about me! This has been a great summer for rain and I have lots of herbs to preserve! One of the best ways to preserve fresh thyme is to dry it. Some people purchase special amber tinted containers for this reason. When you dry fresh herbs in a dehydrator, you can control the temperature and therefore preserve the herb’s medicinal and flavor qualities. The food was fermented, smoked, and dried, and the root crops stored away for the cold and dark months ahead. Now that you know about the general description of thyme sprigs, let us talk about 3 different methods to dry and preserve them in your home. Mine was easily done in 3 hours. The Herbal Academy neither endorses them nor is in any way responsible for their content. Very nice I need to look for dehydrator for myself, thanks for sharing with Hearth and soul blog hop. Not only does it dry the leaves faster, it can even prevent molds from growing while drying. Sign up for the Herbal Academy Newsletter, and we'll send you a free ebook. The good thing about this process is that you don’t need any fancy equipment, saving you a bit of cash. 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. Drying times may vary from 1 to 4 hours. 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). Congratulations! My thyme plant is not huge right now, and I would love to make my own dried thymes. 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. It’s best to pick sprigs that have not bloomed. An efficient way to quickly dry and preserve the goodness of fresh herbs is to dry herbs in a dehydrator. Your dried thyme should last for more than a year if it is stored properly. Post may contain affiliate links, full disclosure on side bar. By using our site, you agree to our. Required fields are marked *. Dehydrator – Quickest Option. The roots will harden when dry, usually within 6 – 10 hours. Therefore, growing thyme naturally may be tough. Thyme is an essential ingredient of Mediterranean recipes majorly in the form of seasoning. f you see small wisps of smoke coming out of the thyme leaves, you need to stop immediately. Thyme is an herb that’s known for its aromatic flavor that’s why it’s used in many ways, such as cooking, bathing, and even for therapeutic purposes. Hello! Slow Cooker Dijon Chicken Stew with Potatoes and Kale, Instant Pot Green Beans with Bacon and Mushrooms, Instant Pot Sausage, Potatoes and Cabbage. It just won’t be as fresh, so it might have less flavor once dried. Hi, You can trim most of the new growth off of a plant as long as you keep the woody growth intact. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Please note the following points: Harvest the shoots late in the morning before flowering. Drying fresh herbs in a dehydrator allows you to carefully control the temperature and drying time of your herbs. Or, if you experience high summer humidity like I do at my home in Virginia, it can be difficult to dry your herbs without loss due to mold. I have never tried this before! We shall guide you through the different techniques of drying, preserving and storing thyme sprigs but let us first get to know this herb a little better. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Make sure it has a few holes around the top to allow air to pass. You may dry several other herbs in chain to add more dimensions to your dishes and even beverages. If you have fresh thyme that you have bought from a grocery store, you can still dry it. I like to use mason jars (but that’s because I’m a mason jar addict). Plus, it can be difficult to maintain the ideal temperature for drying herbs using an oven. Perfect way to preserve herbs! There are all kinds of ways to preserve your herbs and I think I've done every one of them! Expect 1-4. And besides, my oven is 220 volt and heats up the whole house. Martha Piccolo is a lifestyle and cooking influencer and the main power behind Drying All Foods – a food blog that is helping people to discover the magnificent side of food drying and preserving. Check your them from time to time for dryness. Moo likes to start his day with th, Awww the dynamic duo. READ ALSO: Which Food Dehydrator is Right for You. Label the container with the time and date it was dried and stored so that you have an idea when to replace with freshly-dried leaves. Dried herbs are usually 2-4 times stronger than fresh herbs. You can dry thyme in a variety of ways. Drying fresh herbs at home is an effective way to save money. Some people like to add a little bit of stem in their recipes, but that’s up to you. As long as you keep the woody core of the plant intact, your thyme plant will regrow after trimming. It’s time to talk about how to dry herbs. Thanks to your dehydrator, you can have access to your homegrown herbs throughout the year. Size and space. Then check your email to find a welcome message from our Herbal Academy team with a special link to download our "Herbal Tea Throughout The Seasons" Ebook! I really should think about preserving it another way. The natural beauty and aroma of this method are certainly enjoyable. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 29,813 times. What about the rest of its leaves? Heads up! THanks for this post. Oven drying is an option if you don’t have a dehydrator, but drying at higher temperatures can sacrifice plant quality. Trimming most of the new growth off the plant is fine, as long as you keep the woody parts intact. Check periodically. Next, you need to rinse the bunch under running tap water to wash out any dirt or gravel from the stems and leaves. Drying herbs in a dehydrator requires less space than hanging herbs or laying them out on racks and screens. Thyme is one of the easiest herbs to dry and it preserves it's flavor so nicely! I can't believe it took me this long to actually do it! Store dried thyme in airtight containers such as re-sealable bags or zippered plastic bags or containers with air-tight lids. Cost. « Dill Pickle Recipe (with Surprise Leaf for Crispiness), A Delicious Broccoli Rice & Cheese Casserole [Quick and Easy] », Burn, baby, burn! The herb must be dry. Store dried thyme in airtight containers such as re-sealable bags or plastic containers with air-tight lids. When it comes to life, the critical thing is whether you take things for granted, Broccoli alfredo lasagna roll, #yaconsyrup is a gift to tea. Please simply create an account before buying/booking any courses. Place the sprigs on the dehydrator chamber and switch it on at 38. I’m too frugal for that. This may seem like a no-brainer, but I share because I screwed up.