How to Dry Thyme [Thyme Drying Methods]

Thyme is a Mediterranean herb that is commonly used in cooking. Like most herbs, thyme tastes best when it’s fresh, but it’s not always possible to use it when it’s fresh. Cooking with fresh herbs can get expensive if you need to go out and buy them, far better to grow more than you can currently use and learn to store them properly. Thyme is an excellent herb that preserves well – and it especially dries well. There are a variety of ways to dry thyme and I’ll cover them in this article, but I’ll also cover how to store fresh thyme to ensure it lasts the longest. Today we’ll go through how to dry thyme in a dehydrator, how to dry thyme in the oven, how to air dry thyme and how to dry thyme in a microwave (if you must!). Ready?

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This guide will also cover harvesting thyme at the right time for optimum preservation as well as how to prepare thyme for drying. First, though let’s discuss storing fresh thyme to see how long it lasts.

How to Store Thyme for Maximum Freshness

Thyme that has been harvested can last a decent amount of time if it’s stored right. And the best way to store fresh thyme is always in the fridge

If you leave your thyme sitting out at room temperature, it’s going to go bad in just one or two days. Keeping your thyme in the fridge will keep it fresh for about two weeks.

To help your refrigerated thyme last even longer in the fridge, you should place it in a bag with a damp paper towel. Use a sealable plastic bag. The damp paper towel will help the thyme retain its moisture and prevent it from going bad so quickly.

Does Thyme Go Bad?

Yes, thyme does go bad, just like any food product will go bad. Fresh thyme is only going last a week or two, even when stored properly. Dried and frozen thyme can last about 6 months when stored properly. Improper storage will drastically reduce the shelf life, though. We’ll get into that later.

How Can You Tell If Thyme Is Bad?

When preparing dried or frozen thyme, you should always label and date your packages. Technically, you can get away with using them for up to a year, but they probably won’t have much flavour at that point.

Bad, when it comes to herbs that have been dried or frozen can also mean that they add no value to your dishes. They lose their aromas and flavours.

Dried thyme doesn’t necessarily “go bad”, but it will lose its flavour and aroma after a long time. If you’re not sure how old your dried thyme is, try the sniff and taste test. Crush some of the dried thyme between your fingers and smell it, then give it a taste. If you can’t taste or smell much, it’s time to discard it.

If you don’t know how old your frozen thyme is, it’s likely okay as long as you don’t see any obvious freezer-burnt parts.

It’s a lot easier to tell when fresh thyme has gone bad. The thyme will be soft to the touch and will feel slimy. If only small sections are like this, you can always cut them off and use the stuff that’s still good. Thyme has also gone bad if you notice wilting.

Why Dry Thyme?

Drying thyme is a great way to have the herb on hand at all times. It’s a good way to preserve what you haven’t used so that it doesn’t go to waste. Drying fresh thyme significantly increases how long the herb will last and be good for use.

How and When To Harvest Thyme for Drying

For the best results, you should harvest thyme from late spring to early summer just before the plant has bloomed. Flowers usually bloom between June and August, so just be sure to harvest before this time. This is the best time for growing your thyme, and it’s when the leaves will taste the best.

Also, if your thyme is grown outside, it’s best to harvest it in the morning after the dew has dried. This is when the leaves will have the most flavour.

Harvesting thyme isn’t difficult. All you need to do is prune off about 2/3 of the stem from the tip. This is usually about 12-14 centimetres. You’re only going to leave the woody ends behind. Try to avoid cutting into this woody section. Doing so many cause your plant difficulty in growing back.

Preparing Thyme for Drying

Whether you choose to wash the leaves or not depends on how dirty they are. If you grow the leaves inside, it’s not usually necessary. Also, outside-grown leaves usually don’t need washing either unless they appear visibly dirty or if you’ve used pesticides.

You want to avoid washing your thyme leaves because doing so will strip some of the essential oils. The essential oils are what give thyme its flavour, so you want to avoid eliminating those.

However, if you find that you need to wash them, you can. Lightly rinse the leaves with a gentle stream of water, or clean them with a damp cloth. Avoid washing the leaves too heavily.

After washing, pat dry with a clean tea towel. (My guide to the best eco-friendly towels and cloths is here.)

