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Aromatic and flavorful, rosemary is one of the sturdiest and most popular herbs. Unlike many other herbs, rosemary loses little of its flavor when dried, which makes it a great choice for drying and storing at home. Drying rosemary is very easy to do, and will ensure that you have plenty of this aromatic herb at hand for use in your favorite dishes. Dried sprigs of rosemary are also a lovely, aromatic decoration.
Steps
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Use scissors to snip sprigs of rosemary off the plant. The best time to harvest your rosemary is in the morning, after the sun has dried away any nighttime dew.- Your rosemary plant
will bush out with vigorous growth from the places where you pinched or snipped it.
- Try to snip straight sprigs, all about the same length, for easier bundling.
- Your rosemary plant
will bush out with vigorous growth from the places where you pinched or snipped it.
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Tie the sprigs into bundles, wrapping twine around the bases of the sprigs. Leave a loop on the twine bundle to make hanging your rosemary sprigs easier.- Alternatively, you can use rubber bands to secure your rosemary bundles.
- You can combine up to eight sprigs of rosemary per bundle.
Advertisement - Alternatively, you can use rubber bands to secure your rosemary bundles.
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Hang the rosemary sprigs in a cool, dry and well-ventilated place to dry. Although you can dry your rosemary outdoors, the National Center for Home Food Preservation recommends drying rosemary indoors for the best color and flavor.- Your porch, attic, or storage cupboard are all good drying options. You can try hanging the rosemary bundles from a clothes hanger, if this is more convenient.
- Some people also recommend covering your rosemary with brown paper bags as it dries. This prevents any dust from settling on the rosemary as it dries and also stops any sunlight from bleaching out the color. Just be sure to tear holes in the paper bags to keep the rosemary well ventilated.
- Your porch, attic, or storage cupboard are all good drying options. You can try hanging the rosemary bundles from a clothes hanger, if this is more convenient.
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Turn the drying rosemary sprigs every day or two to ensure even drying. You'll know the rosemary is dry when all traces of pliability are gone from both stems and leaves. This should take approximately two weeks. [1] X Research source- You can also spread your rosemary sprigs or bundles on a flat or slanted window screen, elevated on cinder blocks or wooden blocks, for the best air circulation as they dry.
- You won't be able to hang-dry rosemary sprigs in a humid environment, so you may need to dry your rosemary in the oven or in a food dehydrator.
- You can also spread your rosemary sprigs or bundles on a flat or slanted window screen, elevated on cinder blocks or wooden blocks, for the best air circulation as they dry.
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Store the dried rosemary. Once the rosemary has completely dried, place it on a sheet of waxed paper and separate the tough, woody stems from the leaves. Store in an air-tight container in your kitchen cupboard. Use your dried rosemary in recipes such as lamb roasts and stews , garlic and herb bread, and rosemary-infused oil and butter.
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Prepare the rosemary. Rinse the rosemary well in cold water to remove any remaining dirt or debris. Pat dry with paper towel or use a salad spinner to remove moisture. Pick off any withered leaves or woody stems. -
Spread the rosemary on a baking sheet. Place the rosemary - cut into 1 ⁄ 4 inch (0.6 cm) sprigs - onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Do not overcrowd. -
Place in the oven. Place the baking sheet onto the top shelf of an oven preheated to the lowest temperature. [2] X Research source Leave to bake for 2 - 4 hours, until the stems of the rosemary are brittle. -
Transfer the rosemary to a storage jar. Once out of the oven, leave the rosemary to cool completely. Gather up the edges of the parchment paper to form a funnel and slide the dried rosemary into a clean glass jar. Seal the jar tightly and store in a dry, dark place, such as your kitchen cupboard.
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Prepare the rosemary. [3] X Research source Rinse the rosemary and shake or blot it dry, or use a salad spinner to remove excess moisture. -
Spread the rosemary onto dehydrator trays. Run the dehydrator at a low heat setting (between 95 and 105 degrees Fahrenheit, or 35 and 40.5 degrees Celsius) until the rosemary stems break when bent.- Herbs that are more delicate crumble when dry, but rosemary leaves are more likely to break, much like the stems.
