Here’s a key that can help you convert measurements to use in your recipes: One sprig of fresh thyme is equal to 1/2 teaspoon of dried thyme. One teaspoon of dried thyme is equal to one tablespoon of fresh thyme.
If you want to impart brighter and fresher flavors to a dish, working with fresh sprigs of thyme is a must. To preserve this vibrancy and prevent wilting, just-picked leaves should be added towards the end of the cooking process. Plus, fresh herbs make for an impressive edible garnish, providing a wonderful pop of color to fresh salads, meaty entrees, and even sweet treats. In comparison, dried thyme is geared towards being a building block of flavor. It may lack the same degree of visual appeal as fresh thyme, but dried or ground leaves still provide a lot of flavor. The trick is incorporating the dried version earlier in the cooking process, allowing its flavor to fully diffuse into recipes like slow-simmer stews and braises.
Unlike fresh sprigs, dried thyme has an incredibly long shelf-life. But it cant always be used in the same way. Since dried herbs tend to boast a stronger intensity, they need to be used modestly — thyme is no different. As a result, both dried and fresh renditions need to be worked into recipes differently so as to express them in the best way possible.
Given that exact quantities can vary based on the state of a sprig, occasionally, you might be left with more or less thyme. The important thing, however, is recognizing when sprigs are relevant to a recipe and when they can instead be swapped for dried thyme.
The most appealing part of any delicate or woody herb is its leaves. Responsible for doing much of the heavy lifting (providing flavor and aromatics) in a recipe, these flowering buds grow on little branches, which are dubbed sprigs. Although they differ in size based on the herb and the individual plant, thyme sprigs tend to be about 5 inches long. That said, if you were to pluck off its abundance of sweetly citrusy yet peppery leaves, a single sprig would yield roughly ½ tablespoon of fresh thyme, which would be equivalent to about ½ teaspoon of dried thyme leaves.
While cooking isnt as much of a science as baking, that doesnt mean that measuring ingredients is out of the question. In order to achieve a recipes intended result, accuracy still matters. One problem is that this can prove somewhat complicated when it comes to working with herbs. Some recipes may require precisely 1 teaspoon or tablespoon of thyme, meanwhile others will call for a more ambiguous amount — a sprig. Naturally, this raises the question, how big is a sprig when compared to dried equivalents?
Dried Thyme is a fairly robust seasoning, so we recommend starting off with just a pinch or two so you don’t overpower your dish, as you can always add more if needed to achieve the ideal flavor. We recommend adding dried thyme towards the end of the cooking process. Thyme has an herbaceous and slightly floral aroma with a piney, smoky flavor.
There are many herbs that lose flavor through the drying process. However, some herbs react completely differently when dried, and instead of losing their flavor, the spiciness of these herbs actually increases. For these herbs, when drying, the structures in the plant tissue collapse, which increases the availability and mobility of the herb’s essential oil. This allows it to be more readily absorbed in foods. Herbs that are better dried than fresh include oregano, rosemary and thyme. Fresh thyme is not as intense as dried thyme, has a softer flavor and works best with vegetable dishes and fish, while Dried Thyme’s flavor is enhanced when paired with spicy foods especially meats. Hence why it is common in cajun fare.
How to Prepare and Store Fresh Thyme
FAQ
How much dried thyme is 2 sprigs?
How many teaspoons is a sprig of thyme?
What can I substitute for 2 sprigs thyme?
How much dried thyme equals fresh thyme?
What is a sprig of thyme?
A sprig of thyme refers to a sprig of fresh thyme that has not gone through the drying process. Usually, a sprig of fresh thyme is about four to five inches long, and the length of the core stalk has small branches beside it. The number of leaves from a sprig of thyme is uncertain and can vary from one stalk to another.
How to use thyme?
Thyme can be used fresh or dried, and works well in soups, roasted vegetables, pasta, sauces, pizzas, chicken, stews, eggs, fish and seafood, lasagna, pork, lamb, or beef.
How many thyme leaves are in a sprig?
A sprig of fresh thyme typically contains four or five tiny leaves, yet many recipes call for the herb in teaspoons or even tablespoons. How much does this translate to when using dried thyme? In general, one teaspoon of dried thyme is equivalent to one sprig of fresh thyme.
How many sprigs of dried thyme do I Need?
To estimate the quantity roughly, you will need about six sprigs of fresh thyme to make 3/4 teaspoon of dried thyme. This is mostly because dry thyme has a much more concentrated flavor, so you need to use less of it. While fresh time is much lighter in flavor and isn’t going to be nearly as overpowering.