One of the best ways to dehydrate fresh time is actually your air fryer! If you’ve got too much on your hands and want to dry it for later, look no further. I’ll teach you about dehydrating thyme in the air fryer for a quick and easy way to preserve it.
For an even faster method, if preferred, check out our guide on how to dry thyme in the microwave. While it is faster, you cook in smaller increments of time meaning more hands-on check-ins.
No matter which method you use, though, you’ll have perfectly dried thyme ready for use year round in your favorite dishes!
How Do You Dehydrate Thyme in an Air Fryer?
You dehydrate thyme in an air fryer by cooking it at 350 degrees for 2-3 minutes.
If you have too much packed in there, it may take a little longer, so try to keep it as near to 1 single layer as possible.
Dehydrating Thyme in the Air Fryer: Step By Step Instructions
Start with clean, dry, fresh thyme
Preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees F following manufacturer guidelines
Spread out your thyme in a single layer in the air fryer basket, trimming stems if need be to fit
Cover thyme with a rack, tray, or trivet to prevent it from blowing around
Air fry at 350 degrees for 2-3 minutes until leaves are dry and crinkly to the touch
If additional time is needed, flip thyme over and cook in 1-minute increments before re-checking
Then, remove leaves from stems by running your hand down the stem over a bowl or plate
Store dried thyme in an airtight container or spice jar
As long as it’s not overpacked, it generally only takes me about 2 minutes on average to dry thyme in my air fryer.
However, your time could vary based on amount used, wattage of the air fryer, and the size of your basket. Just make sure to cook additional time in small increments and you’ll be good to go!
Now that you know how easy it is to dehydrate thyme in the air fryer, you’ll be able to preserve your extra herbs for use later on.
Thyme goes so well on roasted chicken, it’s one of my favorite choices there. Learn how to put it to use on a delicious herby rotisserie chicken in our best Chefman air fryer recipes.
Easy Air Fryer Dehydrated Thyme
Dry your fresh thyme for later use by dehydrating it in your air fryer. Using this method is a quick and easy alternative to air drying.
Start with fresh thyme sprigs, washing and drying it if needed
6-8 sprigs Thyme
Preheat the air fryer to 350°F, following manufacturer guidelines
If needed, trim the tough stem ends off the thyme, making them easier to fit in the basket
Spread out your thyme in a single layer in the preheated air fryer basket
Add the rack, trivet, or shelf on top of the thyme to keep it from flying around during cooking
Air fry the thyme for 2-3 minutes
If additional time is needed, flip and continue to cook in 1-minute intervals until thyme leaves are completely dry and crinkle upon touching
Remove dehydrated thyme from air fryer
Then, remove leaves from stems by running your hand down the stem over a bowl. Crush leaves up finer if desired
Store dried thyme in an airtight container or spice jar
Notes
When dealing with a lot of fresh thyme, make sure to dry in batches. Stacking up beyond a single layer won’t heat evenly
There’s no need to add oil or anything additionally as part of the cooking process
I’ve just used my normal air fryer rack for this. However, if your air fryer doesn’t have a shelf, you can tie the stems together using twine, foil or silicone food bands to keep them from flying around
Should your thyme leaves start to blacken, you have overcooked them
When removing leaves from stems, it’s normal to get some brittle stems in the pile. Just pick them out when you’re done (or grind them up)
If you’d like to crush the leaves further, I prefer a quick rub between my palms. A mortar and pestle is another great alternative, or just scrunch them in a ziploc bag
Dried thyme keeps well for about 1 year in an airtight container, before starting to lose flavor and potency
I enjoy trying new recipes, creating my own, and dabbling with new techniques all the time. My husband loves to protest when I make him my guinea pig, but it’s all for the love of food!
