Thyme is a great easy to grow herb that thrives in places like your kitchen window or the back patio. When you’ve got too much fresh thyme on your hands or the end of the season draws near, what do you do? Let’s talk about how to dry thyme in the microwave for a quick and easy way to preserve it.
Spread out your thyme in a single layer on the paper towel (if you have a lot, you may need to do this in batches)
Trim stems to get rid of excess – leave only leaves and soft branches
Cover the thyme layer with another paper towel
Microwave on high for 30 seconds, then check
Continue to microwave in 30 second intervals, until thyme is completely dry and leaves crinkle when touched
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
Times are based on a 1000W microwave. On average, it takes me about 1 ½ minutes in total to dry out thyme in the microwave. Lower wattage microwaves will take more time, whereas higher wattage units should take less.
For best potency, dried thyme should be used in under a year. After that, while it won’t harm you, it will lose a lot of its flavor.
It tastes delicious as part of the compound butter on air fryer steak! Check out the recipe over in our best Cuisinart air fryer recipes.
Can you Dry Thyme in the Oven?
Yes, thyme may be dried in the oven. On the lowest setting (between 150-200 Fahrenheit generally) it should take around 30 minutes to dry thyme completely.
In Conclusion
Now that you know how to dry thyme in the microwave, you’ll have some handy all year round for cooking.
Dried thyme is great in soups, breads, compound butter, in sauces, on roasted veggies, and more!
It takes less than 3 minutes between prep and cook time, meaning that you’ll be able to quickly and easily process dried thyme.
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!
