Option 2: you can also freeze fresh thyme leaves without the stalk. It is best to only use the leaves when cooking, as the stalk often has a bitter taste. Pre-freezing means that it is easy to remove individual sprigs later when cooking. Pop the frozen thyme sprigs into a labelled freezer bag together and store in the freezer. Arrange the sprigs on a baking sheet so that they are not touching each other and place into the freezer for one to two hours to freeze a little. Then let them air dry completely to prevent ice from forming when frozen. Option 1: wash the thyme sprigs and gently pat dry. Here are two methods for freezing thyme, either whole or just the leaves: If you have ever wondered how to store fresh thyme, you might be interested to learn that freezing thyme is a great choice. An airy room is the perfect environment for drying thyme and other culinary herbs Can you freeze thyme? Dried thyme can be kept for about six to twelve months before it gradually loses its potency. Remove the dried thyme leaves from the stems and store in an airtight, labelled jar in a dark place. The thyme is sufficiently dry after two to four weeks, when the thyme leaves crumble easily between your fingers. Ensure the bundles are protected from sunlight, otherwise the essential oils will break down more quickly, causing the drying thyme leaves to lose their fragrance. Tie together with string and hang the thyme bunches upside down in a dark, clean, airy, and dry place. Harvest young, long, non-woody shoots and gather several of these into a bundle. One way to preserve thyme is by drying the sprigs. Tip: for even more variety in your kitchen and garden, why not read about the different types of thyme in our other article. For this there are several possibilities: drying thyme is perhaps the most common but freezing thyme or preserving it in oil are also excellent options. Knowing how to store and preserve thyme will ensure that you have a plentiful supply all year round. The uses of thyme as a medicinal or culinary herb are diverse. Always harvest entire shoots rather than individual leaves Storing and preserving thyme Knowing how to harvest thyme without killing it will ensure that it flourishes year after year. As a general rule, do not harvest more than a third of your thyme plant at once. Your thyme plant will thrive if you harvest small amounts often rather than large amounts all at once. On a cloudy day, harvest your thyme in the early afternoon. On sunny days, the plant’s fragrance is most intense in the late morning, so this is the best time to harvest. The weather also affects when to harvest thyme. Once thyme flowers, all its energy is directed away from the leaves and towards the flowers, causing the leaves to become less aromatic. If you want to harvest particularly aromatic shoots, cut them off shortly before flowering when the concentration of essential oils in the leaves is at its highest. When harvesting thyme, select long, young, and non-woody shoots and cut them off with sharp, clean scissors or a knife. It is important to always cut off a whole shoot rather than just individual leaves, and it is best to cut just above a leaf node. Thyme can be harvested periodically throughout the entire growing season.
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