Place the thyme in the dehydrator at 100°F for 1 to 2 hours until completely dry. Again, I find up high in my kitchen is an ideal spot. Hang Dry the Thyme Leaves. Just be sure that the thyme is completely dry before putting it in the container. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Preheat the dehydrator to between 90 and 100 degrees. Check the eaves and repeat the process. If you have more thyme than can fit into a bundle with a diameter of 1 inch (2.5 cm), then make several bundles. Step 5 Once the thyme is completely dry, untie the string and break the thyme into small pieces. 1. Once you have rinsed the thyme, give it a light shake to remove most of the water off the surface of it. How to dry and preserve thyme. Thyme is such an easy herb to … Aug 22, 2018 - How to harvest and dry thyme! A beloved Mediterranean herb, it holds its taste in cooking and blends well with other flavors of its native region, such as garlic, olive oil, and tomatoes. Using a paper towel, gently press on the thyme until it’s dry. How to dry. Fresh Thyme to Dried Thyme – The Conversion Ratio. It’s one of the very few herbs that actually air dries for me in a humid 8a climate. This is still a useful practice … Preheat oven to 175° F or the lowest setting it has; Pick leaves from the wood stem; In a single layer, spread out on a flat baking sheet lined with parchment paper – (don’t crowd it) Place the leaves in a microwaveable container and replace the lid. Crush just before using. In general, thick-leafed, hearty herbs that grow in hot, dry climates like rosemary, thyme, savory, marjoram, and oregano fare well with drying. 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. Mine was easily done in 3 hours. If dried correctly it will retain it’s flavor well, and while it might not be quite as good as fresh thyme, can be used successfully more most of the uses of fresh thyme. How to air dry thyme: Water just enough to keep plants from wilting. Turn on the microwave and blast the thyme leaves on high heat for 30 seconds. Storing Dried Thyme. Pick long stems of new growth from your plant. Put the container in a dark, dry location, such as a cupboard or pantry. Place another layer of parchment or paper towels over the thyme stalks. How to dry oregano in under 1 hour Step 1: Start with very fresh herbs from your garden. Go through the same prepping process as you would for air drying. Harvest on warm, dry mornings after the dew has evaporated. Check the thyme for mold after the first few days of drying. I find that high up in my kitchen is a good location, so I place the drying tray on top of my kitchen cupboards. During winter months when fresh, locally-grown thyme may not be readily available, dried thyme can be substituted for fresh thyme in most recipes. To dry fresh herbs, gather them in bunches, tie the bunches with string and hang them upside down in a cool, dry spot indoors that has good air circulation. You can trim most of the new growth off of a plant as long as you keep the woody growth intact. The intention of drying thyme is to preserve the leaves by removing the water, but without losing the natural oils that give it its flavor. Plant out in a warm, sunny spot in the garden. One fertilizer application of a balanced fertilizer each season may be enough. Thyme can be dried a number of ways, as all herbs can be: Hang to dry - Tie bundles with string and hang. Francesca & Marinella INGREDIENTS. Prepare the drying surface - line a large tray, baking sheet or other flat surface with parchment paper or paper towels. Make sure that the seal is airtight. Clip to shape after flowering with secateurs. Sage, thyme, summer savory, dill, bay leaves, oregano, rosemary and marjoram are less tender, low-moisture that are easy to dry or freeze some for a year-round supply of good quality herbs! If you grow organically, there’s no need to wash them but if you do, make sure the leaves are very dry (either spun dry in a salad spinner, or thoroughly pressed between towels to remove all the moisture). Under good conditions herbs, will retain maximum flavor for two years. Thyme is such an easy herb to use and it can be added in many recipes. Gather sprigs of fresh thyme. First, thoroughly wash the herbs with water and lay them out or pat to dry. Tie thyme into small bunches - take a small handful of thyme stalks and loop the twine tightly around the bunch a few times and secure with a knot. Use a fine screen on the dehydrator trays to save any leaves that fall from the stems. Strip large-leaved herbs, such as sage and mint, from their stalks. To dry thyme in a dehydrator, lay the stems in a single layer on the racks that come with the unit. Place another layer of … Stir the herbs every 30 seconds after the first minute until almost dry, and then let them finish drying at room temperature. Thyme will take about 2-3 weeks to become completely dry, but the exact time frame will depend on the conditions and humidity level. If you have grown a lot of it, it’s a great idea to dry some of it for use later when the growing season is over. Use the following conversion ratio if you are planning to substitute dried thyme for fresh thyme. Frost-fighting plan: German Thyme is perennial in zones 5 to 9; lemon thyme, in zones 7 to 9. Thyme is a popular herb that’s used in seasoning blends. Wash the thyme thoroughly. This helps to retain the natural oils better, as excess heat will cause to oils to evaporate. Place the leaves in a microwaveable container and replace the lid. I don't know what kind of thyme they had or what kind of dehydrator, but that seems like way too much time for thyme (ha ha). Water just enough to keep plants from wilting. Hang dry. However, the thyme does not need to be completely dry before moving on with the process. The leaves should fall off easily. 