Moisture left on the leaves can potentially produce mould during drying, especially if you choose the air-drying method. If you choose the oven method, excess moisture will cause the leaves to soften rather than becoming crisp.

Leaves should ALWAYS be dry before the drying process begins.

How to Dry Thyme

Drying your leftover fresh thyme will significantly increase the shelf life of the herb. Dried thyme can last for up to 6 months and still be good. There are five different ways that you can dry thyme: air-dry by hanging, air-dry with a tray, with an oven, with a microwave, or with a dehydrator. I’ll start with the best way to dry thyme. In a dedicated dehydrator.

How to Dry Thyme in a Dehydrator

This is honestly the best method because it’s quick, only taking about 2-4 hours, but you don’t have to worry about your leaves drying out. Dehydrators dry herbs at a low temperature that preserves the flavour and aroma. While there is the initial investment in a dehydrator, they are more energy efficient than using the oven and they dry herbs much more effectively.

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How to Air Dry Thyme by Hanging it

This is the most eco-friendly option for drying thyme because you only need some string to tie up your sprigs. It also takes the longest, though, as it can take up to two weeks for your thyme to fully dry.

Just don’t create bundles that are too thick or they may not dry out well.

After that, you’ll hang the bundle up somewhere warm with low humidity. Do not place the bundle in direct sunlight. It will take about 1-2 weeks for the bundle to be completely dry.

The downside to this method is that it doesn’t work in all climates. If you live somewhere where there is a lot of moisture in the air, it’s probably not a good idea. Excess moisture will cause your sprigs to mould.

How to Air Dry Thyme on a Tray

Air-drying your leaves on a tray is similar to the hanging method, but is much quicker. Unlike the hanging method, it will only take a couple of days for your leaves to dry.

All you need to do is select a baking tray and line it with baking paper. Place the leaves onto the paper in a single layer. Make sure that you rotate the leaves every 12 hours for even drying.

Again, this method is also not suitable if you live in a cold or humid environment.

How to Oven Dry Thyme: using the Oven to dry Thyme

This method is great if you don’t have a dehydrator because it’s fairly quick. It only takes about 1-2 hours, but you do have to be careful not to overcook the leaves.

The only thing you need to be cautious about with the oven is the heat. Too much heat can overcook your thyme leaves and then they will lose their flavour. Ovens typically can’t be set as low as a dehydrator, so you need to check your leaves more often. To avoid this, you’re going to want to check on your leaves every 15 minutes after the first hour.

Keep the oven at 65 degrees celsius maximum, and keep the door propped to let out any moisture.

Here are the specific steps of how to dry thyme in the oven.

The first step to drying your thyme in the oven is to preheat your oven. You’re going to set your oven to 65 degrees Celsius, or however low your oven will allow
Next, you’re going to lay your thyme on a baking sheet. You can either use whole stems or remove the leaves from the stems

Make sure you only have a single layer of thyme — more layers will interfere with drying
Thyme doesn’t like humidity, so leave your oven door ajar to allow moisture to escape. If you need to, you can use a wooden utensil or a piece of cork to prop it open
Dry your thyme for 1-2 hours
As I said above, you’ll need to be cautious of your thyme becoming overcooked so check on your thyme every 15 minutes after the first hour

You’ll know your thyme is ready when it’s brittle and crumbles at the touch

How to Microwave Dry Thyme: using the Microwave to Dry Thyme

This is the quickest method of drying thyme because you can have dried herbs in under a minute. However, you need to be careful not to overcook the herbs. You’re also going to lose some flavour with this method and I am not a fan of it.

To start, you’re going to spread the leaves out on a piece of paper towel. You’ll then place another piece of paper towel over the top of the leaves. You can then microwave the leaves on high for about 30 seconds. If your leaves still aren’t dry after that, try microwaving for 15 seconds and then checking on the leaves. Keep drying at 15-second intervals until the leaves have completely dried.

