How to Store Fresh Rosemary

I always have more fresh rosemary on hand than I can use. My garden is overflowing with fresh rosemary. Here are a couple of ways you can store your fresh rosemary instead of throwing it out.

You basically have 3 options for storing your extra rosemary: refrigerate, freeze or dry.

Refrigerate Rosemary

If you plan on using your rosemary within 10 to 14 days, I suggest storing it in the refrigerator. Simply wrap the rosemary sprigs in a slightly damp paper towel, and then place it in a Ziploc bag or storage container. The rosemary should last 1 to 2 weeks this way.

Freeze Rosemary

If you don’t have any immediate plans to use your fresh rosemary, I recommend freezing it for later use. Rinse off the rosemary sprigs and let them completely dry.

Cut the rosemary sprigs into shorter manageable pieces, approximately 6 to 8 inches in length. Place the sprigs in a freezer-safe storage bag and put it in the freezer.

Alternatively, divide the rosemary into an ice cube tray, fill it with water and freeze it. Once it is frozen, transfer the rosemary ice cubes to a freezer-safe storage bag until ready for use. For the best results, use frozen rosemary within 4 to 6 months.

Dry Rosemary

Your last option is to dry the rosemary before storing it. Dried rosemary won’t be as aromatic as fresh rosemary but it lasts much longer than freezing or refrigerating.

To dry your rosemary, place the rosemary sprigs on a plate in a dry place and let stand for a few days.

Once they are completely dry, remove the leaves from the stems. You can store the rosemary leaves in a tightly sealed container or you can grind them into a powder with a mortar and pestle. Dried rosemary should last several years when properly stored.

Tired of spending money on herbs at your local grocery store? Check out this cool article on How to Grow and Blend Your Own Herbs at Home from our friends over at Porch.com.

I hope you found this tutorial on how to store fresh rosemary useful! For more useful tutorials, check out our How-To section. We recently published a bunch of Handy Kitchen Cheat Sheets you may want to take a look at.