Thyme Kitchen Basics

How do you use thyme in cooking?
What part of thyme is edible?
What are the most common uses for thyme?
How do you prepare fresh thyme?
What are benefits of thyme?
Can you eat thyme raw?
Should I remove flowers from thyme?
Can you eat the flower on thyme?
Should I cut the flowers off my thyme?
Does thyme kill bacteria?
Is Thyme good for lungs?
Which is better rosemary or thyme?

How do you use thyme in cooking?

One of the many fresh herbs used in many Italian kitchens. The aromatic flavor of thyme complements Southern Italian sauces of hot peppers and eggplants, as well as being a primary herb in soups and stews.

What part of thyme is edible?

Both the leaves and the flowers are edible. You can use the stems, but they might be a bit woody to eat.

What are the most common uses for thyme?

Thyme is typically used in savory dishes like braised or roasted meat, vegetables, or fish, as well as in savory baking. It can also be used to add flavor and depth to marinades, soups and stocks, cocktail elements, and teas.

How do you prepare fresh thyme?

How to prepare thyme. Wash, then either use the whole sprig or remove the leaves and discard the stalk. To strip the leaves from the stems, hold a stalk at the top and then firmly run the thumb and forefinger of your other hand along the stalk from top to bottom – the leaves should break off as you go.

What are benefits of thyme?

Eating thyme and drinking thyme tea can provide other health benefits such as:

Inflammation Reduction. Thymol, one of the main oils in thyme, can fight against cyclooxygenase-2, or COX-2, an enzyme responsible for inflammation in the body. ...
Respiratory Support. ...
Gastrointestinal Health.

Can you eat thyme raw?

Final Thoughts. Thyme (thymus vulgaris) is an herb that can be consumed fresh or dried. Like other herbs and spices, it's packed with disease-fighting nutrients and antioxidants.

Should I remove flowers from thyme?

If you don't want to eat the flowers, harvest the stem and the leaves before the thyme blooms. Dry them by hanging them upside-down in a dark room until they dry completely. When they're dry, it's easy to strip the leaves off the stems.

Can you eat the flower on thyme?

Are the flowers of thyme edible? A The way to pick most herbs is to cut the stalks as you need them. ... And yes, Julie, do eat the thyme flowers: they are perfectly edible and very pretty.

Should I cut the flowers off my thyme?

Thyme plants, like most woody herbs, do best when they are pruned regularly. Taking the time to trim thyme not only creates a nicer looking plant, but also helps improve the amount you can harvest from the plant.

Does thyme kill bacteria?

Thyme essential oil contains the phenolic compound thymol that can kill pathogens such as bacteria and fungi via cell membrane disruption. ... It has also been highly effective against other pathogens such as powdery mildew and black rot.

Is Thyme good for lungs?

Thyme helps fight respiratory infections and is a natural expectorant that serves as an antiseptic and helps expulse mucus. It's also good for soothing coughs and fighting nasal congestion. Prepare it as a tea. Put a teaspoon of thyme in boiling water, let it stand for 10 minutes and then strain.

Which is better rosemary or thyme?

While thyme can often be a good substitute for rosemary—particularly when used along with other herbs such as tarragon or savory—rosemary is not the best choice as a substitution for thyme. ... Thyme is a much gentler herb that blends incredibly well with other flavors.