Can You Freeze Thyme?

Last updated on August 6th, 2022 at 06:04 am

Thyme is used in many savory recipes for flavor. It is a herb that features small leaves that grow in clusters on small stems. You can season all kinds of dishes with thyme. 

Used alone for flavor or in a herb blend it can give your recipes a earthy, minty, and slightly lemony flavor. Its smell is strong but when cooked the flavor isn’t overpowering. 

Thyme is commonly used in dishes that are baked, roasted, or braised. You can add it to chicken, beef, pork, and even lamb for more flavor. 

So, if you have a lot of thyme and want to save it long-term, can you freeze it?

If you have a lot of thyme you want to save, you can freeze it to use it for later. Just follow some simple steps in order to properly freeze the thyme so you can use it in upcoming weeks or months.

Thyme is the perfect herb to add into recipes when you’re cooking. Throw it in soups, stews, or roast with vegetables. It’s so versatile and gives your food flavor. 

When shopping for dinner ingredients, you picked up a lot of thyme. Usually only one or two sprigs of the herb are used at a time so now you end up with leftover thyme. Now, you need to save it to use in meals later on. 

Luckily, this is quite easy to do. 

Have a lot of thyme you want to save? Freeze it! When you freeze the thyme you can have it on hand for whenever you want to use it in a recipe. 

It’s simple and easy to do and can keep the herb good for weeks up to months. The thyme will still keep its texture and flavor even after being frozen if you freeze it the right way. 

There’s a certain way to go about freezing thyme. Keep reading to find out tips on how exactly to freeze thyme properly.

How Do You Store Thyme In The Freezer?

When it comes to storing thyme there are a few ways it can be done. I will go into some more options later on in this article but for now let’s talk about freezing thyme. Like I said, there are specific ways to do it. How do you store the thyme in the freezer?

You should store thyme in the freezer by placing it in ice cube trays, covering it with water and then freezing. Then transfer the cubes to freezer bags and have them on hand to use them in soups or roasts.

First, if you have a large supply of thyme you can freeze the entire sprigs. Start by cleaning the thyme and rinsing it well. Then dry it thoroughly and put it in a freezer bag. 

Line the bag with a kitchen towel and slide the thyme into the center. Remove as much air as possible from the bag and seal it up. Now, you can store it in the freezer.

The next way to freeze thyme is to remove all the leaves from the stem. Spray an ice cube tray with some oil and add in the thyme to the squares. You can even add other herbs to the cubes for a herb mix. 

Then cover the herbs with more oil or water and place in the freezer to flash freeze. Once frozen, transfer the cubes to a freezer bag and place it back in the freezer. 

How Long Can You Freeze Thyme?

After purchasing some thyme you should refrigerate it. Fresh thyme usually only lasts for about 10 to 14 days in the refrigerator. To prolong the amount of time you can use the herb, you can freeze it. 

But how long can you freeze thyme?

When you need to save thyme for future recipes, try freezing it. Thyme can be frozen for 4 to 6 months. It will still be safe to use after this time but over time the quality of the herb will diminish.

If you want to save thyme for weeks or even months then freeze it. The thyme will last for about 4 to 6 months in the freezer and can be easily accessible for whenever you need to add it into a recipe. 

Just wash, trim, and chop the thyme and freeze in a freezer bag or ice cube tray to keep for weeks or months. 

Over time the quality of the thyme will decrease so that is why it is best to use it up within 6 months after it has been frozen. Before freezing, write the current date on the bag to help you remember when you put the thyme in the freezer. 

As a side note, a sign that thyme has gone bad is if it has become soft and discolored or smells strange.

Is It Better To Freeze Or Dry Thyme?

Storing thyme is easy and there are a few ways it can be done. Another way to preserve thyme other than freezing it is to dry it out. 

Drying thyme can actually help it to last years when it is done correctly. So, when storing the herb, which is better to do, freeze or dry the thyme?

Both freezing and drying thyme are great options and neither is necessarily better than another. 

Freezing won’t affect the thyme’s texture or flavor but dried thyme can be stored for a lot longer and still taste good. 

Both are great ways to store the thyme so it is easy to use when you want to add it to a recipe. The easiest way to preserve the thyme is up to you. 

You can store it in the refrigerator, freeze it, or dry it out. When you dry thyme, you can use a food dehydrator, air dry it in a bag with holes, or place it in the microwave or oven. 

Dried thyme that is kept on the counter can last for 7 to 8 months. If dried thyme is stored in the fridge, it can last for 1 to 2 years. If frozen, dried thyme will last for 3 to 4 years.

So, it’s up to you to decide what the easiest way to store the thyme is. Both are simple to do and will preserve the herb’s texture and flavor. 

Frozen thyme can be combined with other herbs and easily added to soups, but dried thyme will last for a lot longer. Whether frozen or dried you can use the thyme in many different recipes.

It all comes down to what works best for you.

FInal Thoughts

To save thyme and store it long-term, you can freeze it. You can use freezer bags or the ice cube tray method to freeze the thyme and save it for later. 

Frozen thyme typically lasts for about 4 to 6 months. After it is frozen it will still taste good. 

You can even dry the thyme and then freeze it to save the herb for 1 to 3 years. Freezing is a great way to preserve the thyme so you can use it in dishes weeks or even months later.