How Long Does Rosemary Last In The Fridge? – Here’s The Complete Details On Rosemary

How Long Does Rosemary Last?: Have you ever been fascinated with the beautiful rosemary sprigs and bought them out of curiosity? Are you looking to up your game with rosemary as a spice in your kitchen? In any of such related situations, you must have been hit with the concern of storing your rosemary sprigs properly.

No worries, we got you covered. Through this article, we will tell you everything you need to know about the shelf life, expiry dates, and storage needs of rosemary, be it completely dried and plucked or in raw sprigs form.

How Long Does Rosemary Last

Does Rosemary Actually Go Bad?

Yes, technically speaking, rosemary also goes bad like any other perishable food item. However, practically, there is no ‘expiry date’ for dried spices like rosemary. In most cases, they lose their natural flavor profiles and wilt away. The very essence and aroma that is associated with spices are lost when they are spoiled. So, it is suggested that you follow a few steps to store rosemary figs properly so they last longer.

How Long Does Rosemary Last?

Unlike their spicy counterparts, rosemary sprigs go bad pretty fast. For instance, if you place the complete stalks inside the freezer, they may last up to 2 weeks. Forgo the required storage process and you will end up cutting this time into half i. e. Rosemary will go bad within a week.

The shelf life of these sprigs depends on the fertilizer used, the time for which they were kept in the supermarket, and the way you store them in your kitchen. However, the estimated shelf lives, as explained by horticulturists, for various types of rosemary are given below. Make a note of them!

Type of RosemaryAt Room TemperatureIn the refrigerator
Raw Rosemary leavesUp to 1 week1-2 weeks
Dried Rosemary leaves1 month1-3 years

How To Store Rosemary Properly?

Now that you are convinced about incorporating this exotic spice in your dishes, you must be on your way to buying it. However, there is no point in spending money to buy rosemary sprigs if you are not aware of their storage necessities. Fortunately, stacking rosemary isn’t much rocket science. We will be telling you about both the professional and go-to methods of preserving rosemary.

  1. If you are planning to use up the complete sprig within a day, then feel free to leave it on the kitchen counter. However, it is advisable that you wrap them up in damp paper towels which keeps rosemary fresh for a long time.
  2. In contrast, if you have no recipe which may use all of your rosemary stock at once (rarely anyone does), then you may need to make some extra efforts to store it. Simply wrap up the sprigs in moist paper towels or parchment paper and place them in a spacious freezer bag. Now, you may place this bag in your refrigerator.
  3. If you are planning to dry out the Rosemary leaves, then you will be lucky enough to use them for at least a year. Just pluck off the leaves, dry them, and store them away in an airtight container in the freezer.

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How To Tell That Rosemary Has Gone Bad?

Have you stumbled upon a packet of dried rosemary and wondered whether it is safe to use it or not? Well, we will be answering all your questions about the expiration and spoilage of rosemary, be it dried or raw, in this section. As long as you are on the lookout for red flags for spoilage, it is pretty easy to tell apart the spoiled one from the good one. A few such tips are given below.

  1. If your dried rosemary leaves do not taste the same, then they have probably gone bad. Either you can use them for the sake of texture or discard them.
  2. Any discoloration in the leaves also indicates clear spoilage. It is advisable that you separate such leaves from the other bundle immediately so as to preserve the better ones.
  3. The most legit test to judge whether your rosemary figs have gone bad or not is to rub them between your fingertips. If it feels powdery very soon, then they have already wilted away. So, you can throw them out as soon as possible.

You can also know about spices in detail and Do Spices Go Bad or not by going through our article and clear your queries.

FAQs on How Long Does Rosemary Last

1. How long does rosemary last in olive oil?

Rosemary leaves can be fried in natural and non-preservative olive oil for at least an hour.  If you place this jar in the refrigerator, then rosemary leaves will last up to 10 days only.

2. How long does rosemary last in the refrigerator?

The exact shelf life of rosemary figs may vary depending on the storage conditions. However, raw rosemary leaves can last up to 14 days in the refrigerator whereas dried ones can last up to a year in such cool and humid-free spaces.

3. What happens if you use expired rosemary?

Spices don’t go bad or expire in the usual traditional sense. They will not develop mold or get mushy. However, they might lose their essence and flavors, thereby making it pointless to use them in our recipes. Similarly, rosemary figs, be they dried or raw, also go bad over time. However, it is safe to use them anyway. There is nothing threatening about using expired rosemary leaves as long as they haven’t completely wilted.

Summary

Rosemary leaves, being an exotic and sought-after herb, can improve the flavor and nutrition profiles of our food. So, it is important that they are stored properly to retain their aroma for a very long time. We hope that this article resolved all queries about the shelf life and storage needs of rosemary plants, be they dried or raw leaves and figs. Thus, keep using rosemary in your recipes!! Don’t forget to check out more articles like How Long Do Chives Last and about your favorite food items and their shelf lives.

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