Can You Freeze Rosemary?
How frequently do you adhere to a recipe that specifies a rosemary sprig? You visit your neighbourhood grocery, buy a package (since you can’t buy just one sprig), and then discard the other items.
What Is Rosemary?
The Mediterranean region is home to the perennial shrub known as rosemary. “Dew of the sea” is the meaning of its Latin name, Rosmarinus. Belonging to the Lamiaceae family, which includes the herb rosemary, is characterized by its unique woody branches with needle-like leaflets as well as its evergreen fragrance, which is preserved in the oil found in the herb’s dark-green needles.
How Can you Freeze Your Rosemary?
Two methods can be used to freeze rosemary. If you have the time, the best way to freeze rosemary is in ice cubes rather than full sprigs. Below is a discussion of both techniques:
- Flash Freeze: Carefully arrange your sprigs on a baking sheet, then freeze them. Keep your tray as level as possible.
- Carefully remove the dish after you cover the rosemary sprigs in ice for a few hours to store. Here, you need to use caution. You should take sprigs out of the tray and put them in a container. As there is a possibility that the rosemary will be crushed by other dishes, we advise against using a bag.
- Final Freeze: Put them back in the freezer, and try to finish them off within three months.
Now, you must go to the freezer and remove a sprig of rosemary anytime you need it for roasting potato or other vegetables.
How To Keep Rosemary Fresh
It is doubtful that you will utilize an entire bouquet of fresh rosemary in one dinner, whether you purchase it at the supermarket or gather it from your garden. Here are three ways to preserve just gathered rosemary:
1. Refrigerator: If properly packed, fresh rosemary stays in your refrigerator for at least 2 weeks before it starts to turn brown. To achieve this, wet a paper towel, then place two rosemary sprigs on top of it. Because of its hard, resinous nature, rosemary is a great choice for freezing. Of course, you may freeze rosemary leaves suspended in filtered water or olive oil in ice cube trays. As we demonstrated in our piece from last week on how to preserve parsley, you can also construct “herb roll-ups” by stuffing zip-lock bags with rosemary leaves, pressing out any extra air, and wrapping the bags from their bases to their top.
2. Freezer: Rosemary keeps nicely in the freezer since it is a cold-tolerant herb that can endure subfreezing temperatures. Squeeze out all the air before putting the rosemary sprigs in a container or freezer bag, or freeze the leaves in an ice tray with water or olive oil. To prevent the sprigs or leaves from sticking together in the freezer, think about quickly freezing them. To do this, spread the stems or leaves out in a thin layer on a baking sheet coated with parchment paper and place it in the freezer for a couple of hours. Put the sprigs in a sealed bag or freezer bag after they are completely frozen. It’s simple to use frozen rosemary in stews and marinades.
3. Drying: You can easily add dried rosemary to dishes to give them a fresh, earthy flavor. Fortunately, dry rosemary is a quick and efficient approach to increase the shelf life of the plant. Simply tie your rosemary sprigs together with some twine and hang them in a warm, dry location away from direct sunlight. To completely dry your herbs, you may also use a dehydrator or a low-temperature oven to dry your rosemary. When you dry rosemary, it keeps its taste, color, and texture natural, unlike more delicate herbs like parsley or basil. Additionally, drying it couldn’t be simpler. The three most popular techniques—air drying, oven drying, and dehydrating—are all excellent choices. It is best to wash and dry rosemary sprigs before bundling, tying at the roots, and hanging them to dry naturally in a well-ventilated area.
4. Attempt a rosemary infusion: It’s a good idea to infuse rosemary into vinegar or olive oil. Consider all of the salad dressings, marinades, and rubs you will be able to whip up in a flash. Making rosemary bitters is one of the favorite uses for fresh rosemary. Add a few drops of tea or a gin-based drink after filtering the sediments out.
5. Make rosemary citrus salt: Rosemary citrus salt is among the favorite things to keep on hand throughout the grilling season. Starting with a teaspoon of fine sea salt, add a good handful of freshly harvested rosemary leaves and one lemon zest. In a food processor, pulse often to get a fine texture. Use an airtight container for storage. This improvisational recipe tastes fantastic on grilled chicken, veggies, lamb, or steak and pairs nicely with other resinous herbs like savoury, sage, or thyme.
Putting Rosemary In Ice Cubes: How To Do It
You need to think about how you’ll use the herbs before freezing them. This technique is ideal for you if you enjoy adding a sprinkle of rosemary to soups or pasta sauces.
· Prepare Rosemary: You must first get your herbs ready. Slice the rosemary very thinly.
· Take your ice tray and stuff the rosemary through each opening. Each cube should be halfway to two-thirds filled.
· Olive oil on top: Get some high-quality olive oil and drizzle it over the herbs. Leave a tiny space at the top of the cubes; you don’t need to fill them.
· Flash Freeze: Wrap the tray with aluminium foil and freeze for a short period of time. Please give them six to twelve hours (or overnight).
· Final Freeze: Once you freeze the plate and the herbal cubes, remove them. These may now be placed in a zip-lock bag and frozen.
You may use a cube and place this in the pot whenever you want to give your food a rosemary flavor boost.
This technique also allows you to quickly put together a herb blend. Don’t restrict yourself to using rosemary. The rosemary might be used with other herbs.
How Long Can Rosemary Be Frozen?
In the freezer, rosemary will last for about a year. There is a tiny possibility that the flavor will deteriorate a little with time. It is therefore preferable to utilize it within three to four months.
Although it will still be completely safe to consume after these 3 to 4 months, you might discover that it doesn’t impart much rosemary flavor to your food.
In The Refrigerator, How Long Does Rosemary Last?
If the ends of the rosemary sprigs are wrapped in a wet dish towel to preserve them moist, they may be stored in the refrigerator for approximately ten days.
How Can Rosemary Be Defrosted?
The good news would be that you don’t have to, and that applies to each of the aforementioned methods.
Take the rosemary right out of the freezer and add it to the pan with the other ingredients if you’re making a stew, soup, or sauce.
It is not necessary to keep it in the refrigerator all night. You don’t have to gradually defrost it with warm water. Simply take it out of the freezer as you require it.
Can Rosemary Be Refrozen?
You should avoid refreezing rosemary whenever possible since it can quickly lose its flavor and aroma.
Conclusion:
Nothing compares to freshly picked herbs from your very own garden. You won’t be able to distinguish between both fresh and frozen rosemary when using it as the foundation of a sauce, though.
Fortunately, the majority of the woody or hard herbs freeze well and keep their flavor.