How to Dry Mint 3 Ways | Dehydrator, Oven, Air Dry
Read on to find out exactly how to dry mint and learn preserve this kitchen staple when your harvest is abundant! Dehydrating mint is simple and once dried it can be used in teas, desserts, savory pastas, and water infusions. Drying mint helps to save freezer space for a long term storage solution that is simple to grab and use any time of the year. No dehydrator? No problem! Check out the instructions for air drying and using the oven to dry mint.
Get the most out of your mint harvest with this guide for How to Harvest Mint Without Killing The Plant.
About Mint
Mint (Mentha) belongs to the lamiaceae (mint family). There are countless varieties of mint including spearmint, mojito mint, orange mint, chocolate mint, upright mint, and strawberry mint. Check out this article from Plantura to learn even more about mint varieties. It grows well in moist soil with a pH of 6.0-7.0 and partial to full sun. Check out my guide for harvesting mint without killing the plant to ensure you have a continuous supply of mint. Fresh mint can be preserved in a variety of ways including freezing, hang drying, and drying in a dehydrator. I love making homemade mint tea!
Related: How to Freeze Mint 3 Ways
Why Dried Mint Leaves Rock!
Tips + Tricks For Drying Mint Leaves
- Try your best to dry mint leaves in a single layer. If you MUST layer the mint leaves thicker, you will have to leave them dry for longer and toss them a few times during the drying process.
- Always store dry mint leaves in a dry, cool place out of direct sunlight.
- Harvest the mint leaves in the morning when the oils are most concentrated for optimal flavor.
- Pick local! If growing your own mint isn’t possible, consider hitting up local farmers markets or CSA programs to stock up on home grown mint.
Key Ingredients
Mint: Fresh is best! Choose freshly picked mint to dry when possible for optimal flavor and texture. Choose unblemished mint leaves and try to source them out locally either from your own garden, a neighbor, or your local farmer’s market. Store bought mint will work as well, try to pick fresh looking mint with the furthest best before date. The fresh to dry ratio is about 3:1 when dehydrating mint leaves. Expect to get about 1/3 of a cup of dried leaves for every 1 cup of fresh leaves.
Exactly How To Dry Mint Leaves
Preparing Mint Leaves Before Drying
Harvest/Buy: Cut fresh mint leaves from the plant (preferably in the morning for the most concentrated oil and highest flavor), selecting healthy and vibrant leaves for drying. Avoid using wilted or damaged leaves. If you are using store-bought mint leaves, choose the packages with the latest best before date and discard any wilted or yellowed leaves.
Wash + Dry: Rinse the mint leaves under cold water to remove any dirt or debris. Pat them dry gently with a clean kitchen towel or paper towels.
How To Dry Mint In The Dehydrator
Arrange. Remove the mint leaves from the stems. To remove fresh mint leaves from the stem, simply hold the stem firmly and slide your fingers along it in the opposite direction of the growth, allowing the leaves to easily detach. Arrange mint leaves in a single layer on the dehydrator tray.
Dehydrate: Set your dehydrator between 95°F and 100°F. Leave the mint leaves dry for around 4 hours, checking halfway through for dryness. Mint leaves are dry when the leaves are curled, brittle, and crumble easily.
How To Dry Mint In The Oven
Arrange. Remove as many stems as possible. Arrange in a single layer on a parchment lined baking sheet.
Dry. Place in your oven on the lowest setting (usually 100°F-150°F) and dry mint for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Be sure to leave your oven door open slightly to allow moisture to escape. I use a dish towel to prop it open. Mint leaves are dry when the leaves are curled, brittle, and crumble easily.
How To Air Dry Mint Leaves (Hang Drying Mint)
Tie + Hang. Gather the mint sections together, bunching the stems and tying them off with your string of choice. I like to use jute string but almost any string will work including dental floss, butcher string, fishing line, etc… Hang mint in a dry place with lots of airflow, out of direct sunlight.
Air Dry. Allow the mint to hang for up to two weeks before taking it down. Mint leaves on the outside of the bundle will dry faster than the inside. Once dried, mint leaves should easily pull off of the stem and crumble. If there is any moisture or pliability, they need to be dried for longer.
Destem. Untie the mint bundle and hold the bottom of the mint stem overtop of a plate or other container to collect. Pull down on the dried leaves and watch as they fall off of the stem. Don’t worry about the dry mint leaves crumbling- they will still taste and function great. Discard the stem.
Condition + Store
At this point you should condition the mint (test for dryness) over 5 days. Place a handful of mint leaves in an airtight container. Turn once a day for 5 days. After 5 days if you notice moisture, or mold, discard the mint. Check out this full guide to conditioning dehydrated fruits and vegetables for more information.
How To Make Dried Mint Leaf Tea
To make loose-leaf mint tea using dried mint leaves, start by gathering your ingredients: dried mint leaves and a teapot or infuser. Measure about 1 tablespoon of dried mint leaves for every cup of tea you want to make.
I love to add dried fruit such as dried strawberries, dried peaches, dried citrus, or dried apples for extra flavor. You can also customize your mint tea by adding other dried herbs like chamomile, lemon balm, lavender, and even cinnamon.
