How to Harvest and Store Rosemary

In centuries past, people used sprigs of rosemary to aid memory, ensure good luck at weddings and ward off evildoers. Today it works its magic in kitchens around the world.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Drying Screens Or Racks
• Baskets
• Garden Shears
• Gardening Gloves
• Olive (not Virgin) Oil
• Unsalted Butters
• Cookie Sheets
• Glass Storage Jars
• Ice Cube Trays
• Kitchen Knives
• Plastic Containers
• Plastic Storage Bags
• Twine
• Twine
• Cookie sheets
• Baskets

1. 

   Clip individual rosemary leaves or stem tips, as needed.

2. 

   Keep fresh rosemary in plastic bags in the refrigerator.

3. 

   Retain maximum flavor by freezing rosemary. Either freeze entire branches on cookie sheets, then strip the leaves from the stems and put them back into the freezer in plastic containers; or mix finely chopped rosemary leaves with just enough olive oil or butter to bind them together, and freeze the mixture in ice cube trays.

4. 

   Store rosemary for longer periods by hanging bundles of stems to dry in a dark, warm, dry place. Keep dried rosemary leaves in airtight containers.

Tips & Warnings

• All herbs get their flavor and aroma from volatile oils, but rosemary's oils are even more fleeting than most. Pick rosemary in the morning, after the dew has dried on the leaves but before the temperature rises.
• Though frozen rosemary tastes better than the dried form, it appears limp and unattractive. Use it in stews, casseroles and other dishes when taste matters more than beauty.