When a recipe calls for fresh thyme, should the stem and all go in or should only the thyme leaves be used?

I found a wonderful recipe for Roman-style chicken which calls for fresh thyme. Once purchased, I found the thyme is on miniature branches, like rosemary. For those of you that you cook with fresh thyme, do you include the stems or do you remove the leaves from the stem and use only the leaves?
When a recipe calls for fresh thyme, should the stem and all go in or should only the thyme leaves be used?
Use just the leaves unless you are going to roast or braise with them with them, or use them in a sauce, then they are easier to pick out and you can add a few leaves later if extra flavor is needed.



To get the leaves off of the stem, hold it by the top of the stem with your left hand and with the thumb and index finger of your right hand pinch the stem just enough to cause friction. Pull towards the bottom of the stem. This will pull the leaves off of the thyme branch. It is the quickest and easiest process.



BTW - your fingers will turn dark green/black from this. Fun (not!)



Start your destemming! Have a great time!
Reply:Thyme steams are very woody, so you have to only use the leaves. It's a pain to get them all off, I know. I've had to do it A LOT.
Reply:If you are cooking at a low temp for a long time, then you can leave the thyme whole, the leaves will fall off, and all you have to do is pick out the stems. If you're cooking a saute', or a quick sauce, then stem the thyme and give it a quick chop. These are good guidelines for any recipe.
Reply:only the leaves, and a great trick, crush them before you put them in
Reply:Remove the leaves from the stem, discard the stems, only the delicate leaves should be used.
Reply:well the stems are not edible... so just use the leaves. But if it is a recipe where you're going to be braising the chicken you can just throw all of it in and in the cooking process the leaves will come off of the stems and you can remove the stems once its done.
Reply:don't put in stems because u could be poisoned!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...
Reply:Make it easy on yourself and buy dried thyme,,, that way you don't have to worry about it.
Reply:leaves only