A woody Mediterranean herb sold in small sprigs, with tiny leaves that carry a warm, faintly floral, resinous note built on thymol.
What it does in a recipe: A durable background herb that holds its flavour through long cooking, unlike the soft-leaved herbs. Pick the swap that covers that job - the ratios below are written so you can act on them without doing any arithmetic.
Also called: Thyme sprigs
4substitutes
1close matches
Herbscategory
Quick answer
Dried thyme
1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves = 1 tsp dried thyme
All substitutes, best first
4 ways to replace fresh thyme
Dried thyme
Closest match
1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves = 1 tsp dried thyme
Drying removes the water and concentrates the essential oils roughly threefold, which is why the standard fresh-to-dried ratio is 3:1. Thyme is a woody herb, so it survives drying better than most.
MethodAdd dried thyme early in cooking so it has heat, moisture and time to rehydrate and release its oils.
Trade-offSlightly dustier and less bright than fresh, and it will not work as a finishing garnish.
Allergen checkPackaged blends are not all pure herb - some carry flow agents or fillers that may be wheat-based. Check the label before serving this to anyone avoiding gluten, and confirm with the maker if the allergy is a medical one.
Worth knowing
Strip thyme leaves by running your fingers down the stem against the direction of growth. Whole sprigs can go into a braise and be fished out later.
At a glance
Fresh thyme in summary
Fresh thyme at a glance: category, its job in a recipe, the diets it suits, the diets its substitutes can satisfy, and how many substitutes there are.
1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves = 1 tsp dried thyme. Drying removes the water and concentrates the essential oils roughly threefold, which is why the standard fresh-to-dried ratio is 3:1. Thyme is a woody herb, so it survives drying better than most. Slightly dustier and less bright than fresh, and it will not work as a finishing garnish.
Can I use fresh marjoram instead of fresh thyme?
1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves = 1 tbsp chopped fresh marjoram. Marjoram shares thyme's phenolic backbone but leans sweeter and more floral, and at equal volume it seasons a dish to a similar depth. Softer and a little perfumed. Marjoram is less heat-stable than thyme, so add it in the last twenty minutes of a long braise.
Can I use fresh oregano instead of fresh thyme?
1 tbsp fresh thyme = 2 tsp fresh oregano. Both are Mediterranean woody herbs built on similar phenolic oils, but oregano is noticeably more assertive, so you pull back about a third. Pushes the dish towards Greek and Italian flavours and away from French ones - noticeable in something delicate like a chicken braise.
Can I use herbes de provence instead of fresh thyme?
1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves = 1 tsp herbes de Provence. Thyme is the backbone of the blend, so you get the thyme you wanted at dried-herb concentration, plus savory, rosemary and often lavender. The lavender in many blends is unmistakable and can make a savoury dish taste soapy if you are heavy-handed. Start with less than you think.
Cooking around an allergy? Diet tags here describe the ingredient itself, not any particular brand. Processed products change formulation without notice and shared production lines are common, so read the label on everything you use. A severe allergy is a medical matter - confirm with the manufacturer or your clinician rather than relying on a substitution chart.