Here are those instructions for drying thyme in a microwave step by step

Remove the thyme leaves from the sprig
Lay the leaves on a piece of paper towel. Make sure that you only do a single layer
If leaves are lying on top of each other, they won’t be able to dry properly

Place a second paper towel over the leaves and the first paper towel
Place the leaves and paper towels into the microwave
Microwave on high for 30 seconds
Check the leaves
You’ll know the leaves are finished when they’re brittle and crumble at the touch
If they still have moisture, they need to be dried again

Continue microwaving in 15-second intervals until the leaves are completely dry. The leaves should be dry and brittle, but not overcooked
Remove the leaves as soon as all the moisture is gone

How to Store Dried Thyme

Now you’re probably wondering how to store dried thyme. It isn’t difficult to do, but it can make all the difference in how long your dried herb will last.

Thyme has two natural enemies that you need to avoid: moisture and light.

Make sure to never store leaves that have any kind of moisture in them. If you are unsure if your leaves are completely dry, just keep a close eye on them. Check the container once a day in the beginning for any condensation.

If you notice condensation, then you need to dry the leaves more. If you haven’t seen any condensation after a few days, then the leaves are fine.

Store Dried Thyme in a dark place

Light is the lesser of two evils and is easily avoided. Light will cause the herb to age more quickly and it will lose its flavour sooner, so you should store your thyme in a dark cupboard.

Dried Thyme needs to be kept… DRY

Moisture is the worst thing that can happen to your thyme because it will cause mould. Fortunately, this is easy to prevent as well. First, make sure that your thyme is completely dry before storing it. If you’re not sure, check on it every day for three days. If there is any moisture left, you will notice condensation. In this case, you simply need to dry your thyme longer.

Assuming that your thyme is completely dry, you’ll now want to avoid any moisture getting into your herb. Simply make sure that you choose a container with a lid that is airtight. This will also prevent pests from getting in.

Use Glass rather than Plastic Containers for Dried Thyme

Another important thing to note is that you should choose a glass container. Avoid plastic which is often porous. Porous materials will absorb any essential oils that the thyme has stored. Essential oils give thyme its flavour and aroma. Without them, the thyme is useless. I wrote about when to use glass versus plastic here.

If you do all these things, your dried thyme will be good for about 6 months before it begins to lose flavour.

How Long Does Thyme Last?

How long thyme lasts depends on how it’s prepared and stored.

Fresh thyme will only last for 2-3 days at room temperature but can last for 1-2 weeks when refrigerated.
Dried thyme can last for up to 6 months when stored in a dark location in an air-tight container.
Frozen thyme can last for up to 6 months when kept in a freezer bag. (Read about freezing Thyme here)

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FAQS on drying Thyme

Got questions about drying thyme? Or want to know more about how to dry thyme and we haven’t answered your questions? Check out our frequently asked questions about dehydrating thyme below, or ask us yours in the comments.

What’s the Best Way to Dry Thyme

The best and most effective way to dry thyme is to use a dedicated dehydrator.

How long it takes to dry your thyme in the oven is dependent on what temperature your oven is set, and how much moisture is in the leaves. Setting your oven to a higher temperature will dry the leaves out more quickly, but you will also risk overcooking them.

Setting your oven to the lowest temperature possible is the best thing for your leaves, but it will take longer. All in all, it shouldn’t take more than 2 hours for your leaves to dry in the oven.

How Long Does It Take To Dry Thyme In A Microwave?

Drying thyme in the microwave is very quick. For most microwaves operating at high power, the leaves will dry in under 1 minute. I do NOT recommend using a microwave for drying thyme, but if that’s all you have, then it’s at least quick!

Do You Wash Thyme Before Drying?

It’s best to avoid washing thyme before dehydrating if at all possible, to retain as many of the essential oils as possible.

After washing, you MUST remove any excess moisture. You can pat the leaves dry with a clean dry tea towel. Moisture left on the leaves can potentially produce mould during drying, especially if you choose the hanging method. If you choose the oven method, excess moisture will cause the leaves to soften rather than becoming crisp.

Guides to Drying Herbs

Want to dry more herbs? Here are my guides to herb drying and herb dehydrating.

Final Words on How to store Thyme

If you want your fresh thyme to last for a while, it’s always best to store it properly. If you keep it at room temperature, it’s going to go bad in a couple of days, and then you’ll have to throw it out. If you keep it in the refrigerator inside a bag, you can extend its life to 1-2 weeks. However, Thyme is an excellent herb to dry. I’ve covered all the options for drying thyme here, from air drying to using a dehydrator.

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