That’s a great question, and one we’ve all found ourselves asking at one point or another. With much of the country still embraced by cold weather and a whole lotta social distancing going on now is the perfect time to get acquainted with dried herbs.
Dried herbs can be more potent than fresh herbs (unless they’ve been sitting in your spice drawer for 5 years). This means you need fewer dried herbs than fresh when substituting one for the other.
A good rule of thumb is 1 tablespoon fresh herbs = 1 teaspoon dried herbs.
Some herbs season better than others in their dried form – dill, thyme, and sage among them.
Others are better only used when fresh: Parsley, I’m looking at you! Dried parsley is a mere whisper of its former self. When you can, it’s best to use fresh parsley and skip the dried version. I will also say, I have yet to find a dried basil that evokes the same sweet taste and bright flavor profile of fresh basil.
For the most part, dried herbs are an affordable and convenient way to add flavor to many dishes. Dried herbs work best in cooked applications, marinades, dressing and anything you might want to freeze for later, but when it comes to salads fresh is always the way to go.
Hope that helps!
~ Summer, Senior Editor and eater of all the things
More Herb Inspiration
How to Store Fresh Herbs so They Last Longer Potato Herb Tart Herb Stuffed Roast Chicken Garlic Herb Steak Bites Herbed Turkey Burger
P.S. Have a question you’d like answered? Email us at contact@simplyrecipes.com.
