Dry, freeze & preserve mint

Mint is one of the herbs that has a very good shelf life and can also be enjoyed in drinks or food when it is not in season.

the mint (mentha) and their famous variety, the peppermint (mentha x piperita), are probably among the most popular herbs in Germany. Its intense, fresh aroma makes the plant a real treat and provides culinary sensations as mint tea, in drinks or as a spice. However, if you want to supply yourself with home-grown mint all year round, you should take precautions in good time. Drying mint is not difficult and there are other ways you can preserve mint. Here we explain how to proceed and what to watch out for.

Preserving Mint: Drying and Freezing

Fresh mint from your own garden still has the most intense aroma. As plant mint, you can read in a separate article. Unfortunately, the herb only lasts a few days in the fridge before it wilts and is no longer usable. Since the mint in the garden and on the balcony can only be harvested before the first frosts in autumn, Gardeners have to store their harvest differently in order to be able to enjoy the fresh plant until next spring experience. Drying and freezing have been shown to be useful in preserving mint, as this preserves the aroma well.

drying mint

Drying is a good way to preserve mint. A major advantage of drying mint is that the ingredients and aroma are largely preserved. The following applies: the gentler the drying process, the more intense the aroma. There are now numerous ways to dry mint after harvesting.

After harvest of mint it will be cleaned first. Water should be avoided here, otherwise important essential oils will be lost. So try to shake off soil or other debris and discard shoots that are already dried up or diseased.

Procedure for mint drying:

• Air drying mint: This method is the gentlest and the aroma is well preserved. Dry mint at 20 °C without direct sunlight for about 2 to 3 weeks, either on drying nets or hanging up in loose bundles.

• Drying mint in the oven: A quick and easy way to dry mint is using an oven. The leaves must be distributed individually on the baking tray and dried at around 30 to 50 °C for around 20 minutes.

Drying mint in the dehydrator: The sheets are distributed to the levels in the device without overlapping. At the lowest level, the mint is dried until it is sufficiently dry.

• How to dry mint in the microwave: If you don't have much time, you can dry your mint very quickly in the microwave. Place a handful of the leaves on a microwave-safe plate and dehydrate the mint on the lowest setting in 10-second intervals. There is one downside to drying mint in the microwave: the rapid heating of the leaves means that much of the mint's fresh aroma is lost.

Freeze mint

Whether you should freeze mint or rather dry it is a question on which opinions differ. In fact, both methods have their pros and cons. Undoubtedly, freezing preserves the flavor better, making this method a good way to store mint for drinks or food. To freeze the mint, the leaves are often already chopped up and poured into portions with a little water frozen in an ice cube tray - this results in an aromatic eye-catcher for cool drinks in the Summer. However, if you prefer to have whole leaves to garnish food, you should rely on the drying of the mint: frozen mint leaves eventually become mushy and unsightly when thawed. The dried leaves are also best for mint tea. When it comes to shelf life, both methods hardly differ from each other: If stored properly, mint can be stored for up to a year, both frozen and dried.

Store and store mint properly

Once the mint leaves have dried well, they can be packed into a convenient storage option. There are two signs that indicate whether the mint is completely dry: Firstly, the mint leaves curl up dried state, on the other hand they can be easily detached from the stem by touching it with a finger crumble. Are the leaves still smooth or can they only be picked off by tearing? Then the mint is not yet dry enough to be stored without spoiling. After the leaves have dried sufficiently, they should ideally be stored in a cool, dry place away from sunlight. Jars with a screw cap are best suited for this, but airtight Tupperware containers also offer reliable protection. If you value a long shelf life and a full-bodied aroma, you can vacuum pack the dried mint in small portions. Properly stored, the dried mint leaves can be kept for several months, sometimes up to a year - however, the taste suffers with prolonged storage.

use of mint

Mint is extremely diverse: the plant is not only used as a flavor for chewing gum and toothpaste, but also as a dessert, drink or spice. The different types of mint can be used for a wide variety of dishes and drinks, depending on taste, and mint even cuts a fine figure outside of the kitchen. Peppermint and the peppermint oil derived from it is a well-known remedy. It is said to relieve gastrointestinal complaints such as a feeling of fullness or flatulence and to help with colds and coughs. In medicine, mint is used as a tea and inhalation. Mint oil is also used externally for muscle and nerve pain as well as migraines and itching caused by insect bites. The lemon mint (Mentha gentilis var. citrate) is said to ensure quiet nights: their smell is avoided by mosquitoes, so that they soon flee.

How healthy is mint?

Mint contains numerous bitter and tannins as well as varying levels of the essential oil menthol, depending on the variety. This has an antispasmodic, cooling and disinfecting effect and also stimulates blood circulation. Menthol should not be used on infants and young children as it can cause shortness of breath. Mint tea is said to help against nausea and stomach problems, whereby excessive consumption can irritate the stomach lining and cause heartburn. A daily dose of 3 to 6 g of the dried leaves as a tea is recommended, but this should not be drunk every day either.

A good water and nutrient supply are important for the successful cultivation of mint in the garden. You can find out what else you should consider when caring for mint in our special article.