Method 1: Dry by Hanging Step 1: Tie Bundles Tie a few thyme sprigs together with a piece of string, rubber band, or twist tie. Don't make the bundles too big to ensure even drying. Tip: Pierce a paper bag with holes and cover the herb bundles with the bag. This will protect them from dust but still allow sufficient airflow through. 1 Gather sprigs of fresh thyme. Pick long stems of new growth from your plant. Use a sharp pair of scissors or pruners and trim right above the woody sections of the plant. You're looking for sprigs that are strong and will stay together as they dry. You can trim most of the new growth off of a plant as long as you keep the woody growth intact. [1]
How To Dry Thyme (3 Methods) Alphafoodie
How to dry fresh thyme Harvest the thyme Ensure that your plant is healthy and growing vigorously before you harvest it. You can harvest from your thyme plants all year however, spring and summer are the best time for harvesting thyme as the softer new growth has the best flavor. Select a mature stem of around 7-8 inches in length. In A Dehydrator You can do this on or off the stems, but the drying time will vary. Lay the thyme in a single layer over the dehydrator tray/s, leaving some space in-between, for the air to circulate. Dry the thyme at 105°F/40°C for between 2-5 hours, until it is completely dry and brittle. How to Dry Thyme After harvesting thyme, wash it and shake off the excess water. You can choose to dry the entire stem or remove the tiny leaves. The leaves will dry more quickly off the stem but they will remove more easily from an already dried piece of the herb. A sprig of fresh thyme is approximately ½ a tablespoon. The recommended substitution ratio for thyme is ⅓ unit of dried thyme for every 1 unit of fresh thyme. To make it easier to imagine, let's say the recipe calls for 1 tablespoon of thyme (2 sprigs).
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How to Cook With Fresh and Dried Thyme
Place 1 paper towel flat on your plate. Lay out Thyme sprigs in a single layer on the paper towel, then add another paper towel on top. Microwave 1 minute and 30 seconds, then in 15 second increments until dry. {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. Wash and thoroughly dry the fresh thyme. Preheat the oven to 170 degrees F. Then spread out the fresh thyme on a baking sheet. Make sure that the thyme does not touch or over lap. Then place the baking sheet in the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes until the thyme leaves are dry and crumble easily. Spread the thyme in a single layer onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and place in the oven. Leave the oven door slightly ajar while the herbs dry. Check the thyme every 15 minutes, pinching a leaf or two to see if it crumbles. Depending on how much you are drying, the thyme should be completely dried within 1 hour. Beloved by chefs and gardeners alike, thyme has become one of the most popular herbs in the world thanks to its mild, herbaceous flavor and ease of growth. From the Mediterranean to the Caribbean, thyme is cultivated and cooked with around the world, known for both its range of culinary uses and herbal health benefits.
How to Harvest and Preserve Fresh Herbs Garden Therapy
Make sure to rub the herbs between your fingers to crumble them when you add them to your cooking, this will release their flavorful oils. Was this page helpful? Here we explain which fresh herbs can be dried (and which are better to freeze to preserve them), plus we explain the best way to dry herbs. Drying thyme in the microwave. In the event that you're in a real rush to get dry thyme, you can use the microwave. Place the leaves in a microwaveable container and replace the lid. Make sure that the seal is airtight. Turn on the microwave and blast the thyme leaves on high heat for 30 seconds. Check the eaves and repeat the process.
Rinse the stems in a bowl of water. 1 bunch fresh thyme. Carefully dry stems in a salad spinner or between layers of a tea towel/flour sack. Arrange the stems on the drying racks so that they aren't touching. Dry thyme at 95F, rotating the trays every 45-60 minutes. Rinse and dry the thyme leaves thoroughly. Place the thyme leaves in a single layer on a microwave-safe plate or tray, making sure they are not touching each other. Place the plate or tray in the microwave and set the power to low or the defrost setting. Microwave the thyme leaves for 1-2 minutes at a time, checking on them frequently to make.
How To Dry Thyme (3 Methods) Alphafoodie
Drying Methods The oldest way to dry herbs is to take a bunch, hang it upside down in a dark and dry basement, attic, or closet, and let nature do the work. This method can work wonderfully, but it's not the only option. Here are four other great ways to preserve those fresh herbs. Air Drying Drying Thyme 1. Hang Dry the Thyme Leaves. The hang-dry method is similar to the usual drying method. In order to do so, you first need to pick the fresh long stems of thyme and cut them with sharp scissors or pruners. Here, you should look for equal-length stems as you may need to tie them later on and trim the unwanted part of the stem.
