Thyme Recipes

You can dry fresh thyme with several methods, as outlined below:

Air dry it - Hang fresh thyme sprigs in a bunch upside down, close to a window where they’ll be exposed to sunlight. After a month or two, remove the leaves from the sprigs and store them in an airtight container, such as an old jam jar.

Oven dry it - If you want to speed the drying process up, simply place the fresh thyme on a dry baking tray and heat it at 120°C for an hour or two. Once brittle, you can store it as though you had air-dried it.

Microwave it - Drying thyme in a microwave saves both time and energy. Put it into a suitable dish and expose it to full power for between 5 and 10 minutes. Allow it to cool before removing the leaves from the sprigs to store them.

If you are following a quick recipe that calls for thyme, then having some stored and ready to go will be handy. Here’s what you need to do to grow, cut and store it for use at any moment.

Growing thyme - Thyme grows well indoors or outside. If you opt for a spot in the garden, then choose a well-draining spot since the Irish weather can cause problems if the roots become waterlogged. Use plenty of grit indoors, and place fresh thyme on a south-facing window for plenty of sunlight. Don’t overwater since thyme is tough and likes to be parched from time to time.

Cutting thyme - Don’t pick individual thyme leaves from the plant. Instead, use a pair of scissors to remove entire sprigs. After this, remove the leaves by hand from their stems and use them immediately in the dish or store them.

Storing thyme - To freeze thyme, put whole sprigs with the leaves still attached into a sealable bag. Expel as much air as you can before freezing, which will help to preserve flavour and freshness when defrosted. Alternatively, use one of the drying techniques referred to above. If so, only store the leaves, not the woody stems. Keep dried thyme in an airtight container in the dark.