Storing Rosemary: 5 Ways to Store It

Do you have aromatic plants in your vegetable garden and would you like to be able to enjoy them all year round, even in winter? Rest assured, there are many types of conservation!

Today, URBAN CUISINE offers you 5 ways to keep your Rosemary for several months or even a whole year!

Why grow Rosemary?

Rosemary , from its Latin name Salvia rosmarinus, is an aromatic herb that brings a camphorated scent and a slightly spicy taste .

Like thyme and parsley , this aromatic plant is used in many diverse and varied recipes. Indeed, it is used both to add flavor to a grill and to flavor desserts, whether in summer or winter!

If you don't know what recipe to make with your Rosemary, don't hesitate to consult all our recipes on our blog!

Drying Rosemary: tips and advice

To keep your Rosemary, you can simply air dry it !

The first step is of course to pick the stems and leaves of Rosemary . To harvest your Romain, all you need to do is cut the stems cleanly using a pair of scissors. Rosemary leaves are ready to harvest a few weeks after planting.

The second step is to rinse the rosemary stems in cold water. All you have to do is put all the strands on a plate and let them dry. You can use paper towels for faster drying.

The third step is to separate the lower leaves from the bottom of the strands. It will be necessary to leave enough space to be able to make bouquets of Rosemary. Using a string or an elastic band, you can make small bouquets of Rosemary, each composed of a few stems.

The fourth is to hang your rosemary bouquets. We advise you to place them in a dark and dry room, or even a closet. Care must be taken not to expose the Rosemary to the sun.

The fifth step is to monitor the condition of your Rosemary. The Rosemary will be ready to eat if it begins to crumble slightly when you touch it. The drying period can extend to several months. It is therefore essential to regularly check the condition of your Rosemary bouquets.

Finally, when your Rosemary has finished its drying period, you can put the aromatic herb in containers such as jars. The Rosemary can then be stored for more than a year.

The steps to dry Rosemary in an oven

1. The first step is to pick the stems of Rosemary using a pair of scissors.
2. The second step is to rinse your plant . It will have to be run under cold water before drying it quickly with a paper towel. All you have to do is leave the Rosemary in the open air to dry completely.
3. The third step is to place the rosemary stalks on a baking sheet. The plate should be covered with baking paper. Your sprigs of Rosemary should be sufficiently spaced on the plate.
4. The fourth step is to turn on your oven . To dry your Rosemary without burning it, you will need to set your oven to a low temperature. You will need to bake your Rosemary for 30 minutes.
5. The fifth step is to let the Rosemary stems and leaves dry after taking them out of the oven. You can either leave the sprigs whole or separate the leaves from the stems.
6. The sixth step is to pot the Rosemary . First of all, you have to make sure that the Rosemary is very dry and not yet a little hot. You will need to store it in an airtight container such as a jar or plastic bag. You can keep it for at least a year.

Steps to Store Rosemary in the Fridge

1. The first step is to harvest the Rosemary . The stems can be cut cleanly with a pair of scissors when the leaves begin to crumble.
2. The second step is to clean the strands . All you have to do is run the aromatic plant under cold water. You will need to lay the strands on absorbent paper to dry it.
3. The third step is to put all the strands in an airtight plastic container like a bag or box. Hermeticity protects the aromatic from oxygen and thus prevents it from rotating.
4. The fourth step is to put the container in the refrigerator. Your aromatic herb can be stored for about two weeks . As soon as Rosemary turns brown, it should no longer be consumed.

How to freeze Rosemary? The steps to follow:

Preservation by freezing is the last technique that we invite you to discover. This method will allow you to keep your Rosemary for a whole year.

1. The first step is to rinse the rosemary sprigs directly after picking them. You will need to pass them under cold water before drying them with paper towels or a salad spinner.
2. The second step is to simply lay the Rosemary flat . You can use a large dish or a baking sheet. Care must be taken that the strands do not touch each other.
3. The third step is to freeze your aromatic plant . You will simply have to put your plate or dish in the freezer for a few hours. The Rosemary will be completely frozen when the leaves cannot be folded.
4. The fourth step is to put all the frozen strands in a freezer bag. You can keep your Rosemary in the freezer for several months or even a year. When stems or leaves begin to turn brown, your herb can no longer be eaten.

How to freeze Rosemary in oil?

The first step is to wash the sprigs of your aromatic plant with cold water. They should then be dried with paper towel or a salad spinner. When the plant is dry, you will have to chisel it.

The second step is to place your chopped Rosemary in compartments of an ice cube tray. All you need to do is place a handful of chopped herbs in each compartment. If you don't have an ice cube tray, you can just as easily use small silicone molds.

The third step is to fill the ice cube tray with oil. All you need to do is cover all of the herbs with oil. You can use all kinds of oil: olive, walnut, etc.

The fourth step is to put the ice cube tray in the freezer. Rosemary ice cubes can be stored for at least 6 months in the freezer. They can be used in the preparation of many dishes.

All you have to do is adopt the means of preservation you prefer! You will be able to enjoy Rosemary all year round and enhance all your dishes!
Properly storing aromatic herbs begins with a successful leaf harvest!