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Dried or Fresh Herbs?

By
Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Platinum

herbs

 

 

Many times my market is hit or miss on fresh herbs.  I know many of you are probably looking for a good rule of thumb for using dried instead of fresh....

In general, use one-third of dried herbs to replace chopped fresh.  So, if a recipe calls for 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme, use 1 teaspoon dried. 

To release the most flavor, add dried herbs towards the beginning of cooking.  One caveat:  Cilantro, basil and parsley are so tender and delicate, they lose their flavor when dried.  If you don't have these fresh leaves on hand, just omit them and add more salt and pepper for flavor. 

Posted by

 GIVING BACK WITH EACH HOME SOLD!

 

Kristin Johnston

Realtor, ABR, EPRO

RE/MAX Platinum

414 254 6647

kjohnston5@wi.rr.com

 

 

 

Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Hi Kristen,  You are right about the parsley, I use fresh in lots of recipes.  Have a great day,  Go Packers!

Oct 23, 2011 03:26 AM
Kristine Ginsberg
Elite Staging and Redesign, LLC - Short Hills, NJ
NJ Home Stager

Kristin - first I love your photo! Who knew fresh herbs could make such a pretty picture?! I didn't know about basil, cilantro and parsley - thanks for the tip! This winter I'm bringing my basil plant inside and try to keep it alive on the windowsill for the wonderful aroma and to cook with.

Oct 23, 2011 03:28 AM
Kristin Johnston - REALTOR®
RE/MAX Platinum - Waukesha, WI
Giving Back With Each Home Sold!

Go packers indeed Will!!!

Kristine, i really need to do my own herbs too!

Oct 23, 2011 03:29 AM
Sharon Lee
Sharon Lee's Virtual Assistance - Jonesborough, TN
Retired and loving life

Kristin-Great advice on the herbs, You find the healthiest stuff,

Oct 23, 2011 03:38 AM
Cindy Edwards
RE/MAX Checkmate - Johnson City, TN
CRS, GRI, PMN - Northeast Tennessee 423-677-6677

Hi Kristin,

I love fresh herbs.  I am in the process of having a greenhouse built on my property.  My plan is to have a year round herb garden.  I don't really have a green thumb and have to work hard at it.  I don't like doing it in the house because I end up with a huge mess and stress over it.  (hmmm...no green thumb)  So, I'm excited about my greenhouse..outside!

Oct 23, 2011 03:50 AM
Kristin Johnston - REALTOR®
RE/MAX Platinum - Waukesha, WI
Giving Back With Each Home Sold!

Thanks Sharon!

Cindy, that is cool...I cant wait to hear about your greenhouse and see pix!

Oct 23, 2011 03:58 AM
Connie Goodrich
Keller Williams Realty - McKinney, TX
CRS ABR (McKinney Realtor)Texas

Never can go wrong with fresh, just lifts and is the best!  Love when you snap off the leaves and the fresh scent hits the air too. 

Oct 23, 2011 04:38 AM
Kevin J. May
Florida Supreme Realty - Hobe Sound, FL
Serving the Treasure & Paradise Coasts of Florida

Dried always seems lackluster in comparison to fresh.  Maybe the conversion factor you shared will do the trick.  So surprised that it has not been noticed or observed by me before.  Thank You Kristin!

Oct 23, 2011 05:03 AM
Dick Greenberg
New Paradigm Partners LLC - Fort Collins, CO
Northern Colorado Residential Real Estate

Hi Kristin - While I usually prefer fresh herbs, when I have to use dry ones, I always give them a quick grind with a small mortar and pestle - I does a very good job releasing their flavor.

Oct 23, 2011 06:56 AM
Kristin Johnston - REALTOR®
RE/MAX Platinum - Waukesha, WI
Giving Back With Each Home Sold!

I love that too Connie!

KEvin, you are most welcome!

Dick, that is a great tip!!

Oct 23, 2011 07:33 AM
Toni Weidman
Sailwinds Realty - Trinity, FL
20+ Years Selling Homes in New Port Richey, FL

Kristin- I love the picture! And, I love fresh herbs. We keep a basil plant on the porch all the time and just replace it when it runs out of leaves :)

Oct 24, 2011 01:47 AM
Not a real person
San Diego, CA

Monday is my Happiness Day.
I visit as many blog posts as I can during the day
and spread happiness, which means I probably didn’t read this post.
I just stopped by to spread some happiness.
Feel free to delete this comment if it doesn’t make you happy.

Happy Monday!

Oct 24, 2011 02:20 AM
Kristin Johnston - REALTOR®
RE/MAX Platinum - Waukesha, WI
Giving Back With Each Home Sold!

Toni, do you know I went to 3 different stores last week trying to find basil and all were out! guess I really gotta make my own!

 

Thanks Russel

 

 

Oct 24, 2011 02:48 AM
Laura S. Baker
First Weber Inc - Lake Mills, WI
Realtor (920) 728-4118, First Weber Inc

Is there anything better than fresh?  YUM!!! Kristin, thanks for another wonderful tip.  I never seemed to get the ratio right with the dried. 

Oct 24, 2011 08:17 AM
Kristin Johnston - REALTOR®
RE/MAX Platinum - Waukesha, WI
Giving Back With Each Home Sold!

Laura, love the photo...thanks for commenting!

Oct 24, 2011 08:54 AM
Renée Donohue~Home Photography
Savvy Home Pix - Allegan, MI
Western Michigan Real Estate Photographer

Fresh cilantro is definitely something you can't replace with dried!  We use so much of this with our cooking in the southwest!

Oct 25, 2011 04:03 AM
Cara Marcelle Mancuso
Golden Girls with SW Desert Homes - Tucson, AZ
Call a Marana neighbor, I'm THERE!

I love the photos.  I've recently been using some freeze-dried herbs in glass jars which have more flavor than the "dust" in the spice container cans...I've tried to grow herbs but they just turn black and die.  Not enough sunlight perhaps, as I don't have a kitchen window.

Oct 25, 2011 04:08 AM
Kristin Johnston - REALTOR®
RE/MAX Platinum - Waukesha, WI
Giving Back With Each Home Sold!

Renee, I agree!  It is one of my favorites!

Cara, I totally agree with your "dust" comment too!

Oct 25, 2011 04:11 AM
David Popoff
DMK Real Estate - Darien, CT
Realtor®,SRS, Green ~ Fairfield County, Ct

During the summer months we use fresh herbs from the garden but alas now that it is cold we use our home made dried herbs and some store bought, keep on cookin'

Nov 17, 2011 06:31 AM
Kristin Johnston - REALTOR®
RE/MAX Platinum - Waukesha, WI
Giving Back With Each Home Sold!

Sounds great David!

Dec 03, 2011 08:45 AM