- The exact amount of time it takes to dry rosemary using this method will vary, but on average, it takes about 6 to 8 hours at 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius). [4] X Research source
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Store in a clean, glass jar. Transfer the dried rosemary to a clean, glass jar and seal tightly. Store in a dry, dark cupboard.
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Community Q&A
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QuestionCan I fine grind rosemary to pour like salt?Community AnswerYes, though you may want a grinder or stone grinder. It would take a lot of time and effort, but it's possible.
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QuestionHow long will the dried rosemary last?CahnnyCommunity AnswerI dry rosemary every summer. I store mine in small dark glass jars and keep them in a drawer in my kitchen far away from the stove or any heat source. I keep mine for a year, and it stays perfectly fresh.
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QuestionCan you use rosemary that dried on the branches after being in a vase of water?Community AnswerProvided it is clean and dust-free, this is perfectly fine to use. If you're not sure whether or not it's clean, give it a quick tinkle under a gently dripping tap, then leave to dry again in sunlight, such as on a dish rack in the windowsill.
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Tips
- If you don't have access to a food dehydrator or the appropriate drying environment, you can also preserve fresh rosemary by freezing it. [5] X Research source Wash and shake, blot or spin the sprigs dry, then freeze in plastic bags. Once the rosemary is thoroughly frozen you can pick the leaves off the stems and package them in a mason jar, vacuum packer or any other well-sealed container.Thanks
- Rosemary has a number of uses. It's excellent seasoning for pork, chicken, fish and seafood. Rosemary is astringent, so you can add it to steaming-hot water and use it for a facial steam treatment . The evergreen smell is invigorating, so add several rosemary sprigs to a hot bath for a quick pick-me-up. Rosemary tea is also considered to stimulate mood and circulation, and soothe the nervous system. [6] X Research sourceThanks
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Things You'll Need
- Scissors
- Twine or string
- Brown paper bags (optional)
- Food dehydrator
- Baking sheets
- Parchment paper
- Clean, air-tight containers or glass jars
References
- ↑ https://www.gettystewart.com/how-to-cut-and-dry-rosemary/
- ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/4-ways-to-preserve-fresh-rosemary-221277
- ↑ https://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/how-to-dry-rosemary-step-by-step-article
- ↑ https://momwithaprep.com/how-to-dehydrate-rosemary/
- ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/4-ways-to-preserve-fresh-rosemary-221277
- ↑ https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/266370.php
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=860I7IBu_cc
- https://momwithaprep.com/how-to-dehydrate-rosemary/
- https://www.kalynskitchen.com/2006/08/how-to-freeze-fresh-herbs-rosemary-and.html
About This Article
Article Summary
X
To dry rosemary, start by snipping sprigs off the plant that are approximately the same length so that you can bundle them together efficiently. Next, separate the sprigs in groups of 8 to create small bundles. Then, wrap twine or rubber bands around the bases of the sprigs to hold the bundles together. Finally, hang the sprigs indoors in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated area for about 2 weeks, turning the sprigs every 1-2 days to ensure even drying. For tips on using your oven for faster drying, read on!
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Reader Success Stories
- "Each step of the process was broken down, explained, and there were enough pictures so you could also see how it was done. It showed several methods that you could use to dry the herb and very importantly, the question and answer section was very helpful." ..." more
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"Each step of the process was broken down, explained, and there were enough pictures so you could also see how it was done. It showed several methods that you could use to dry the herb and very importantly, the question and answer section was very helpful."
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"Each step was helpful. Some I hung in my kitchen for two weeks, some I put in vase. I am about to remove leaves & put them in mason jars with ribbon on them. I am hoping to give as hostess & Christmas gifts. I will try to send some pictures."
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"I like this method because it's simple and beautiful. I just wish I didn't have to have it in a paper bag. It's so beautiful and smells so good. I will enjoy using my rosemary. Thank you."
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"I wanted to know if I could rinse and dry the rosemary. The article showed me just what to do, and also told me I was able to dry it in the oven on the lowest setting. Thanks a lot."
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"I have never grown rosemary before. I wanted to find a way to preserve and keep this beautiful plant. Thank you."
