Harvesting rosemary is straightforward, and one effective way to keep it for later use is by drying the sprigs.
Harvesting Rosemary
To harvest fresh rosemary from your plant:
- Snip off stems as required for immediate use.
- When harvesting larger quantities, take no more than 20% of your plant at any single time.
- Harvesting carefully also helps in allowing the plant to keep an attractive shape.
This ensures the plant remains healthy and continues to produce foliage.
Keeping Rosemary: Drying for Storage
One traditional and effective method for keeping rosemary for long-term use is drying.
Drying Steps:
- Gather freshly harvested rosemary sprigs.
- Hang up sprigs in a suitable location.
- The location should be warm, dark, and well-ventilated. This helps the leaves dry evenly and prevents mold.
- Allow the sprigs to hang until they are completely dry. You'll know they're ready when the leaves are brittle and easily strip from the stems.
Storage:
- Once the sprigs are completely dry, strip the whole leaves from the stems. Discard the woody stems.
- Store the dried rosemary leaves in airtight containers.
- Keep the containers in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight and humidity to maintain flavor and potency.
Dried rosemary can be used in cooking throughout the year, offering the same aromatic quality as fresh when properly stored.
Here's a quick summary of the process:
| Action | Method/Location | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Harvest | Snip stems | Max 20% at once |
| Dry | Hang sprigs | Warm, dark, airy |
| Store | Strip leaves, airtight container | Keep away from heat |
