The stems will dry in under two days and can be stripped of the leaves. Start by rinsing your fresh herbs thoroughly. {mine are usually dried out and ready after a total of 2 minutes and 15 seconds} If you have a larger bundle of thyme sprigs you are microwaving, you may need to add a little extra time. Thyme is frequently used to add flavor to meats, seafood, stews, and soups. It’s important to harvest herbs at the right time. Once off the stems, store the leaves in an air-tight container in a dark, cool location. You can hang your thyme to dry in any dark corner of your kitchen, living room, or dining room, as long as it has good air flow and a warm temperature. Strip large-leaved herbs, such as sage and mint, from their stalks. Woody stemmed herbs are best harvested just before blooming for peak flavor. Put the container in a dark, dry location, such as a cupboard or pantry. There are 13 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Trimming most of the new growth off the plant is fine, as long as you keep the woody parts intact. Between each session, turn and rearrange the sprigs. If you have a food dehydrator, you can use it to dry parsley and other herbs. Last Updated: September 23, 2019 If you bought a bag of fresh herbs and only used a leaf or two in a recipe, or if you’ve got a large end-of-season herb harvest, here’s what you need to know to air-dry and preserve your herbs for lasting use. Today I put this to the test in 2 beautiful bone in ribeye steaks. The leaves will be completely dry in just a couple of days. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. When converting fresh thyme to dried thyme in recipes, it is important to keep in mind that the conversion formulas should only be used as a general guideline. If you have fresh thyme that you have bought from a grocery store, you can still dry it. Check the thyme for mold after the first few days of drying.   While drying herbs is also a common preservation method, herbs with a high water content can rot or become moldy before they dry out. An easy way to do this is to hold the stem in one hand and run your fingers down the stem with your other hand. Storing thyme correctly will preserve its essence and flavor. Besides, on the market, you can also find powdered thyme. The moisture in herbs that are drying in the necessary warm conditions may cause the formation of mold if too much humidity is in the area. Once you have rinsed the thyme, give it a light shake to remove most of the water off the surface of it. It grows quickly in sunny, hot conditions but can also withstand cold winters. All You Really Need To Know About Converting Fresh Herbs to Dry Herbs The general rule for dried “flaky” herbs like dried cilantro or dried tarragon is 3 to 1 or three parts fresh to one part dried. Lay them out on a paper towel and pat them dry. You can trim most of the new growth off of a plant as long as you keep the woody growth intact. Rinse with cool water only if necessary and pat dry with paper towels. The flavor is fresh and peppery, with floral, pine and citrus notes in varying degrees. This is still a useful practice t… Microwave 1 minute and 30 seconds, then in 15 second increments until dry. Drying fresh thyme in a food dehydrator is fast and protects against possible mold. Use a sharp pair of scissors or pruners and trim right above the woody sections of the plant. If you have a larger bunch of thyme sprigs you are drying, you might need to microwave them a little more. How to dry herbs in the oven While you can dry any type of fresh herbs in a very low oven, some people prefer using the oven for woody (thyme, rosemary) herbs, rather than tender (basil, parsley) ones, which are more delicate. Making sure that the thyme no longer was water on it will minimize the chance of it getting moldy as it dries. You can also look at this as 1 tablespoon fresh herbs = 1 teaspoon dried herbs In most cases, 1 teaspoon of powdered thyme is equivalent to up to 4 teaspoons of fresh thyme… It just won’t be as fresh, so it might have less flavor once dried. Run cool water over the herbs in a colander. However, it usually takes 1 or 2 weeks for thyme to dry out completely. After harvesting thyme, wash it and shake off the excess water. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. I put down one of my oven mats as a liner, which worked wonderfull… How to dry Drying the herbs indoors is the most popular method, especially for low-moisture leaves such rosemary and thyme, because you retain most of the important qualities such as flavour, smell and colour. The leaves will fall right off the stems as they dry. Make that fresh thyme, parsley, and basil last forever. 6 fresh thyme sprigs = 3/4 teaspoon ground dried thyme. Hang or lay the herb branches out where they will get plenty of air circulation so they can dry out quickly. This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. You can trim most of the new growth off of a plant as long as you keep the woody growth intact. Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. You can dry thyme in a variety of ways. If stored properly, it can last for up to 2 years. It’s best to pick and prepare one variety of herb for drying at a time.Discard any damaged leaves. No, in order to reduce moisture and the chances of mold growth, thyme should not be dried on the plant. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/0d\/Dry-Thyme-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Dry-Thyme-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/0d\/Dry-Thyme-Step-1.jpg\/aid10429043-v4-728px-Dry-Thyme-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"485","licensing":"