You have an outdated jar of dried thyme in your storage space, and you are unsure whether or not it is still usable. Does thyme go bad?
Or perhaps this is the first time you’ve ever purchased fresh thyme, and you’re wondering how long the leftover sprigs will keep for in the fridge.
How long does fresh thyme keep once it has been opened?
If either of those things rings a bell, then you should read this article. We go over the following topics in it:
thyme’s storage practices and periods, both dried and fresh, as well as whether or not dried thyme goes bad and how to tell if your fresh thyme has reached its expiration date are discussed.
Does it sound intriguing? Let’s dig in.
How long will thyme remain fresh?
The shelf life of fresh thyme is anywhere from one to two weeks. If you need more time, you can choose to either freeze or dry the sprigs that are left over.
The quality of dried thyme is at its peak for approximately six months to one year after drying, but it can be used for many more months or even years after drying.
Thyme, like other fresh herbs, does not have a particularly long shelf life. Depending on how you keep it stored, you can expect it to maintain its quality anywhere from seven to fourteen days in the refrigerator.
If necessary, you have the ability to make it last for a significantly longer period of time (more details in the next section).
Pork that has been seasoned with a blend of spices (before cooking)
When it comes to dried thyme, the consistency is similar to that of dried basil, nutmeg, or any other dried herb that is sold in powdered form. That means the date printed on the label refers solely to the product’s peak quality, and you can continue to use the thyme for as long as it possesses any trace of flavor.
Tip: If the flavor and aroma of your dried thyme have been dulled as a result of its age, use more of it to make up for the difference. This way, you’ll use up the bag or container faster, and the taste of your dishes won’t be compromised in any way (that much).
The Proper Way To Put Away Thyme
If you want your fresh thyme to keep for more than a few days, you will need to refrigerate it. For best results, put it in a plastic bag with a damp paper towel and store it somewhere warm. The dried thyme needs to be stored in a dry and cool environment that is hermetically sealed.
It’s not difficult to keep dried thyme in an airtight container. All that is required is that it be kept dry and away from any moisture.
Because this is the most secure method for storing dried spices for an extended period of time, I always recommend storing them in airtight containers. But there are times when I don’t take my own counsel.
When I buy ground thyme, it comes in small bags (see photo), and all I have to do to preserve its freshness and quality for a longer period of time is wrap the top of the bag. And that works splendidly for me, and it might work splendidly for you as well if you store your spices in a dry place.
Things become somewhat more complicated when fresh thyme is taken into consideration. You can certainly store the entire bunch in the refrigerator, but that solution is far from ideal.
Instead, you should either wrap the thyme sprigs in plastic wrap ([ISU]) in a loose manner or wrap them in a moist (but not wet) paper towel before placing them in a plastic bag that is not sealed. The second option, which requires slightly more work, is ultimately the superior choice.
Information: The goal here is to maintain a humid environment for the thyme while at the same time allowing for some airflow. This is done to prevent a buildup of moisture, which could result in the herb going bad before its time.
If you need to keep fresh thyme for more than two weeks, you can either dry the sprigs or freeze them. Both of these methods work well.
The Quick and Easy Way to Dehydrate Fresh Thyme
Do the following ([ISU]) in order to dry out fresh thyme:
- The thyme should be washed in running water and then dried with a paper towel.
Gather the sprigs together, tie them in bunches, and then hang them in an area of your home that has adequate ventilation but is shielded from the sun. - Allow the leaves to dry completely, which can take anywhere from five days to two weeks depending on the temperature, the relative humidity, and how tightly you tied the bunch together.
- After the leaves have dried out, remove them from the sprigs and store them in a container that will keep out air.
The actual amount of work required is only about ten minutes, and the waiting period can last up to two weeks. When you are finished, you will have “homemade” dried thyme that you can keep on hand for many months.
How to Put Fresh Thyme in the Freezer in a Hurry
The fresh thyme can be frozen in this manner, which is one of the more straightforward methods. This is the method that you should use ([ISU]):
- After washing, you should pat the herb dry. This last step is essential because you do not want any moisture or water drops to form inside the freezer.
- Place the sprigs in a plastic bag, then put the bag in the freezer to preserve them. Just abandon it there until the rest of the things freeze. Even if there are only a few bunches, leaving them out overnight should be sufficient.
- To remove the leaves from the stems of the frozen sprigs, roll the bag containing the frozen sprigs over. The stems should be thrown away, and the remaining ingredients should be frozen again.
That sums it up nicely. To reiterate, the amount of effort required to complete it is minimal and won’t take more than a few minutes. You won’t need to worry about the previously frozen thyme going bad if you keep it in the freezer for the next few months.
In most cases, there is no requirement to carry out the process of defrosting the item.
You can simply remove the amount of thyme that you require from the bag, and then incorporate it into the dish that you are preparing. It will only take a few minutes for it to lose its frozen state.
A helpful hint is that frozen thyme is best utilized in cooked dishes, as opposed to being used as a garnish for salads. When the leaves thaw, they will become soft and mushy.
Does Thyme Go Bad? How Do You Know If The Thyme Is Going Bad?
A container or bag of dried thyme will not go bad unless it becomes infested with moisture or insects that live in pantries.
However, its efficacy diminishes over time, and after a certain point, it stops being of any real use at all.
You can perform a straightforward test to determine whether or not the value of your old dried thyme is worth anything at all.
Crush and rub a small amount between your fingers, then inhale the vapors and taste what you have created. If there is very little of either the smell or the taste, you should open a new package and throw this one away. The method is also applicable to rosemary and other types of herbs.
After being stored in the refrigerator for a couple of weeks, fresh thyme goes bad.
If any of the following are true:
- Everything is squishy and slippery (you can cut out small mushy areas, though)
- The sprigs have become wilted as a result of a loss of moisture, which is typically accompanied by a reduction in flavor.
Tip: If your fresh thyme has been stored in the refrigerator for more than two weeks and it has already begun to deteriorate, you should only keep the sprigs that are in the best condition and throw away the rest.
