#Dried thyme how to

Dried Herbs Vs Fresh Herbs: Which is Better? This means that for 1 tablespoon of fresh herbs, we only use 1 teaspoon of dried herbs.įrom this, we can say that two sprigs of thyme will be equivalent to 1/3 – 1/2 teaspoons of dried thyme. We know that the general guide we use for converting fresh herbs to dried herbs is that we only use 1/3 as much dried herbs as we do fresh. One 4-inch sprig of thyme yields anywhere from ½- ¾ teaspoon of fresh thyme leaves, when loosely packed. This means that 2 sprigs of thyme will yield about twice that amount at 1 – 1 ½ teaspoons. Thankfully, some very dedicated cooks have tried to accurately quantify these measurements for the benefit of the general public. How Much Dried Thyme Equals 2 Sprigs of Thyme?īecause sprig sizes vary from plant to plant, it can be difficult to precisely figure this out. On average, one 4-inch sprig of thyme yields 1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon of fresh thyme leaves. Thankfully, some have actually done the research and have come up with workable values as to how much a sprig of thyme actually is.

#Dried thyme how to

They know it isn’t a big deal and use it for the convenience of the regular cook who happens to have bought some sprigs of thyme from the grocery store.īut for the super-precise cooks, it is understandably a little disconcerting. And you cannot fault them for wanting to know how to quantify it somehow. Usually, when (good) recipe writers use measurements like this, they know that if you add a little bit more or a little bit less of that herb to the recipe, it will not alter the taste very much and you will be fine either way. How much exactly is a sprig? How do I know the right amount to add to my recipe? It is no wonder then that this question is often asked in many cooking circles, especially for cooks who want to do everything precisely, in exact measurements. This is a very similar case to when recipes say “ a bunch of cilantro” or “a bunch of parsley”. It can also even vary within the same herb, and thus, it is a very imprecise unit of measurement. Sprigs of thyme would have a different size from say, a sprig of rosemary. However, because stem length and size vary from herb to herb, it is a very subjective unit of measurement. In the case of herbs, it is what carries the fresh herb leaves that we use in cooking.Ī “sprig” is a term often used in recipes to pertain to fresh herbs. What is A Sprig of Thyme?Ī sprig refers to a small stem from a plant or an herb that usually carries flowers or leaves.

Thyme is one of the main ingredients of Herbs de Provence.

So if your recipe calls for 2 sprigs of thyme, how do know how much dried thyme to put in? How much dried thyme equals 2 sprigs of thyme? Read on to find out. In general, 1 tablespoon of a fresh herb would impart the same flavor strength as 1 teaspoon of dried herbs. Another way of putting it is, that you only need 1/3 as much dried herbs as fresh herbs when substituting in a recipe. If that’s the case, how will I know how much to use? For example, how much dried thyme equals 2 sprigs?ĭried herbs are generally more potent and stronger in flavor than fresh herbs, and you’d generally want to use less of them in recipes. This is because fresh herbs differ in strength and potency from dried herbs, and if you want to impart the correct flavor to your recipes, it’s important to remember useful equivalents. Doing that is a recipe for disaster (yes I said that!) In other words, if a recipe asks you to put in two tablespoons of fresh thyme, you cannot put in two tablespoons of dried thyme. The main thing to remember here though is that fresh herbs and dried herbs are not one-for-one replacements for each other. Fresh herbs and dried herbs can often be used in place of each other in most recipes.