can learn how to dry oregano in bundles:

Leaves and flowers

To dry the leaves and flowers individually, they are separated from the main stem.. The leaves are left on the side small twigs, the flowers - on the stalks, i.e. get rid of the rough part of the plant. Harvested material is laid out on paper-covered baking sheets, table or trays.

Step-by-step instruction:

1. flowers and leaves are separated from the main trunk, but left on the side branches;
2. capacity for drying lay thin paper;
3. scatter leaves and flowers in different containers with a thin layer;
4. tanks are placed in shaded ventilated areas;
5. as it dries, turn the flowers and leaves;
6. dried material is crushed and poured into storage tanks.

In the oven or dehydrator

When dried in an oven or dehydrator, oregano loses some of its flavor and aroma. This method is suitable in the absence of time or place for the natural drying of herbs. It is possible to dry this way both on the stems and on the thin lateral branches.

Step-by-step instructions for drying in the oven:

1. on a baking sheet, branches of oregano or thin branches with leaves and flowers separated from the main stem are laid out in a single layer;
2. the oven is preheated on the smallest fire and pans with grass are loaded into the already warm oven;
3. the drying time depends on the oven itself, the thickness of the leaves and their juiciness, it is advisable to check the degree of drying every 5-10 minutes - dry twigs do not bend, but break immediately;
4. Dried oregano is taken out of the oven, allowed to cool, crushed and put into prepared containers for storage.

Step-by-step instruction for drying in the dehydrator:

1. leaves and flowers are separated from the stems and side branches;
2. the harvested material is laid in the dehydrator trays and set (if the brand of the dryer allows it) a temperature of no more than 35 degrees, or the minimum mode;
3. the degree of drying is checked the next day - dry leaves should disintegrate with minimal physical impact;
4. if necessary, repeat the drying;
5. dry oregano put in prepared containers for storage.

Where to store and for how long?

Dry spice is stored in a dark place, preferably as far as possible from other aromatic spices. Paper or canvas bags, plastic containers with a tightly screwed lid are suitable as storage containers. The second option is more optimal because with tightness, the specific taste and aroma of oregano lasts longer.

With proper storage - without access to light and moisture - oregano can be stored up to one and a half years. Oregano is stored in glass or plastic containers for a little longer — up to three years.

It is advisable to pour the spice into another container every few months. for the prevention of mold.

Oregano properties are slowly lost over time as the essential oils evaporate, and the seasoning loses its specific taste. The less oregano was stored, the more taste and healthy qualities remained in it.

How can I use oregano and where to add?

• Oregano is a popular seasoning in Italian and Greek cuisines. It is used in the preparation of dishes from meat, fish, in drinks - especially in the preparation of kvass and homemade beer or mead, when salting vegetables. Well manifested oregano in tomato sauces in pizza and meat.
• Dried oregano perfectly manifests itself in vegetable stews, especially highlighting the taste of tomatoes and zucchini squash, as well as bell peppers. This fragrant seasoning can be added to dishes of pork, lamb, beef, as well as used in the preparation of homemade sausage and ham.

  Important! Oregano is always added at the end of cooking, which allows preserving and transferring the characteristic flavor and aroma of the spice to the dish.

• It combines well in combination with garlic, Provencal herbs, anise, basil, rosemary and thyme.
• Also dried oregano can be a good medicine for brewing teas, in the preparation of therapeutic baths, lotions and compresses.

The aroma and taste of oregano noticeably enrich the taste of many dishes. The plant can be used both in fresh and in dried form, not only as a seasoning, but also as a part of medicinal and immunostimulating agents. Drying oregano does not represent special energy consumption, and a long shelf life, subject to the rules, allows for a long time to delight the taste and smell of gourmets.

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