Discover how easy drying mint leaves is. In this guide, you'll find each step, essential tips, and answers to common questions.
Mint is one of the most versatile and aromatic herbs out there, and it's one of my favorites to grow.
In fact, I always have tons of mint growing in my garden. It kind of takes over every year, so we have a bunch to share with friends and family, with more to dry and save for later.
Cooking with dried mint adds a zesty burst of flavor to lamb, chimichurri sauce and pestos, and sprinkled on top of fruit salad. And - bonus - it smells amazing as it dries.
If you grow mint in your herb garden, you need this guide. In it, you'll learn how easy drying mint leaves is.
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💚 Why you'll love drying your own mint leaves
Sure, you can get dried mint from the grocery store's spice section. But trust me, there's nothing quite like drying your own mint leaves.
The biggest reason you'll love drying your own mint is because the aroma and flavor are more pronounced. As dried mint sits in a jar, it slowly starts to lose that pungency. So, if you're a mint maniac, you'll love this.
Drying your own mint also saves you money because you won't have to buy a jar. Freshly dried mint is also more potent, so you'll use less of it.
Other people love drying mint because it lasts a lot longer than the plant does. It's a fantastic way to extend the use of your mint if you'll be traveling or your plants aren't doing too well. Dried mint will last for a year or more.
🌿 Tips for harvesting mint
Keep your mint healthy and able to produce more leaves by following these easy tips.
If your mint is outside, harvest the leaves in the morning. This will keep the essential oils in the leaves, making them more potent.
Remember to use the correct tools, and make sure they're sharp. If your scissors are dull, they might bend the stems and damage the mint plant.
Always harvest from the top. Cut the stems no more than ⅓ of the way down. This will send signals to the plant that it should produce more leaves, giving you a bigger harvest.
Finally, remember to trim it frequently. Mint grows quickly, so frequent harvesting keeps it healthy and promotes more growth.
✅ Step-by-step instructions
There are four main parts to picking and drying the mint. Let's look closer at each step.
Harvesting
First, wash the mint plant - stems and all - in cool water. Then dry it with a paper towel, gently patting it dry.
Air drying method
Tie the ends of the mint branches together with kitchen twine. Hang the bunch of mint in a cool dry place.
When the leaves start to get dry and brittle, about 3-4 days, remove the bunch and remove the leaves from the stems.
Crushing
You can crush dried mint leaves in one of three ways:
- Crush with a mortar and pestle.
- Place in between two paper towels or on a plastic bag and crush with a rolling pin.
- Place in your hands and crush with your fingers.
Storing
You can either store them as whole mint leaves or crush them and store them that way.
Either way, place the dried mint in an airtight container. Keep them in a cool, dry, dark place until you're ready to use.
⏲️ Oven method
If you are looking for a faster method, you could dry mint leaves in the oven.
- Remove the leaves from the stems. Discard the stems.
- Place the leaves on a baking sheet in a single layer.
- Heat the mint leaves in the oven at 180° F for two hours. Check them to see if they've dried out completely. If so, they're done.
If they are not yet dry, continue warming them in the oven and check on them at 15-minute intervals. Watch them carefully during this time to make sure they don't burn. It can take as long as four hours for them to dry completely.
👩🏻🍳 Common FAQs about drying herbs
I don't recommend using brown mint leaves. The brown color signals that the mint lost its flavor. It could also mean that the mint is starting to mold or decay.
As long as they aren't brown and still smell minty-fresh, the dried mint will last about 1-3 years.
For the best quality, store dried mint is in a glass jar with an airtight lid. Something like a small mason or spice jar will work perfectly. Then keep this jar of mint in a cool, dark place like a cabinet or pantry.
🍽 Ways to use dried mint
Dried mint is incredibly versatile. You can use it in desserts, cocktails, mint tea, and even savory sauces.
It's an essential ingredient in easy mint pesto. You can also add it to fresh tzatziki sauce or mix it with Greek yogurt and make a marinade.
It also tastes amazing if you crush up the dry mint leaves and freeze it in your ice. As it melts, it refreshes your water with robust flavor.
Or just sprinkle some dried mint on top of your fruit salad or make an herbal tea with it.
🍳 Kitchen tools and equipment
Ready to dry your own mint leaves? Here are the kitchen tools and equipment you'll need:
More recipes that use mint
Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to leave a 5-Star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card, and if you really loved it, please leave a comment further down on the page. Thank you!
Drying Mint Leaves
Ingredients
- 1 bunch mint leaves
Instructions
- Wash mint in cool water, taking care not to remove the leaves from the stems.
- Pat mint leaves dry with paper towels.
Air drying method
- Tie the ends of the mint branches together with kitchen twine.
- Hang in a cool dry place.
- When the leaves start to get dry and brittle, about 3-4 days, remove the bunch and remove the leaves from the stems.
Oven method
- Remove leaves from stems. Discard stems.
- Place the leaves on a baking sheet in a single layer.
- Heat the mint leaves in the oven at 180° F for two hours. Check them to see if they've dried out completely. If so, they're done. If they are not yet dry, continue warming in the oven and checking on them in 15-minute intervals. Watch them carefully during this time to make sure they don't burn.
- It can take as long as four hours for them to dry completely.
Store dried mint leaves
- If leaving as mint leaves, store dried leaves in an airtight container in a cool, dry, dark place until ready to use.
Crush mint leaves and store
- If crushing for dried mint, you can crush by placing leaves in a mortar and crushing with a pestle. Or, place in a plastic bag and crush with a rolling pin. You can also crumble with your hands until the leaves are crushed.
- Place crushed mint leaves into an airtight container. Label and store in a cool dry dark place and use as needed.
Notes
- use in tea
- freeze to make mint ice cubes
- use in sauces and dips
- cook with in soups, stews, pastas
Nutrition
Nutrition information is a general estimate. Actual nutrition details may vary depending on the exact foods & brands you use to make this recipe. It does not take into account any substitutions, toppings, or optional ingredients.
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