Drying thyme - this is how it's done

In the air or in the oven? Drying thyme properly

Harvest at the right time

Like so many herbs, thyme should best be harvested and preserved shortly before flowering. This is when the content of valuable essential oils is highest, whereas the leaves lose a lot of their aroma after flowering. You should also harvest thyme - like other herbs that are to be dried - as late as possible in the morning or at lunchtime, when the morning dew has already evaporated. In addition, it should be dry for a day or two if possible (ie no rain!), Because too much moisture only makes the thyme to be dried go moldy.

Do not wash thyme before drying!

For the same reason, certain thyme should not be washed to dry! Dust and coarse dirt particles can be removed by vigorous shaking. Furthermore, the larger the part of the plant to be dried, the more valuable ingredients are retained - hence it is better to dry whole stems including leaves and flowers instead of individual leaves.

Air dry thyme

Probably the oldest method of gently drying herbs is of course air drying. To do this, you should tie individual thyme stalks together to form small bunches (remove too close, wilted or rotten leaves beforehand) and hang them upside down to dry in a dark and dry place for one to four weeks. The air should be able to circulate well.

Dry the thyme in the oven

It is a little faster and less cumbersome in the oven, after all, not everyone has the space or the options to hang up numerous bunches of herbs. Proceed as follows to dry the oven:

Preheat the oven to 40 ° C.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Lay the thyme stalks out individually and in sufficient condition to each other.
Cover them with paper towels.
Put the tray with the herbs in the oven.
Put a piece of wood or a cork in the door to prevent it from closing completely.
In this way, the escaping moisture can escape.
Turn the oven down to 30 ° C.
Let the herbs dry for about three hours.
Now heat the oven to 50 ° C and turn the stalks once.
Dry them for another hour.
Now check the condition of the herbs and, if in doubt, let them dry for another half an hour.

Alternatively, drying in an automatic dehydrator is also possible.

Tips & Tricks

Thyme is one of the few herbs that can be easily dried in the microwave. To do this, place the freshly harvested leaves or stems on a plate, cover them with kitchen paper and place them in the microwave. Now let the herbs dry at a maximum of 300 watts (lowest level!) In several passes of 30 seconds each, whereby the herbs should be turned after each pass.

IJA