I love having herb oils in my kitchen, and rosemary oil is no exception. There is no easier way to upgrade your day-to-day cooking than with some olive oils that have been infused with some dried herbs.

This rosemary oil (one that’s aimed for cooking) is easy to make and can be done with homegrown or storebought rosemary.

Here I go into the recipe, along with tips on picking out good olive oil, finding some cold hardy Rosemary varieties to grow, along with how to use it.

Let’s Dive In…

Rosemary Oil Recipe for Cooking

You must use dried herbs when making oils of any kind.

The water in the herbs will turn your oil rancid and will create an opportunity for bacteria to grow, if using fresh cut herbs.

Please note, that upwards of 80% of the EVOO on the market is fake! No joke, it’s an ongoing problem. Please look for olive oils that state they are from one farm and avoid blended oils. If they offer ways to trace the harvest even better! It does not need to be organic. Good EVOO should be about $12-15 a liter with today’s prices (sometimes more depending on if it’s a specialty). Surprisingly, I find my good olive oils at Walmart or Costco.

You can alternatively use avocado oil for this recipe.

Tools you need

Air drying rack for herbs, or a dehydrator
Pint sized mason Jar

Ingredients

Makes 1 Pint Jar

1/2 cup dried rosemary
1.5 cups of good extra virgin olive oil, OR non-GMO avocado oil (or enough to fill the jar)
Olive oil dispenser

Instructions

Allow the rosemary to dehydrate completely before mixing. You can hang your herb bundles up, lay them on a cookie sheet or plate to dry. Or you can use your dehydrator. Once the herbs are dry and brittle it’s ready to use.
Chop herbs up into smaller pieces to they fit into the jar.
Pour chopped rosemary into the jar, and cover with oil until the jar is full. Make sure the jar is full to the top to avoid oxidation and discoloration.
Allow to sit at room temperature in a dark place for 4-6 weeks. A cupboard is a good place.
After the 4-6 weeks, you can strain the oil removing the spent herbs.
Store oil in a dark jar, preferably a dark colored, olive oil dispenser for ease of use. You can keep this on the counter next to your other oils for ease of access. Enjoy!

Rosemary oil (when completed as above) can last several weeks or months on the countertop. You will know your oil has gone rancid from its foul odor.

Using Rosemary Oil in Cooking

Anywhere olive oil can go, this rosemary oil can go to!

This oil lends itself to some great marinades, salad dressings, pairs well for soup toppings or even over some roasted vegetables.

It particularly pairs well with chicken and pork.

I would not overthink it: If you reach for olive oil, think about using your rosemary oil instead!

Growing Rosemary at Home

Best thing here is that you don’t need a garden to grow a rosemary plant.

Rosemary plants are perfect herbs to grow in containers or just squeezed into a small garden bed, or even squeezed into a small patch of dirt by the house.

They are perennials that come back every year, with some varieties being cold hardy.

They prefer hot spots with well-draining, or even sandy soil, and once established won’t take much of your time.

You can harvest rosemary all summer long.

Seeds to look for:

French Rosemary
Primed Rosemary
Alcalde
Madeline Hill

I will mention, finding specific rosemary varieties are tricky, since most seed companies generally just label them as “rosemary “. But a little research, and you can find them!

FAQs

What is rosemary oil good for? Externally rosemary is known to help with hair loss and arthritic pain. Internally rosemary offers antioxidants, antimicrobial, and is even being researched for tumor suppression due to its Rosmarinic Acid content. Olive oil also has benefits, such as containing healthy fats, helping with inflammation, and offering antioxidants. When combined you can expect an oil to give you the best of both worlds.

Is rosemary oil safe to ingest? Yes, when made with edible oils such as olive or avocado. Simply ingest as much as you would normally when consuming oil.

Can you use any type of rosemary for cooking? Yes, you can use any type of garden rosemary for oil. Different types of rosemary have come around because of their ability to adapt to different climates. They all have the same benefits and behaviors when cooking.

That’s It!

I love using herb oil, in fact, almost all my bottles of olive oil I buy from the store end up becoming an herb oil.

Please be sure to pay attention to the olive oil you purchase. This could be another topic of discussion, but there is no use of buying the fake stuff.

Enjoy!

-Chelsea, The Cottage Vegetable

The Cottage Vegetable website is an AI FREE zone! Everything is written and photographed by myself, Chelsea.