Do fresh herbs have properties that dried herbs do not?

I previously asked a question on if fresh chilli peppers have properties that ground/dried chlli peppers do not and the answer was the latter would have no oils, aroma, vitamin c etc.
What about the case for fresh vs dried herbs such as parsley, tyme, oregano. Do they have oils, aromas any other properties that are lost when using them dried?
Best Answer
The answer is the same for herbs as you got for chili - you lose vitamins (not that you will get much from the amount of herbs usually used in cooking anyway) and some volatile compounds, which are the bits that make the flavors. In general you can expect to use about 2-3 times as much fresh herb as you would dried to get the same level of flavoring in a dish. Note that this amount of dried herb is equivalent to a larger amount of fresh herb as dried has shrunk as it lost water.
The degree to which the herb loses flavor when dried varies depending on the species of herb and most likely is a function of which aromatic compounds are present (i.e. how volatile they are) and how easy it is for them to escape the leaf (toughness of leaf). Some herbs, like sage and oregano, hold their flavor fairly well, while others, like basil and cilantro/coriander, lose their flavor very rapidly and should only be used fresh.
In my experience, if you are only able to get dried herbs, only get those that are whole leaf or crumbled. Do not get the powder ones, as these lose flavor very rapidly, indeed by the time they get to the store they are often almost flavorless. The same principle applies to spices too - whole is better than ground for storage and retention of flavor.
There are some herbs, like bay-leaf, that are best dried as it concentrates the flavor, but these are a rarity. This doesn't appear to be the case for spices, which are generally dried before use, but this may have something to do with many of the spices only growing in tropical areas and needing drying for storage while shipping rather than fresh spices not being good for cooking.
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Quick Answer about "Do fresh herbs have properties that dried herbs do not?"
Certain herbs are always better fresh and lose their distinctive flavor when dried. Delicate, leafy herbs like parsley, tarragon, and chives are always superior when fresh, and should typically be avoided when dried since they don't add much flavor to a dish. They're also best when raw or cooked for just a few minutes.Are dried herbs just as good as fresh herbs?
While you can use fresh herbs, after cooking them for 10 minutes or longer, the natural oils that make the herbs taste fresh are released. This means that even if fresh herbs are used, they will have the same impact as dried ones. In stovetop recipes, dried herbs generally work the same, or better than fresh herbs.Do herbs lose potency when dried?
Dried herbs have a shelf life of about a year. They do not technically \u201cgo bad,\u201d but they do lose their potency over time.Are fresh herbs more nutritious than dried?
When it comes to vitamin content, fresh herbs are better. Despite this, both fresh and dried herbs are naturally high in antioxidants. Whether you're cooking with a tablespoon of fresh herbs or a teaspoon or dried herbs, both will contain some nutritional value.Never Use an Oven or Dehydrator to Dry Herbs Again With This Century Old Method
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
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