How to Store Thyme: Fridge, Freezer and Drying

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Learning how to store thyme comes down to one choice: short-term refrigeration for fresh sprigs, or freezing and drying for thyme you will not use within a week or two. This guide covers the refrigerator method from university extension material, the freezing methods from a garden guide, and the drying advice from Illinois Extension. It also notes where the sources give different numbers, because the time ranges are not identical from one page to the next.

Quick answer

Fresh thyme in the fridge: wrap sprigs in a damp paper towel and place them in an opened or perforated plastic bag in the crisper. Purdue Extension says this keeps thyme for several days.
Longer fresh storage: a garden guide describes keeping stems upright in a jar of about one inch of water in the refrigerator, changing the water periodically.
Freezing: whole sprigs can go straight into a freezer bag, or the leaves can be stripped and frozen in ice cube trays with water.
Drying: Illinois Extension describes drying as a separate route, with dried thyme kept in a tightly closed container away from sunlight and moisture.

How we chose

The sources were selected from web search results for thyme and fresh herb storage. Priority went to university extension pages, because they describe storage conditions in a way that can be checked against a consistent method. A non-extension garden guide was added to cover the jar-of-water and freezing methods, which the extension pages reviewed here do not describe for thyme specifically. Commercial spice sites appeared in the search results but were not used as sources, because their time ranges were not supported by the other pages and their content overlapped in wording with other sites.

Each source was opened on 2026-10-27 and the quoted wording was checked against the fetched text. Where two sources gave different figures, both are reported instead of choosing the higher or lower number. The aim is a storage method a reader can follow at home, with the reason for each step stated in the source material, and no claim beyond what the pages support.

Refrigerator storage for fresh sprigs

The most consistent instruction across the sources is to keep thyme cool and slightly moist without making it wet. Illinois Extension advises that to store fresh thyme, you should wrap sprigs in a damp paper towel and place them in an opened plastic bag in the refrigerator crisper. Purdue Extension gives a similar method and describes the result in shorter terms: wrap in a moist paper towel, place in a plastic bag in the refrigerator, and the herb will keep for several days.

The difference between the two extension pages is mostly in wording. Illinois specifies an opened bag and the crisper drawer, which gives the leaves some air exchange while keeping humidity around the stems. Purdue uses the word “moist” and does not say whether the bag should be sealed, so the reader should follow the Illinois detail where it is available. Neither page gives a number of days beyond “several,” so the exact life of a bundle will depend on how fresh it was when bought or cut.

The garden guide adds a point that applies to both methods: keep the leaves attached to the stems during storage. It also advises against washing thyme before storing it, because washing removes the fragrant oils. The same guide says that a slightly damp paper towel inside a sealed plastic bag can keep thyme fresh for up to two weeks. Since this is a non-extension figure, treat it as an upper estimate rather than a guarantee.

Keeping thyme in water in the refrigerator

The garden guide describes a second refrigerator method for longer fresh storage. The stems are placed upright in a glass jar with about one inch of water, and the jar is kept in the refrigerator. The guide states that as long as the water is changed periodically, thyme can last up to three months this way. A jar of water is the method most likely to produce a visible difference between a changed and an unchanged batch, so the water should be replaced on a regular schedule rather than left for weeks.

The extension pages reviewed here do not describe the jar method for thyme. The UC Solano County material found in search results describes a jar-of-water approach for cut herbs in general, and it lists parsley, cilantro, mint, oregano and sage rather than thyme. That source is therefore not used to support a thyme-specific number. The reader who chooses the jar method should check the water each time they open the refrigerator and remove any stem that has darkened or turned slimy.

Freezing thyme

Freezing is the method that the garden guide describes for storage beyond a few weeks. The guide offers two options. Whole sprigs can be placed directly into a freezer bag. Alternatively, the leaves can be stripped from the stems and placed into ice cube trays filled with water, then transferred to a freezer bag once frozen. The guide states that thyme stored this way will retain good flavor for up to six months. It also says that frozen sprigs can be added directly to cooking without thawing, which is a practical reason to choose whole sprigs for soups and stews.

Purdue Extension says that thyme can be frozen or dried, and it links to separate guidance on freezing herbs. Michigan State University Extension, in search material reviewed for this guide, says hardy herbs such as thyme can be frozen right on the stalk. The Michigan State page was not opened because the site returned a security block during checking, so that statement is reported as a search result only and is not used as a verified source here.

The freezer method is a quality guide, not a safety guide. The sources reviewed do not describe any food safety risk specific to frozen thyme, and this article does not add one. For storage recommendations that affect safety, follow current guidance from a university extension service or the USDA.

Drying thyme as a longer option

Illinois Extension describes drying as a separate way to keep thyme. The page says that dried thyme should be stored in a tightly closed container away from sunlight and moisture. It also gives two drying methods: using a food dehydrator, or tying sprigs with twine and hanging them upside down indoors. The garden guide describes drying as a longer-term route and states that a dehydrator can be used to make thyme last longer.

