Fresh herbs can really make a dish sing, but some are more straightforward than others to cook with. Maybe you’ve seen a recipe call for a sprig of thyme (or another type of herb) and wondered how large it should be, or how much you should use. Here we dive into what a sprig is, plus how to buy, store and cook with fresh thyme.
A sprig is generally defined as a 2- to 4-inch piece of the herb plant. You can substitute about 1/2 teaspoon of dried herb for a sprig; however, be sure to read the recipe before you decide to substitute.
What Is a Sprig of Thyme?
A sprig of thyme is a hardy herb that is comprised of a woody stem (the stem is edible but most often discarded after cooking) and small green leaves. Thyme has a subtle earthy flavor with grassy undertones and hints of mint and lemon. Look for sprigs that are 3 to 4 inches long with a few offshoot branches from the main stem. A single stem likely won’t have enough leaves to satisfy the recipe, and stems with more 10 or more offshoots will have too many. So, if you look at the photo above, the thyme in the center is the perfect size. Generally, a 4-inch sprig of thyme will yield between 1/4 and 3/4 teaspoon of leaves.
How Much Dried Thyme Equals a Sprig?
If you don’t have access to a sprig of thyme, a good rule of thumb is to substitute 1/2 teaspoon of dried thyme for 1 teaspoon of fresh thyme leaves.
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FAQ
How do you convert fresh sprigs to dried herbs?
How much dried basil to replace 1 sprig?
What is the equivalent of 1 sprig of thyme?
How much dried rosemary equals 1 sprig?
What is a sprig of herbs?
A sprig of herbs refers to a 2 to 4 inch piece of the herb plant, typically including both the stem and leaves. These flavorful sprigs are often used in culinary dishes for their pungent aroma and lovely texture.
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.
What is a sprig in cooking?
In cooking, a sprig is always used to refer to a certain amount of a fresh herb. However, the exact amount in a sprig will depend on the type of herb. Here are some of the most common types of herb sprigs that are used in cooking. A sprig of basil consists of the top three or four leaves of the basil plant.
Should I use a sprig or a dried herb?
Usually a sprig is suggested, rather than the dried herb, when the recipe requires that it be removed from the dish at some point. The dried herb can’t be removed, of course, so leaving it in the dish will give the final dish a stronger flavor.