What if your recipe calls for fresh herbs, but all you have is dried herbs? Find out how to substitute dried herbs for fresh herbs and get a free printable.
Can I Use Dried Herbs Instead of Fresh Herbs?
{As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.}
I love cooking with fresh herbs. But it’s not always possible. Fresh herbs don’t stay good as long as dried herbs, and I can’t always find the fresh herbs I need at the grocery store. So I keep a well-stocked spice cabinet with a supply of dried herbs. But when the recipe calls for fresh herbs, how much of the dried herbs should you use instead?
How to Substitute Dried Herbs for Fresh Herbs
Dried herbs have a more powerful flavor than fresh herbs because the flavor is concentrated in a smaller package, so to speak. So you can use less of a dried herb in place of a fresh herb.
The basic conversion is pretty simple. If a recipe calls for fresh herbs, you want to use 1/3 of that amount in dried herbs. So if your recipe calls for 1 Tablespoon of fresh parsley, you can substitute with 1 teaspoon of dried parsley.
But it’s not so easy to measure 2/3 or 1/3 of a teaspoon if you need a different amount. (Why don’t they make that size measuring spoon, anyway?) You can refer to the image below to see different substitution amounts.
Free Printable for How to Substitute Dried Herbs for Fresh Herbs
Do you want a printable version of this chart to keep in your kitchen for fast reference? Click here to download your free printable.
Can I Use Fresh Herbs Instead of Dried Herbs?
Of course you can! Just do the conversion in the opposite direction. If the recipe calls for 1 teaspoon of dried basil, then use 1 Tablespoon of fresh basil. That’s it!
If you love cooking with fresh herbs like I do, here are some storage solutions you might like:
These herb scissors will make prepping fresh herbs fast and easy.
And this Stainless Steel Magnetic Spice Rack from Pro Chef Kitchen Tools will keep your favorite dried herbs at your fingertips. These long and skinny measuring spoons will fit in any size spice jar.
Enjoy!
3 Ways to Take the Fear Out of Your Kitchen
- How Do I Convert Kitchen Measurements? – free printable
- Which Measuring Cup Should I Use?
- How to Store Fresh Produce
3 Recipes to Try
Hi Mary Beth,
Thanks for this information. I was never really sure about the fresh or dried herbs ratio was. It is sometimes hard to find fresh herbs in the Winter. Twitted & Pinned. Congratulations on being featured on Homestead blog hop.
Thank you for this awesome reference! We have featured you on this week’s Homestead Blog Hop 🙂
Thank you!!
Thanks for stopping by!
What a wonderful resource on substitute dried herbs for fresh herbs. I kept all the resources you mentioned and I am sure all are very good. So thanks a lot Marybeth for sharing this great content for us:)
Thank you so much, Lydia!