Can You Freeze Rosemary?

Last updated on September 16th, 2022 at 12:08 pm

Rosemary is an evergreen herb which is very fragrant. It is often used in perfumes and cooking. Rosemary is a part of the mint family. It is fairly easy to grow in your own garden. Once it is time to harvest your rosemary will you be able to freeze it? 

Rosemary, like many other fresh herbs, can be kept in the freezer. However it is important to put it inside of freezer bags and remove as much air as possible. 

You can use other freezer containers (besides bags) but for most people bags will take up the least amount of space which is often at a premium in the freezer. 

In the rest of this article I will be going into more detail about how to freeze rosemary properly.

What’s The Best Way To Freeze Rosemary?

There are a few different ways that you can freeze rosemary to retain its freshness but is one way better than another? There is no best way to freeze rosemary, as how you freeze it will depend on how you wish to use it. 

The first method to freeze rosemary is probably the easiest. In this method you will be freezing rosemary whole and on it’s branches. 

The only things you will need to freeze your rosemary whole are freezer safe Ziploc bags or containers and a baking sheet. 

The first thing you will need to do is to wash your rosemary while it is on the stem. Then allow the rosemary to dry. You can speed the drying process along by dabbing it with a paper towel. 

After the rosemary has dried completely you will then place it onto a baking sheet and put it in the freezer. You will want to make sure that the sprigs of rosemary are not touching each other while they are flash freezing. 

The flash freeze process will take anywhere between thirty minutes to an hour. 

Remove your sprigs of rosemary from the freezer and then place them into freezer safe plastic bags and remove all of the excess air. If you are concerned that your rosemary will be crushed in the freezer if it is placed in a plastic bag you could choose to use a freezer safe container. 

Label your bags or containers with the contents and the date. Rosemary may darken in the freezer but it will still retain its freshness. 

Rosemary can remain in the freezer for four months. 

Alternatively you can freeze rosemary in oil. You will want to make sure that you are using a good quality olive oil for this method. 

If you are planning to sprinkle rosemary into stews or other dishes then this method might work better for you than freezing whole sprigs of rosemary. 

First you will wash the rosemary. Once it has dried you will then remove the leaves from the stems. Once your rosemary has been separated from the twigs you will need to finely chop it. 

The finer you can get the rosemary the better it will be. 

Now, take some ice cube trays and fill each cavity about three quarters full with your diced rosemary. Once you have filled each cavity of the ice cube tray with rosemary you will then want to cover it with your olive oil. You don’t need to fill the cavities completely but you will want to cover your rosemary. 

Cover the ice cube trays with plastic cling wrap and place them into the freezer until they are frozen solid. This will take at least six hours so you might want to just leave them overnight. 

After your rosemary ice cubes are frozen, you will then need to remove them from the ice cube trays and place them into either a freezer safe container or freezer safe plastic bag. Rosemary will stay good in the freezer for four to six months. 

The wonderful thing about freezing rosemary is that you do not need to defrost it. When you are ready to use it all you need to do is take it straight from the freezer and toss it into whichever dish you are preparing.

How Do You Air Dry Rosemary?

There are three different ways that you can dry fresh rosemary to preserve it. The first thing you need to do before attempting to dry rosemary is to wash it first.

To wash your rosemary all you need to do is run it under cold water and then pat it dry with paper towels. Once you have washed your rosemary you are ready to dry it using one of the following methods. 

The first method for drying rosemary is the air dry method. This method will take between twelve and fourteen days. 

You will need to lay about eight sprigs of rosemary together, and have the sprigs all facing the same direction. Then secure the sprigs together with either a piece of cotton twine or a rubber band. 

Then you will hang your rosemary bundles in a dry, dark place for twelve to fourteen days. Some people will cover the springs of rosemary with a paper bag to keep dust and light off of them while they are drying. 

Once the rosemary is done drying (this process can take up to three weeks depending on the humidity levels in your house) you will then place it in an airtight container. 

You can also use your oven to dry fresh rosemary. To dry your rosemary in the oven you will need to preheat the oven to 175 degrees Fahrenheit, or whatever the lowest setting your oven will go to. 

Remove the leaves from the stems and place them in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake the rosemary for two to four hours. Once it is dry remove it from the oven and allow it to cool completely. Then place it in an airtight container. 

You can also use a dehydrator to dry rosemary if you have one handy. Drying rosemary with a dehydrator is fairly easy to do, especially if your dehydrator has a temperature setting. 

Place your rosemary stems in a single layer on your trays. Then set the dehydrator temperature to ninety-five degrees. This process will take twenty-four hours to dry your rosemary. 

Once the leaves crumble off of the stem your rosemary is done. Then you will want to place the dried leaves into an airtight container and label it.

Final Thoughts 

Now that you know how to freeze or dry your rosemary to preserve it for later use you can go ahead and stock up on it.