How to Dry Rosemary
Fresh herbs and spices are sometimes not available. Using dried herbs such as rosemary can add a dash of flavor at any time of the year. The process of drying rosemary will only take a few minutes and can help with other home-grown herbs as well. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Fresh rosemary
- Garden shears
- Water
- Cotton kitchen string
- Scissors
- Plastic clothing hanger
- Glass Jar
Instructions
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How to Dry Fresh Rosemary
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1
Snip sections of rosemary 5 to 6 inches in length in the early morning. Each bunch of rosemary will consist of eight lengths bundled together, so cut as many pieces as necessary. Take the rosemary stems inside and rinse to ensure that your herbs are free from insects and dirt particles.
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2
Cut a 12-inch length of cotton string for each bundle that you will be making. Hold eight stems of rosemary together at one end and tightly bind them with a basic knot using the cotton string. This knot should be close to one end of the length of string, and similar to a knot you would tie a shoe with. Repeat this tying of bundles for each bunch of rosemary that you will be drying.
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3
Hang each bunch of rosemary over a clean plastic clothing hanger. The extra length of string may be used to tie bunches to the hanger, or the rosemary may simply be draped half over the hanger. Place the herbs attached to the hanger in a dark place such as a closet. Do not crush the herbs in an effort to overcrowd the drying area.
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4
Leave the rosemary in dark to dry for 4 weeks. Remove from the hanger from the closet and lay it on a flat surface. Untie each bunch from the hanger and discard the cotton string.
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5
Remove all rosemary leaves by pulling them off the stem in the opposite direction of their growth. The leaves should fall from the stem, and the stem should then be discarded. Place the dried rosemary leaves in an airtight jar for use at a later time.
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Tips & Warnings
Wearing gloves while removing the dried leaves may be more comfortable than using your bare hands.
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