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Thyme is a woody, perennial herb that is commonly harvested and sold as fresh sprigs or as individual leaves. It is often used as a culinary or medicinal herb and can even serve as incense. This article will inform you about how to properly prepare and store fresh thyme using whole sprigs or just the leaves.
Steps
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Set aside the amount you are going to use in your dish, then refrigerate the rest, unwashed.
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Wrap the surplus sprigs loosely in plastic wrap and place in a sealed plastic container in the warmest part of your refrigerator. [1] X Research source
- Some people like to bundle the loose sprigs in a paper towel or two before wrapping with plastic. [2] X Research source The thinking is that the paper towels reduce essential oil losses by minimizing the bruising of delicate leaves.
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Record the contents and the "use by" date (one week) on a masking tape (or other) label.
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Rinse the harvested sprigs, keeping the leaves attached, with clear, running water.
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Pat the sprigs dry using paper towels. Be gentle as the delicate leaves bruise fairly easily and will lose some of their essential oils (potency).
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Wrap a piece of string or a bay leaf around a few of the stems to bundle them. You can use as many sprigs or as few as you like when creating your "sprig bouquet." Be sure not to tie them too tightly, though, or you might snap the stems. [3] X Research source
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Use your thyme sprigs. Thyme bouquets are great when used in marinades or with anything that can be roasted. Just be sure to remove the woody stem prior to consumption.
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Detach the leaves from the stem using either your fingers or a fork. Do this only after the sprigs have been washed well and patted dry. [4] X Research source
- If you use your fingers, gently hold the top of the stem with one hand and use your other hand to gently pinch and run down the stem detaching the leaves.
- If you wish to use a fork instead, gently hold the top and run the stem between the tines.
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Spread the leftover leaves (detached from the stem) on a plate in a cool location. [5] X Research source
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Check the leaves after several days to see if the drying process is complete. If not, stir the leaves gently and return the plate to the drying area.
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Push the thyme leaves into a pile when they are dry and transfer the leaves to a resealable container.
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Store the dehydrated thyme leaves in the refrigerator. [6] X Research source
- Label the container with the "packed on" date and the contents.
- Note that dried thyme is one of the best herbs for retaining flavor.
- Still yet, thyme is best fresh (as is the case with most herbs).
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Finished.
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionHow can I make it stay fresh for more than a week?Helen Rennie is a chef based in Natick, Massachusetts. She is both the owner of a cooking school and the creator of Helen’s Kitchen, a YouTube channel where she teaches cooking techniques and food science to over 560K subscribers. Helen’s classes and videos focus on many topics, including knife skills, fish, meat, poultry, sauces, vegetables, beans, grains, pies, tarts, pastry, pizza, pasta, grilling, and more. She started her cooking career with an internship in Casablanca Restaurant, and eventually earned a teaching position at the Cambridge Center for Adult Education. In 2005, she founded Helen's Kitchen, her culinary education business where she teaches people to cook. Since its founding, Helen’s Kitchen has taught 1,000+ students. Helen's cooking philosophy centers on finding creative ways to prepare local ingredients. She teaches cooking classes in her house in Natick with a strong focus on culinary techniques and food science. She received a BS in Computer Science from Carnegie Mellon University.You can keep your thyme fresh for more than a week, and store it in an airtight container like a ziploc or a sealable plastic bag. The goal is to prevent it from drying out, so sealing it properly helps lock in moisture. You could even wrap the sprigs lightly in a damp paper towel before placing them in the bag for extra freshness. Just make sure it’s not soaking wet—moist, not dripping. Pop the bag into the fridge, and it should easily stay good for a week, maybe even longer. As long as it’s sealed tight, you’re golden.
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QuestionCan I grow store-bought Thyme at home?Robert Anderson is a Horticulture & Gardening Expert based in Lexington, Kentucky. He worked as a Professor of Horticulture at the University of Kentucky for 31 years. In addition to his teaching duties, he worked on growing flower varietals and vegetables in greenhouses, and conducted university research projects. His specialties include cut flowers, bedding plants, and hydroponics. He managed the houseplant collection and completed many field trials of garden flowers at Kentucky. He received a B.S. in Biology and an M.S. in Horticulture from the University of Minnesota, and a Ph.D. in Botany from the University of Florida.Yes! You just have to find a sunny spot—either indoors by a bright window or outside in your garden. First, carefully remove the thyme plant from its store container, being gentle with the roots. If the roots are compacted, loosen them slightly. Then prepare your pot with some good drainage holes or a garden bed with well-draining soil. Thyme likes soil that's slightly sandy, so you can mix in a bit of sand to improve drainage. Dig a small hole just big enough for the roots, place the thyme in, and fill the hole with soil, pressing lightly around the base. Water it well, but don't overdo it—thyme prefers to dry out between watering. At first, keep an eye on the moisture level, and once it's established, thyme is pretty low-maintenance. Give it plenty of sunlight and trim the stems occasionally to encourage bushier growth.
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QuestionI would like to know how to pick thyme off of the plant.Community AnswerIt is very easy! Simply pluck a leaf off of the plant, and use it for cooking.
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Tips
- Experiment with thyme to discover amazing flavor pairings. Don't hesitate to try something new. [7] X Research sourceThanks
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Warnings
- Since thyme is a woody herb, using the stem is not always advisable. Only use the stem when you can remove it from the dish, e.g., when roasting a chicken.Thanks
- Avoid overbuying fresh thyme as it only stays good for approximately one week. Stick to buying smaller quantities.Thanks
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Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about cooking, check out our in-depth interview with Helen Rennie .
References
- ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/your-guide-to-storing-fresh-herbs-in-the-fridge-231412
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/shopping-storing/herbs-spices/best-way-store-herbs-10000001192665/
- ↑ https://www.spiceography.com/how-to-store-thyme/
- ↑ https://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/the-easiest-way-to-get-fresh-thyme-leaves-off-the-stalk-article
- ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/4-interesting-ways-to-preserve-fresh-thyme-221269
- ↑ https://www.epicurious.com/ingredients/our-best-thyme-infused-recipes-gallery
About This Article
Article Summary
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If you plan to use fresh thyme within a week, simply wrap it in plastic wrap and place it in a sealed container in your fridge. Choose a relatively warm part of the fridge, such as a compartment in the door. Rinse the thyme right before you plan to use it. If you want to preserve the thyme for more than a week, try drying it out. Wash the thyme under cool, running water and pat it dry with a clean paper towel. Pull the leaves off the stems and spread them out on a plate. Place the plate in a cool, dry location and let it sit for a few days until the leaves are completely dry. Transfer the leaves to an airtight container and store it in your fridge. Your dried thyme should stay flavorful for up to a year.
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Reader Success Stories
- "For me specifically it was the information I received on how to use thyme. I asked about red thyme, but there must not be any difference between the species. Thank you." ..." more
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"For me specifically it was the information I received on how to use thyme. I asked about red thyme, but there must not be any difference between the species. Thank you."
..."
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"Cooking and preserving thyme."