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. Lay out the thyme … It’s best to dry thyme at a moderate heat for a long time. If they are not, you can put fine screen at the bottom of them to hold the leaves. The fastest way to dry thyme is with a food dehydrator. It is important that the air can circulate while the thyme is drying, so don’t cover it with anything other than the parchment paper. wikiHow's. Planting Tips. Choose glass containers with tight fitting lids. All you do is wash your thyme and then lay them out in each tray, turn on the dehydrator and come back in about 3 hours to check on it! All you need to do is cut the thyme, and tie it into small bunches with twine. In order to do so, you first need to pick the fresh long stems of thyme and cut them with sharp scissors or pruners. Making sure the thyme is dry before you put it in the dehydrator will make it easier for the dehydrator to do its work. Plant. This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. Your thyme can take between one and three hours to dry completely. Last Updated: September 23, 2019 By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. If the thyme is in direct contact with metal, it can turn black or lose its bright color. This herb gives foods that slightly minty flavor. Thyme is one of those herbs that retains much of its flavor when dried. Mine was easily done in 3 hours. Then hang the bunches upside down in a warm place where they wont be disturbed. If stored properly, it can last for up to 2 years. Drying thyme in the microwave. Many people hang it up and let it dry gradually. These herbs include dill, r osemary, thyme, marjoram, and oregano. Combating Pests and other Problems. Clean, dry herbs; Baking sheets; Oven; Containers or bags for the dried herbs; It’s more ideal if you just have one or two varieties to dry at a time since the cooking times vary depending on the herb. For a long-lasting flavour of your fresh thyme use the following quick-dry method. Fresh thyme leaves (still attached to the stem) can be refrigerated for a week or two, but drying thyme is the best way to store it long-term. It takes approximately a week to dry fresh thyme, though the exact time it takes will depend on the technique and location used. Thyme prefers a dry soil, so cut back on watering once plants are established and start growing. {mine are usually dried out and ready after a total of 2 minutes} If you have a larger bundle of parsley you are microwaving, you may need to add a little extra time. How to dry and preserve thyme. Using a Food Dehydrator. Air drying works best with herbs that do not have a high moisture content, like bay, dill, marjoram, oregano, rosemary, summer savory, and thyme. Once the thyme is completely dry, untie the string and break the thyme into small pieces. Trimming most of the new growth off the plant is fine, as long as you keep the woody parts intact. Start seeds indoors in a bright location, and after true leaves appear, transplant the seedlings to a sunny spot in your garden. Your dried thyme should last for more than a year if it is stored properly. However, if you use the correct techniques to dry fresh herbs then they can retain most of the same properties and be almost as good as fresh for many uses. Rachel M. The fastest way to dry thyme is with a food dehydrator. Here are a few guidelines for different methods: Dehydrator: Herbs dry quickly in a dehydrator and will produce high quality herbs. As a bonus they are up high out of the way of our daily family chaos and so wont be disturbed! Avoid soil that holds too much water, like clayey soil, because thyme roots have a tendency to rot. Drying thyme in the microwave. 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. It just won’t be as fresh, so it might have less flavor once dried. Tie the stems all together with a string and hang the bundle upside-down from an elevated place. Air drying works best with herbs that do not have a high moisture content, like bay, dill, marjoram, oregano, rosemary, summer savory, and thyme. Use a sharp pair of scissors or pruners and trim right above the woody sections of the plant. Thyme grows best in a fertile, well-draining soil, like sandy loam. No, in order to reduce moisture and the chances of mold growth, thyme should not be dried on the plant. Harvest the thyme - cut the thyme when the leaves are mature (darker green). When these herbs are dry, tie them together in a bundle and tie the stems together. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published, This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. Place the leaves on a baking sheet so that they are not touching. Thyme prefers a dry soil, so cut back on watering once plants are established and start growing. Clean, dry herbs; Baking sheets; Oven; Containers or bags for the dried herbs; It’s more ideal if you just have one or two varieties to dry at a time since the cooking times vary depending on the herb. While they can ruin the flavor of the herbs if you overcook them, ovens offer a speedy method for completing the process. Take fresh thyme leaves (no need to chop) and place them in ice cube trays. Some herbs dry pretty quickly (like oregano and thyme) so those probably wouldn’t be as much of a problem with high humidity. Typically, you will have the most to harvest in the spring or summer, although thyme plants can be lightly trimmed at any time of year. How to Dry Fresh Rosemary in The Oven. Rinse each branch in cold water and dry with towels or paper towels to remove all visible water. Drying thyme. Thyme Thyme seeds have a long germination—two to three weeks, so you have to be patient. Technique 1: Dry Thyme on Paper Prepare the drying surface - line a large tray, baking sheet or other flat surface with parchment paper or paper towels. It is warm all day long, though doesn’t get too hot. When they are ready they will feel crunchy rather than bend. {"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":"