Thyme or thyme is a fragrant shrub with dark green leaves. The bush attracts many insects and bees with its wonderful aroma. Those who are going to grow this herb in their own garden need to know how to properly store fresh thyme at home. This plant is of great value due to its life-giving properties. It is generally accepted that this fragrant plant has magical powers and is capable of expelling evil spirits.
Storage Features
Before you start storing the spice, you need to dry it properly.If you make preparations without following the rules, then mold may appear on the thyme. This is how you prepare thyme for the winter:
- The selected thyme is spread on metal baking sheets, on which paper has been previously laid.
- The workpiece is covered with gauze, which acts as a natural barrier against dirt particles.
- The finished blocks are sent to dry in a cool place.
- During drying, the fragrant thyme is turned over so that the shoots do not rot.
The fragrant herb is also dried in large bunches. The period for complete drying of the plant is 7 days.
It is good to store dry seasoning in glass jars, cardboard packages, convenient linen bags in a dark, dry place. It is not recommended to use polyethylene containers, since they are airtight, spoil the dried herb, and evaporate it inside. If all storage nuances are strictly observed, the fragrant herb can be stored for 2 years.
Storing fresh thyme
The fresh spice is used to prepare various meat dishes, poultry and fish.
To keep thyme fresh, several methods are used:
- The spice is placed in sealed polyethylene and stored in a refrigerator away from the freezer. Do not fill the bags too tightly; the shoots should be positioned freely. Fresh thyme can be stored in this way for 7 days.
- Place fresh stems so that there is free space between them. The glass container is closed with a tight lid. The thyme will be as fresh as if it was just picked within 3 weeks.
Before storing, the fragrant thyme is sorted, but not washed.
Drying at home
When dried, aromatic thyme does not lose its properties; a significant part of its healing qualities is retained.It is important to dry according to the rules to prevent mold from appearing. Here are some tips for drying thyme:
- The room for drying fragrant thyme should be well ventilated.
- To lay out the selected shoots, choose a piece of thick fabric, a tray or a sheet of tin.
- A layer of paper is spread on the prepared surface.
- A layer of gauze cloth is placed on top of the decomposed shoots to limit access to dust particles by insects.
- The fragrant thyme is dried for 3 to 5 days, the room temperature should not exceed +35 degrees.
The end of drying will be indicated by darkened shoots, the leaves become hard and brittle in the hands. So you can easily dry your favorite spice for the winter.
To speed up the initial drying of thyme, experienced herbalists use an electric dryer for this. For the result to be obtained, one condition is met - the device should not heat above 35 degrees. Thorough drying is carried out on the upper shelves of the device. An electric dryer will help dry thyme in 8 hours.
But an oven is not suitable for drying plants, since it is difficult to control the drying temperature, even if the device is electric.
Freezing a plant
Before freezing, fresh plants are thoroughly washed and dried with paper towels. There are several options for freezing fresh thyme:
- Place the stems hermetically in plastic bags, which are placed in the freezer.
- The plant is crushed, placed in an ice tray, filled with purified water, and placed in the freezer to freeze. The finished cubes with thyme are removed from the plastic container and placed in a container for long-term storage.
In this form, frozen thyme is stored until spring.Thawed spices are used immediately, as they instantly lose their valuable properties.
Salting the crop
Winter pickling is another simple way to preserve thyme for 8 months. To do this, fresh thyme leaves are finely chopped and sprinkled with salt. Place the crushed plant in a jar or ceramic container. Store the container with chopped thyme in the refrigerator.
Canning in natural oil or vinegar
The spice is preserved in oil. Thyme oil is made, which is then used to relieve pain, relieve fatigue, and for rinsing the mouth.
Prepare the composition as follows:
- The washed spice is thoroughly dried in the sun.
- Grind in a mortar.
- Place the greens in a pan with oil (8 ml coconut oil), cook the mixture over medium heat for 5 minutes until bubbles begin to appear.
- Pour the cooled mixture into a glass container and store in a cool place.
Fresh leaves can also be cooked in wine vinegar and olive oil. To do this, fresh leaves are passed through a meat grinder. The composition is placed in a jar, filled with oil so that the herbs are covered with a 7 cm layer. Natural oil prevents the appearance of unwanted mold during storage. When prepared, thyme in meat will serve as an excellent addition to any dish. It is often found in popular meat marinades.
