How to Dry Thyme
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Learn how to dry thyme easily at home so you can enjoy it year-round. Thyme keeps its taste when dry and is a great ingredient to have on the seasoning shelf! It’s easy to dry in three different ways.
If there ever was a favorite seasoning to jazz up my recipes, thyme is up there on the list. Thyme is such a versatile seasoning and can be used in casseroles, soups, vegetables, stews, and meat dishes. It’s such a friendly seasoning companion in the kitchen and can also be used in bread, and muffins.
There are many ways to dry thyme including air drying, drying on a tray, oven drying and even putting it in the microwave. I find that using my dehydrator uses a lower heat and slowly dries the thyme, which I find to be better for preserving the flavor. Regardless of your method of drying, thyme is very easy to dehydrate and is one of those seasonings that every cook should have on hand especially since you can grow this herb easily indoors.
How to Dry Thyme…
Dehydrating thyme gives you the chance to add this seasoning to many everyday recipes. Dry thyme is something that you can store for quite a while. I leave a jar of thyme on my seasonings shelf so it’s easy to grab and use at any time.
Three Ways to Dry Thyme…
- Hang drying – For this method you simply tie a few thyme sprigs together with a piece of string or twist tie. Hang the thyme to dry and place out of direct sunlight in a warm room with low humidity. This process takes one to two weeks.
- In the dehydrator – This is my preferred way to dry thyme because its slow cooking process helps to retain much of the flavor of the herbs.
- In the oven – If you don’t have a dehydrator this method would be my next choice to dry since thyme is best dried at a low temperature for a long period of time. After placing your thyme on a baking sheet, turn the oven to its lowest temperature (preferably under 200 degrees) and dry for about an hour.
Ingredients…
- Thyme – I used a bunch of thyme and got 1/4 of a cup of dried thyme
Kitchen Tools…
- Dehydrator – I am using a nice dehydrator that allows me to control the temperature and produces a better end result. If you don’t have one of those, you can still dehydrate thyme in the oven or in a cheap (no temperature control) dehydrator. More on this in the FAQ section below.
- Air tight storage container (I use jars)
Dehydrating Thyme Step By Step…
Step one – prep the thyme. If possible don’t wash the thyme. If you need to wash the thyme, make sure it is completely dry before dehydrating.
Step two – add to the dehydrator. For best results, set the thyme leaves in one layer (more or less) on the tray of the dehydrator allowing for space in between.
Step three – dehydrate. Place the trays in the dehydrator. Dehydrate at 95 degrees F for 8-10 hours. If thyme leaves are completely dry and crispy (breaks easily) you can remove them from the dehydrator. If your thyme isn’t completely dry, leave them in the dehydrator for another hour or so.
How to Store Dry Thyme…
Once the thyme is dry, let cool for a few minutes and then transfer to an air-tight container. You can vacuum seal them or use zip-lock bags, however, in my opinion, jars with two-piece lids work best for storage and are beautiful to look at on the shelf!
How to Use Dry Thyme…
- As seasoning – When you add thyme to your dishes, depends on your seasoning needs. Dry Thyme adds great flavor to many dishes and baked goods. I especially love using dry thyme in this yellow split pea soup and in this mashed potato recipe.
How to Make and Use Thyme Powder…
One of the greatest things about dehydrated herbs is that you can turn them into a powder. To make thyme powder, place the dry thyme leaves in a coffee grinder and grind them until you get a powder. Store your powder in jars at room temperature. Use to season dishes.
Frequently Asked Questions…
It’s better if you don’t. If you do need to wash your thyme, just make sure that you let it dry all the way before dehydrating it.
Yes! You can dry all herbs the same way… Basil, parsley, rosemary, tarragon, oregano, sage… All the herbs can be dried the same way.
Not really, most of the time, once the thyme is dry we use it dry to season dishes.
The cheaper Presto dehydrator is very popular and you can find it at any Walmart or online. It runs at a temperature of 165 degrees F and there is no way to control the temperature. Yes, you can use this kind of dehydrator to dry thyme. Again, for best results, we want to process herbs at a temperature of 95 degrees F but a higher temperature will work as well. Drying time will probably be shorter, around 3-4 hours or so.
Not only is thyme simple to dry, but did you know that thyme has a number of beneficial vitamins and minerals? In addition to mega doses of vitamin C and vitamin A, the oil of thyme is also rich in fiber, iron, manganese, copper, calcium, and riboflavin. What could be better than that!
More Dehydrating Tutorials…
- How to Dehydrate Green Onions
- Dehydrated Parsley
- Dehydrated Kale Chips
- How to Dehydrate Radishes
- Purple Sweet Potato Chips Recipe
- How to Dehydrate Jalapenos
How to Dry Thyme
Learn how to dry thyme easily at home so you can enjoy it year-round. Thyme keeps its taste when dry and is a great ingredient to have on the seasoning shelf.
Ingredients
- A large bunch of thyme sprigs
Instructions
- Step one - Prep the thyme leaves and If possible don’t wash. If you need to wash the thyme, make sure it is completely dry before dehydrating.
- Step two - Set the thyme leaves in one layer (more or less) on the tray of the dehydrator allowing for space in between.
- Step three - Place the trays in the dehydrator and dehydrate at 95 degrees F for 8-10 hours. If your thyme isn’t completely dry, leave it in the dehydrator for another hour or so.
- Step four - Once the thyme is dry, remove it from the dehydrator and let it cool. Transfer to an air-tight container for storage.
Notes
Frequently Asked Questions...
1. Should I wash my thyme before drying it?
It’s better if you don’t. If you do need to wash your thyme, just make sure that you let it dry all the way before dehydrating it.
2. Can I dry a few different herbs together?
Yes. You can dry all herbs the same way… Basil, parsley, tarragon, oregano, sage.
3. Can I rehydrate thyme?
No. Once the thyme is dry, it is used to season dishes.
4. I can’t control the temperature on my dehydrator, can I still use it?
The cheaper Presto dehydrator is very popular and you can find it at any Walmart or online. It runs at a temperature of 165 degrees F and there is no way to control the temperature. Yes, you can use this kind of dehydrator to dry thyme. Again, for best results, we want to process herbs at a temperature of 95 degrees F but a higher temperature will work as well. Drying time will probably be shorter, around 3-4 hours or so.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1tspAmount Per Serving: Calories: 3Total Fat: 0.6ggSaturated Fat: 0.1ggCarbohydrates: 0.6ggFiber: 0.4ggProtein: 0.1gg
Hi! I’m Lady Lee. I help homesteaders simplify their homesteading journey while still producing a ton of food! I am a single mother of four, I was born in Israel and raised in an agricultural commune called a Kibbutz. Now I homestead in central NC.