Place the dried mint leaves in the infuser or directly into the teapot. Allow the tea to steep for 5-7 minutes, or longer if you prefer a stronger flavor.
Homemade dried mint leaf tea stores amazingly well- whip up your favorite combination and store it in an airtight container for up to 1 year. Wrap with decorative jute string and give as gifts.
Batch + Storage
3 cups fresh mint leaves = 1 cup dried mint leaves.
Store dry mint leaves in an airtight container out of direct sunlight. Dried mint is best consumed within 12 months. After 12 months the color and flavor of the mint leaves will start to degrade.
Printable Recipe Card | How To Dry Mint 3 Ways
How to Dry Mint 3 Ways | Dehydrator, Oven, Air Dry
Read on to find out exactly how to dry mint and learn preserve this kitchen staple when your harvest is abundant! Dehydrating mint is simple and once dried it can be used in teas, desserts, savory pastas, and water infusions. Drying mint helps to save freezer space for a long term storage solution that is simple to grab and use any time of the year.
Ingredients
- 3 cups mint leaves
Instructions
Preparing Mint Leaves Before Drying
- Harvest: Cut fresh mint leaves from the plant (preferably in the morning for the most concentrated oil and highest flavor), selecting healthy and vibrant leaves for drying. Avoid using wilted or damaged leaves. If you are using store-bought mint leaves, choose the packages with the latest best before date and discard any wilted or yellowed leaves.
- Wash + Dry: Rinse the mint leaves under cold water to remove any dirt or debris. Pat them dry gently with a clean kitchen towel or paper towels.
How To Dry Mint In The Dehydrator
- Arrange. Remove the mint leaves from the stems. To remove fresh mint leaves from the stem, simply hold the stem firmly and slide your fingers along it in the opposite direction of the growth, allowing the leaves to easily detach. Arrange mint leaves in a single layer on the dehydrator tray.
- Dehydrate: Set your dehydrator between 95°F and 100°F. Leave the mint leaves dry for around 4 hours, checking halfway through for dryness. Mint leaves are dry when the leaves are curled, brittle, and crumble easily.
How To Dry Mint In The Oven
- Arrange. Remove as many stems as possible. Arrange in a single layer on a parchment lined baking sheet.
- Dry. Place in your oven on the lowest setting (usually 100°F-150°F) and dry mint for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Be sure to leave your oven door open slightly to allow moisture to escape. I use a dish towel to prop it open. Mint leaves are dry when the leaves are curled, brittle, and crumble easily.
How To Air Dry Mint Leaves (Hang Drying Mint)
- Tie + Hang. Gather the mint sections together, bunching the stems and tying them off with your string of choice. I like to use jute string but almost any string will work including dental floss, butcher string, fishing line, etc… Hang mint in a dry place with lots of airflow, out of direct sunlight.
- Air Dry. Allow the mint to hang for up to two weeks before taking it down. Mint leaves on the outside of the bundle will dry faster than the inside. Once dried, mint leaves should easily pull off of the stem and crumble. If there is any moisture or pliability, they need to be dried for longer.
- Destem. Untie the mint bundle and hold the bottom of the mint stem overtop of a plate or other container to collect. Pull down on the dried leaves and watch as they fall off of the stem. Don’t worry about the dry mint leaves crumbling- they will still taste and function great. Discard the stem.
Condition + Store
At this point you should condition the mint (test for dryness) over 5 days. Place a handful of mint leaves in an airtight container. Turn once a day for 5 days. After 5 days if you notice moisture, or mold, discard the mint. Check out this full guide to conditioning dehydrated fruits and vegetables for more information.
Notes
3 cups fresh mint leaves = 1 cup dried mint leaves.
Store dry mint leaves in an airtight container out of direct sunlight. Dried mint is best consumed within 12 months. After 12 months the color and flavor of the mint leaves will start to degrade.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 16 Serving Size: 1 tablespoonAmount Per Serving: Calories: 2Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 1mgCarbohydrates: 0gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 0g
3 Harvest Ready Dried Mint Recipes
Strawberry Mint Tea
Check out this simple recipe for homemade strawberry mint tea. Consider adding in some fresh or dried citrus as well!
Mint Water Infusions
Easily flavor water and other beverages with dried mint and other other flavorful additions such as cucumbers, lemon, blueberries, strawberries, or even ginger.
Mint Pasta
Full of peas, mint and parm, this creamy mint pasta recipe is the perfect way to use mint frozen in oil or mint frozen in water.
Frequently Asked Questions
Depending on your method of drying, mint leaves can take anywhere from 1.5 hours to 2 weeks to dry. The fastest method for drying mint leaves is by using the dehydrate function on your oven. Hanging and air drying mint leaves can take up to two weeks.
Yes! Choose the freshest looking mint with the furthest expiry date if you plan on drying store bought mint.
Mint stems can be consumed but they don’t add a lot of extra flavor to the mint. Dried stems can be pulverized into powder or added to tea leaves in small pieces.
