Thyme can be dried a number of ways, as all herbs can be: Hang to dry - Tie bundles with string and hang. For a long-lasting flavour of your fresh thyme use the following quick-dry method. You can dry thyme in a variety of ways. Using a paper towel, gently press on the thyme until it’s dry. Place the leaves in a microwaveable container and replace the lid. How to Dry Thyme. Thyme is such an easy herb to … Store dried thyme leaves in an air tight jar or pot, Large tray or baking sheet and baking parchment or paper towels OR. It’s quick and it’s simple. Growing and drying thyme is so easy, no need to buy expensive little jars of herbs! You’re looking for sprigs that are strong and will stay together as they dry. % of people told us that this article helped them. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Preheat the dehydrator to between 90 and 100 degrees. Spread thyme stalks out in a single layer on the prepared drying surface. Others dry it in an oven or food dehydrator to speed up the drying process. There are 13 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Place another layer of … Aug 22, 2018 - How to harvest and dry thyme! Thyme is an extremely fragrant herb with thin, woody stems and small, pungent leaves. You’ll know the herbs are done when they are crispy and crumbly to the touch. You can trim most of the new growth off of a plant as long as you keep the woody growth intact. Dried thyme can be substituted for fresh thyme in most recipes. 2. Harvest the thyme - cut the thyme when the leaves are mature (darker green). Fortunately, thyme is one of the easiest herbs to dry. There are several ways you can dry your herbs. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Once the thyme is completely dry, untie the string and break the thyme into small pieces. Water just enough to keep plants from wilting. To dry thyme in a dehydrator, lay the stems in a single layer on the racks that come with the unit. You can freeze just the leaves by removing them from the sprigs or freeze the entire herb. Harvest on warm, dry mornings after the dew has evaporated. Established thyme plants are perennials and frost-hardy, but new plants are best planted after all danger of frost has passed in the spring. All you need to do is lay the thyme in a single layer between two sheets of parchment and leave undisturbed until it has dried out. However, after the first few days the risk of mold developing is minimal because the plant will have lost most of its moisture. Air dry - Place springs between paper towel layers on a cool surface and allow to dry for a day or two until fully dry. Tip. Remove fallen leaves that settle on thyme plants in autumn to prevent rotting. It’s one of the very few herbs that actually air dries for me in a humid 8a climate. One fertilizer application of a balanced fertilizer each season may be enough. In the event that you’re in a real rush to get dry thyme, you can use the microwave. To retain the best flavor of these herbs, you'll either need to allow them to dry naturally or use a food dehydrator. The hang-dry method is similar to the usual drying method. After having enjoyed for a few days a marvellous bouquet with colourful thyme leaves, it's time to preserve its scent and color for the upcoming months. Some sites say it takes 24 hours! You can trim most of the new growth off of a plant as long as you keep the woody growth intact. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. It’s best to have the thyme in a spot with low humidity, so that mold doesn’t develop on it. If you have a lot of thyme to dry, and a lot of time to dry (sorry), then hanging it in bunches is a good technique to use. This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. By using our site, you agree to our. Stir the herbs every 30 seconds after the first minute until almost dry, and then let them finish drying at room temperature. Take fresh thyme leaves (no need to chop) and place them in ice cube trays. Other herbs like basil have a higher moisture content and they take much longer to dry, so the humidity would affect them more. Thyme is an easy to grow herb, but there are a few pests that can cause problems, such as aphids and spider mites. Store dried thyme in a dark, cool place in an air-tight container. 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. 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