If you don’t have time for the oven or air-drying, then I’m going to show you how to dry rosemary in the air fryer instead. This process will dry your fresh rosemary in just a few minutes, and is one of the easiest ways to dehydrate it for later use.
Yes, the air fryer is great for drying rosemary, as well as other herbs. It’s an easy way to dry rosemary leaves out to preserve them for later.
Then you’ll have some on hand when you try out the tasty beef roast over in our best Ninja Dual Zone air fryer recipes. Rosemary is the star of the show for herbs to season your roast with!
How to Dry Rosemary in the Air Fryer: Instructions
Wash and dry your fresh rosemary if needed
Preheat your air fryer to 350°F, following manufacturer guidelines
Trim stems if needed to fit into your air fryer basket
Spread your rosemary sprigs out in a single layer in the preheated air fryer basket
Top the rosemary with a trivet or rack, or bundle the stems together with a heat-safe tie to prevent the rosemary from flying around during cooking
Cook rosemary on the air fry setting for 3 minutes at 350°F
If additional time is needed, shake sprigs around to redistribute and add cooking time in 1-minute intervals
Rosemary is completely dehydrated when leaves feel dry and break easily under gentle pressure
To remove the leaves from the stems, hold the bottom of the stem in one hand, and run your other hand gently downwards towards the tip, over a plate or bowl
If desired, you may crush the dried rosemary leaves into smaller pieces using a chef’s knife or a mortar and pestle
Store your dried rosemary leaves in an airtight container or spice jar for best results
Usually, 3 minutes at 350°F is perfectly sufficient in my Ninja Dual Zone air fryer to dry rosemary. However, if you overlap the leaves too much in the basket, you may need longer.
Note that different sizes and power levels can also affect the total drying time. Just keep checking regularly and you’ll have no problem getting perfectly dried rosemary!
Do I Have to Have a Dehydrate Setting to Dry Rosemary in the Air Fryer?
No, you don’t need a special dehydrate setting to dry rosemary in the air fryer.
The dehydrate setting, if you have one, does work to dry rosemary as well, but usually takes a couple hours. I find the standard cooking method much more time conscious.
That’s not to say that the dehydrate option isn’t useful, but I find it more practical for fruits, vegetables, and meats then I do herbs.
If you’re considering getting an air fryer with a dehydrator, check out our list of the best air fryer dehydrators for some helpful ideas!
Final Thoughts
It only takes a few minutes to dry rosemary in the air fryer, so you’ll have it available for your favorite recipes. From roasts to breads, soups and stews to sauces, it’s a versatile herb that goes well in so many dishes.
Rosemary is also an adorable garnish for holiday dishes, as the whole leaves resemble pine needles!
Dry fresh rosemary for storage using your air fryer. You’ll be able to dehydrate your rosemary in around 3 minutes, making this a quick and easy drying method.
Preheat your air fryer to 350°F, following manufacturer guidelines
Trim rosemary sprig stems if needed to fit into your air fryer basket
6-7 sprigs Rosemary
Spread your rosemary sprigs out in a single layer in the preheated air fryer basket
Top the rosemary with a trivet or rack, or bundle the stems together with a heat-safe tie to prevent the rosemary from flying around during cooking
Cook rosemary on the air fry setting for 3 minutes at 350°F
If additional time is needed, shake sprigs around to redistribute and add cooking time in 1-minute intervals
Rosemary is completely dehydrated when leaves feel dry and break easily under gentle pressure
To remove the leaves from the stems, hold the bottom of the stem in one hand, and run your other hand gently downwards towards the tip, over a plate or bowl
If desired, you may crush the dried rosemary leaves into smaller pieces using a chef’s knife or a mortar and pestle
Store your dried rosemary leaves in an airtight container or spice jar for best results
Notes
Average drying time is about 3 minutes for me in a Ninja Foodi Dual Zone air fryer. Other sizes and wattages may vary slightly
The air fryer doesn’t pose the same fire hazard the microwave does if stems are left intact, so you don’t need to trim them unless they won’t fit in your basket otherwise
It’s best to not overlap rosemary sprigs for more even drying, so the amount you can do at once will depend on the size of your air fryer basket
This amount of fresh rosemary should net you between 1 – ½ Tablespoons dried, depending on the size of your leaves
It’s very normal for some leaves to turn brown during the cooking process. If maintaining the bright green color is important, I actually recommend using the microwave instead
Sometimes the leaves are stubborn about detaching. You can rub your fingers together over the stem to dislodge them if needed, or just pluck the toughest ones
Dried rosemary leaves may be left whole, or feel free to break into smaller pieces with a chop from a chef’s knife or a mortar and pestle (they’ll tend to prick your fingers if you try by hand)
Store in an airtight container, bag, or spice jar for best results in retaining flavor
Dried rosemary keeps well for about 1 year. After that, while still safe to consume, it loses potency and flavor significantly
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I enjoy trying new recipes, creating my own, and dabbling with new techniques all the time. My husband loves to protest when I make him my guinea pig, but it’s all for the love of food!
