Does Thyme Go Bad
Welcome to this post about whether thyme can go bad and how you can see if the thyme has gone bad. The best way to know if the thyme has gone bad is smelling and looking at it. If it’s smelling sort of sour almost then they might have fermented and won’t be very nice to use.
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If they are smelling off then toss it and absolutely don’t use it, not even in a compost. Look at the leaves as well, they will have a brownish color if they are starting to go bad. In this article we will go more in depth on this. Follow along and learn more about how you can spot if your thyme has gone bad.
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If you want to learn some tips and tricks about the best ways you can get the thyme off the stem then we have an article for you. Find it here, Best Way To Get Thyme Of Stem.
Does Thyme Go Bad
Thyme can absolutely go bad and it can go quick as well if it’s not correctly stored. What we have discovered during the years of growing thyme is that they are very susceptible to moisture. This is why we want to minimize that exposure as much as possible. This will keep it healthier a lot longer.
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The best type of storage for picked and fresh thyme is a dry container with a lid to it. This will keep it safe for the longest. Leave a piece of kitchen paper in the container to sukc up all the moisture and water that might sneak into the box. Leaving the thyme like this will keep it for many weeks.
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But how can you see if the thyme is starting to go bad? You will need to look at the outline of the leaves. They should still be fresh and green for them to be nice to use. if they are starting to go brown then you probably shouldn’t use them. They wouldn’t harm you using them in a stew or soup. But they won’t exactly add a lot of flavor to it.
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What can you then do with the thyme that has gone bad? Well, it sort of depends on what type of bad. If they just dried up then they can go in the compost. If they are instead moldy then you will need to toss them in the trash. They should not go in the compost. Even though there are a lot of bacteria there, we don’t want to introduce mold bacteria to the mix.
Can You Use Expired Thymes?
Is it a good idea to use expired thyme? If it’s fresh then it will depend. If they are still green and smell of thyme then they are probably fine to use. Have they started going brown then you should probably toss them.
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In the case of dried thyme then expired ones can probably also be used. If they are many many years old then they will not taste a lot. But unless they haven’t been exposed to a bunch of moisture or whatnot during the years then you can use them. But since it’s very cheap to go and get some new thyme then we suggest doing that. They will taste better and that is what it’s all about.
Does Fresh Thyme Go Bad If Not Refrigerated?
Yes they will go bad. They will go bad a lot slower if you keep them in the refrigerator however. Outside they might last for a week before drying up and losing that freshness to them. They won’t go bad but will taste like the dried ones you buy at the store.
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Keeping them in the fridge will make them viable for almost 4 weeks in total. So you can clearly see the benefit of having them in there instead.
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Let’s summarize a little bit of what we have been talking about here. Thyme can definitely go bad. The best way to know is to smell the thyme and also look at the thyme. If they start to go brown or smell sour then you shouldn’t use them. Proper storage can keep them good for up to 4 weeks without any problems.
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If you want to read an article that only talks about keeping the thyme in the fridge then we are the perfect one for you. Find it here, How Long Does Thyme Last In The Fridge.
