Last Updated on 17th December 2021 by
Why buy rosemary in the store and pay money for sad-looking herbs when you can grow it yourself? Then, you can dry the rosemary to use in your own foods, adding some flavour, a wonderful aroma, and some colour to a variety of dishes.
How do you dry rosemary? I want to show you my method so you can do it yourself and know how to get the best-tasting herbs that are packed with flavour and that are fresh. How you dry herbs make a difference in how they taste and how the texture comes out. Just storing the rosemary for awhile may seem straightforward, but you could end up with rosemary that goes bad and that has lost its freshness.
It would be a shame to lose your entire rosemary crop. I compare not storing herbs properly to stop storing coffee properly. Did you know that if you don’t store coffee in an airtight container away from sunlight that it will also its flavour? Have you ever tried to drink a cup of coffee that was just too bitter and lacked flavour profile? That was because it was stored improperly.
You can have the same problem with rosemary, as it can go bad, lose its freshness, and lose its flavour when it isn’t stored the way it should be. So, I want to share with you how do you dry fresh rosemary and keep it tasting great.
Bake the Rosemary
My favourite way to dry out rosemary is to bake it. It’s simple and super fast, and I love the smell the rosemary makes as it is baking. If you need rosemary quickly and don’t want to use other methods that take longer or require so much work, then baking is the way to go.
To bake your rosemary, you just need to rinse and dry it first. To bake it, use a very low heat. You want to dry them slowly but not burn them. To cook it in the
How do you tell if the rosemary is dried enough? When it is dry, the needles will detach easily from the sprigs. After the rosemary dries, you can separate your sprigs and stems. Store your leaves in the fridge until you are ready to use them.
Use the Dehydrator
How do you dry rosemary and thyme in a dehydrator? You can take your garden herbs out of the garden and place them into a dehydrator for a very effective drying method. This method doesn’t take long and can be even shorter than the
To prepare your rosemary, you need to do the same thing you did with it for the
How do you dry rosemary in the dehydrator? Most people can put them in a dehydrator at a temperature of about 95 degrees Fahrenheit. For those in very humid areas, 125 degrees Fahrenheit might be more appropriate. How long does the rosemary take to dehydrate fully? It will need to stay in there for anywhere from one to four hours. Check back on the rosemary to see if the needles are falling off like they should be.
Once the dehydrator has done its job, you can detach the springs from the stems, then keep the rosemary stored in an airtight container.
Hang Them out to Dry
How do you dry out rosemary if you don’t have a dehydrator? Well, other than the
Once again, rinse the rosemary and dry it out. You can use paper towels for drying, and you should be gentle so you don’t damage your rosemary. Then, tie the sprigs into bundles at the base. You can use rubber bands or string.
You probably have plenty of great places to hang them in your home. Anywhere that is well ventilated will work, and you can hang them indoors or outdoors. You can hang them by an open window, under the eaves of the house, or anywhere else that is out of the way and where they will not get rained on.
How do you dry out fresh rosemary in your home, and how long does it take? This is definitely the lengthiest way to dry rosemary out, but it is simple as well.
The rosemary bundles will need to hang for about two weeks to get fully dry, and your time may vary based on where you live and what the humidity conditions are like. In that time, you need to keep the rosemary protected from dust and from pests. How do you dry rosemary in your house and keep it safe from them?
You will need to cover the rosemary with a ventilated paper bag or some other covering. This lets in heat but keeps out what you don’t want on it.
Check on your hanging rosemary every so often to ensure that they are not getting damaged by the sun and are not becoming mouldy. Once the needle falls off and becomes brittle, the rosemary is ready to take down and store. Once again, just take off the stems from the sprigs and place the leaves in a container that won’t let in any air.
Using Your Rosemary
Rosemary is a great seasoning for soups, salads, fish, stews, tea, and veggies. It can be used as a garnish or seasoning, and I love the little bit of green colour it adds to foods.
Rosemary is fragrant but can be potent, so be sure to use it sparingly. If you store it properly, it can last for years, staying fresh and flavourful. To keep it fresh, make sure the container stays airtight and is stored in a cool dry place, away from direct sunlight.
I'm Pauline, a mother of four grown children, my passion for cooking stemmed from the joy i get cooking for my family. I love to try new dishes, especially when dining out but creating and sharing my own recipes is my favourite thing to do!
