Note: We may earn a small commission from the companies mentioned in these posts. A resident of Greece, Nancy Gaifyllia is a cook who writes about the country's regional specialties. You have entered an incorrect email address! If so, they're done. Have you ever used blackberry leaves for tea? Dried mint has a shelf-life of at least a year. Maria. You can dry any combination of herbs at one time as the flavors will not blend. Pick mint it in the morning before the sun has a chance to evaporate away essential oils. Since my husband is allergic, I'll stick to the oven method, which I can do while he is at work. Otherwise, continue checking them at 15-minute intervals so they don't burn. A stroll aroun, What can we do to help our small garden ponds duri, Everyone uses soap, but especially us grubby garde, A wet and windy day spent snug as a bug indoors ma, It seems so long ago since any of us had a proper, Getting our new home sorted is taking so much long, Two great things happened today...first, my new ca, A splash of colour to brighten up your day I'. If you’re looking for ideas to make your small kitchen feel cozy, here are seven ideas. For drying mint leaves in a dehydrator, snip off the older leaves, as you do for oven drying method. You can use fresh and dried leaves of both spearmint and peppermint for making mint tea. New leaves will form from the nodes along the stems. Better yet, pat it dry then wait a while until you can be sure all the moisture has evaporated. Pop it in the oven at 40°C/105°F until you’re sure it’s completely dry. While purchasing this herb, select fresh ones that are uniformly green. It’s better to not put it in direct sunlight though. (Paid link). Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window). There are many types out there but I have a small cloth one that I use regularly. Air-drying is the easiest and most economical way to preserve fresh herbs for use all year. Good luck with your homesteading, stay safe and I hope you enjoy this site, Caron. Carefully drying herbs can preserve the flavor, color, and essential oils from the plant for months to come. Here's how to do it. The important thing here is to spread your mint sprigs away from each other, in a thin layer on a cookie sheet or parchment paper and to use a very low temperature. How to dry mint leaves in the microwave and by air drying. This is the time when aromatic herbs are at their peak flavor. Next, fill the sink with cool water and submerge the leaves — it’s easiest to do this if they’re still on the stem. When the plant grows and flourishes, cut off one or more sprigs and place them in a glass of water until they grow roots. We all know mint is a natural breath freshener and it’s actually perfect to pair with garlic and onions. Carefully remove the leaves from the stems when the mint is dry. The principle is similar to the other two options. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Thanks for the tip. After a total of one hour, turn off the oven and allow the herbs to cool in the oven. I recommend glass containers, something like these – they’re small, but they will look great in your kitchen. This site uses cookies to give you the best possible experience. The dehydrator that I use is from Stockli. This is how we are able to provide this information for free. The best spot for drying herbs is dark (or at least out of direct sunlight), dry, clean, and free of smoke, dust, cooking oils, and steam. Or else you can add them in 1 – 2 layers in a shallow, microwave... For drying mint leaves in a dehydrator, snip off the older leaves, as you do for oven drying method. You don’t want to dry your herbs just to prevent them from going bad, you want to maintain the nutrition and flavor of the fresh plant, even better – you want to condense it. Or else you can add them in 1 – 2 layers in a shallow, microwave safe pan. There are many types of mint out there but all of them will flower and bees will love them. Swish the mint around gently then take it out and let dry. This is how you can proceed with the different methods for drying mint leaves. These herbs usually air-dry pretty easily: These herbs are higher in moisture and need to be dried quickly in low humidity, or frozen instead: Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Tanya Wash the mint thoroughly and carefully in cold water without removing the stems. Mint is a true survivor, it technically is a weed and can persevere through very tough times. Buy a mint plant and replant it in a much larger pot. Continue drying for an additional 30 minutes. Tanya, you are really very skilled at such crafts… hmmm, I salute you…. You may need to cover the dehydrator tray with a fine screen to prevent herbs from … I lightly spread the mint on, stems and all, and leave it there to dry. For mint, this will be late spring for its first harvest. grow however mint should always be grown in pots as it can be invasive. I've never used Blackberry leaves for tea before – does it taste nice? You can air-dry most any herbs, although high-moisture herbs will dry slower and be more susceptible to mold and rot. Joy. That means that I have two options to keep myself stocked up in mint … For more information on drying herbs see these guides to drying Oregano, Sage or Thyme. Carefully remove the leaves from the stems when the mint is dry. I also store the leaves whole. The first is regular air drying, second is oven drying and third is drying in a dehydrator. Thanks for your mint-drying methods. That means that I have two options to keep myself stocked up in mint over the cold months. Dry at 40°C/105°F for three to five hours or until the leaves are brittle and crumble when rolled between your fingers. Mint leaves will dry into a fraction of the size you began so plan to use a container that’s a quarter to one-eighth the size of the mint when fresh. It's recommended that you repot your plants at least once a year because these plants really like to grow and they'll need more room as they do. That means that I have two options to keep myself stocked up in mint over the cold months. Pat them dry and proceed with the method you choose. It’s the perfect winter drink and even my little grandson loves it. You can get a herb drying rack like this one at Amazon – it saves a lot of space and you can dry 4 different types of herbs simultaneously. Before you proceed with any of the drying methods below, make sure to clean the mint. Have a great weekend too Sue Xx, Mice HATE mint!