The sources do not give a fixed shelf life for dried thyme in the sections reviewed, so this guide does not supply one. The practical rule supported by the Illinois page is the storage container, which should be closed and kept out of light and moisture. A dried herb that has lost its color or smell is not a useful reference for the sources, and the reader should judge quality by aroma and appearance rather than by a date.

How the sources differ

The main difference across the three sources is the length of time for refrigerator storage. The extension pages say “several days” (Purdue) and describe a crisper-drawer bag method (Illinois) without a fixed number. The garden guide gives two weeks for the damp-towel-in-bag method and up to three months for the jar method when the water is changed. These figures do not conflict in a way that changes the method, but they are not the same measurement, and the three-month figure applies only to the water method.

A second difference concerns sealing the bag. Illinois says to use an opened bag. The garden guide says to place the wrapped stems inside a sealed bag. A reader who follows the garden guide should check the bundle often, since a sealed bag holds more moisture. A reader who follows the Illinois method has less risk of trapped moisture but may need to replace the paper towel sooner.

Because the sources differ, the most reliable approach is to pick one method, record the date of storage, and check the herb regularly. Sprigs that feel soft, slimy or sour should be discarded. Thyme that is still firm and fragrant can be used for longer than the shortest figure in these sources.

Connecting thyme storage to harvest and growing

Storage works best when the thyme is in good condition at the start. For readers who grow thyme outdoors and need guidance on harvesting and plant care before storage, the site’s guide on how to grow thyme outdoors covers the plant side. Readers who want to keep thyme alive in a container rather than harvest it can compare the steps in how to plant thyme in pots.

For a wider view of harvested produce, the guide to how to store freshly harvested vegetables explains general handling steps that apply to many leafy and herbaceous crops. The thyme-specific advice in this article is narrower and should be read alongside that general guidance.

What we could not verify

This article is based on web sources and does not include testing of storage methods. No storage duration in this guide was measured. Each time range is a figure reported by the source named next to it.

What the sources do not say

None of the sources opened for this article gives a single, verified shelf life for fresh thyme across all methods. The extension pages do not give a number of days beyond “several.” The jar-of-water figure of three months comes from a garden guide and is not confirmed by an extension publication. The sources also do not describe how thyme should be stored after it has been frozen and thawed, and they do not compare refrigerator humidity levels, so those points are left open.

The Michigan State University Extension statement about freezing herbs on the stalk was reported in search results only, because the page could not be opened during checking. It is not treated as verified here.

Frequently asked questions

Should I wash thyme before storing it?

The garden guide advises against washing thyme before storage because washing removes the fragrant oils. The Illinois and Purdue pages do not discuss washing in the sections reviewed, so this advice rests on the garden guide alone. Wash the sprigs only when you are ready to use them.

Can I store thyme in a sealed bag in the fridge?

The garden guide describes a damp paper towel inside a sealed plastic bag. Illinois Extension describes an opened plastic bag in the crisper. Both are supported by sources, but they differ on sealing, so the reader should choose one and check the bundle regularly for excess moisture.

How long does thyme last in the refrigerator?

Purdue Extension says that thyme wrapped in a moist paper towel and placed in a plastic bag keeps for several days. The garden guide gives up to two weeks for the damp-towel-and-bag method. The jar-of-water method is described as lasting up to three months when the water is changed, but that figure comes from a non-extension source.

Can I freeze thyme without blanching it?

The garden guide describes freezing whole sprigs directly in a freezer bag, or freezing leaves in ice cube trays with water. It does not describe blanching for thyme. Purdue Extension says that thyme can be frozen but does not give a blanching step in the material reviewed.

Is dried thyme still safe to use after a year?

The sources reviewed do not give a safety answer for dried thyme after a set time. Illinois Extension describes the storage container and conditions, which affect quality. The reader should judge the herb by color and aroma, and follow current guidance from a university extension service for any question about food safety.

Sources

Illinois Extension, “Simply Nutritious, Quick and Delicious: Thyme, enjoy fresh herbs.” https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/simply-nutritious-quick-and-delicious/2020-07-09-thyme-enjoy-fresh-herbs (opened 2026-10-27). Quote: “wrap sprigs in a damp paper towel and place in an opened plastic bag in the refrigerator crisper.” Claim: refrigerator method for fresh thyme and dried storage in a closed container.
Purdue Extension FoodLink, “thyme.” https://www.extension.purdue.edu/foodlink/food.php?food=thyme (opened 2026-10-27). Quote: “wrap in a moist paper towel and place in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. It will keep for several days.” Claim: refrigerator shelf life stated as several days; thyme can be frozen or dried.
Epic Gardening, “How To Harvest and Store Thyme.” https://www.epicgardening.com/how-to-harvest-thyme/ (opened 2026-10-27). Quote: “keep the leaves attached to the stems during storage.” Claim: damp towel in sealed bag for up to two weeks; jar of water for up to three months with periodic water changes; freezing sprigs or leaves for up to six months. Non-extension source.