Mint - fragrant plant used in various fields. This is cooking, medicine, cosmetology. The question of how to properly store mint is of concern to many, since the period of natural growth of the plant is short, and you want to keep memories of summer throughout the year.
IN winter evenings it is pleasant to pamper yourself with tea with a refreshing aroma of menthol, which is an expressive component of the plant with an additional tonic effect.
After familiarizing yourself with the popular recipes for storing a green miracle, you can stock up on a mint taste and smell for a year. You can use the prepared greens:
- for cooking and decorating various dishes;
- for the purpose of refreshing and whitening the skin of the face (masks, lotions);
- as a soothing drink (mojitos, cocktails with the addition of mint aroma);
- for baths and trays;
- as medicine(infusions, decoctions).
So that mint does not lose its qualities, it should be harvested for future use, following simple recommendations.
Peculiarities of storage of mint
- The plant has the most useful properties in late June - early July, that is, during the period of active flowering, therefore, harvesting for future use must be planned for this period.
- Suitable for storage are young stems with an abundant amount of fragrant leaves, which contain a high concentration essential oils.
- It is recommended to collect mint after the dew disappears, but no later than 11 o'clock in the morning.
Only mint, harvested in the specified period of time, will delight you with its mint taste and delicious smell. Of the most successful ways storage, the usual drying of the plant or its freezing is used.
You can harvest mint in whole twigs or in separate leaves.
Preparation of raw materials
The collected plants need careful preparation before storing them in any way you like. The algorithm for preparing raw materials is almost the same for all recipes.
For getting good result it is necessary:
- sort out the stems with leaves, removing dry fragments, weeds, accidentally trapped debris and insects;
- rinse the plants under running water, put in a colander;
- spread out on a towel and wait until excess moisture is removed;
If only leaves are to be stored, they must be removed from the stems. To do this better hands without using metal objects - secateurs, scissors, knife. This will prevent the likelihood of an oxidative process that provokes early spoilage of products.
How to store fresh mint
The harvested mint withers quickly, as a result of which it loses not only its original freshness, but also useful qualities.
Refrigerated storage - the best option, which allows you to keep the freshness of the product for a week.
Having prepared the emerald greens in the way described above, they are kept in refrigerator cabinet using simple tricks:
- Place the stems of the plant in a jar of water. By changing the water daily, you can keep the greens fresh for up to 10 days.
- Place a bunch of mint in a plastic container with a tight lid to keep out air. Duration of use is 5-7 days.
- Spread the stems in a thin layer on a damp cloth and roll them up. Shelf life is 3-4 days.
These recipes allow you to briefly prolong the good health of the mint. However, it quickly loses its color saturation. In addition, other products have the ability to absorb plant odors.
Drying mint
An old proven method of storing plants is drying. Its use allows you to save everything taste qualities, color and menthol smell. There are several drying options:
- natural - in a well-ventilated place;
- using a microwave oven;
- drying in the oven.
Drying in the oven and microwave reduces the preparation time, however, as a result of heat treatment, the product loses a significant amount of useful properties, essential oils simply evaporate during such processing.
Natural air drying allows for truly delightful results, provided all requirements are met preparatory phase described above.
The rest of the actions will not take much time:
- it is necessary to collect mint in small bunches;
- tie tightly the lower part of the stems with a strong thread or twine;
- hang bunches of mint down in inflorescences so that all substances are concentrated in the leaf area.
The room should be well ventilated without direct sunlight on the plant.
After the stems and leaves are completely dry, the resulting raw material must be placed in a dry glass containers(dark color is better), close tightly and put in a dark place.
Such a blank is stored for more than a year without losing its properties. Tea, meat dishes, dessert are the main uses of dried mint.
Freezing a plant
It is possible to prepare mint for the winter using the freezer. In frozen form, mint, as well as when dried, retains all its qualities for 7-8 months.
Whole leaves
Well-prepared greens are placed in a plastic bag with an airtight fastener.
If it is desirable to freeze only the leaves, they are first removed from the stem by hand.
An important requirement: there should be no moisture on the leaves, and air is removed from the bag using a cocktail straw.
Whole twigs
For decoration festive dishes freezing leaves with stems is suitable. This mint is also used for the preparation of infusions and decoctions used for cosmetic and medicinal purposes.
The branches of the plant are laid in plastic bag from which air is removed. Then the bag is rolled up tightly into a tight tube and sent to the freezer.
Finely chopped
Convenient packaging of products is more suitable for preparing first courses.
Greens are pre-chopped with a knife or in a blender, placed in small containers and frozen.
The disadvantage of this method is that it becomes difficult to separate the required amount of product.
In ice cubes
Most convenient option freezing mint - in special molds designed for ice hardening. Candy boxes are also used for this purpose.
The advantage of the method is portioned packaging.
Everyone knows what menthol is, but not everyone knows that it is made from mint essential oil. Mint is widespread everywhere: in cooking, in folk medical supplies, in cosmetics. The scent of mint is refreshing: it's no surprise that tiny bunches of mint have hung in homes since ancient times. Mint is a very useful but gentle plant that withers within a few days and even hours after picking, and for those who want to save mint for long term, you need to know the rules for its storage.
How to store mint properly
There are several simple and effective ways how to keep mint. IN fresh it is recommended to store it in the refrigerator, freeze or dry it.
Ways to keep fresh mint
To preserve this plant for a long time, bunches of mint are thoroughly washed, laid out and gently blotted with a napkin. You can then put the mint in either a paper bag or a container with a damp towel on top of them. It is recommended to take a waffle towel to achieve better result... In this form, the bag or container is placed in the refrigerator. Using this way, you can keep the mint fresh for two to four days.
Mint for the winter: how to save?
To keep the mint until winter, it should be frozen. There are several proven ways to freeze mint, but so that the mint does not lose its healing properties, it is necessary to collect it in the summer during the flowering period: from late June to early July. It is at this time that mint contains the largest amount of useful essential oil.
As in the previous method, the mint should be rinsed and dried thoroughly with a napkin or towel. Next, there are several options for packaging mint.
- You can fold the mint neatly and not too tightly in a small container and place in the freezer. After a few hours, you need to fold the leaves more densely, but do it quickly so that the mint does not have time to melt. You can then safely store the mint in the freezer of a simple refrigerator.
- Another way is even easier: you need to cut the leaves and sprigs of mint into strips, put them in a container and put them in the freezer.
- If you like to add mint to various drinks or use it for cosmetic purposes, then you can make ice cubes with mint leaves. To do this, you just need to finely chop the mint and put it in special molds or containers for ice, add water and freeze.
How to preserve dried mint
It is worth drying mature plants containing a large supply of essential oils. Bunches of mint are hung in a dry and clean place without direct sunlight... If you only have mint leaves, then they are laid out on paper or fabric. Once the mint is well dry, it can be placed in small glass jars and tightly closed with a lid. It is also allowed to store dried mint in cotton or linen bags. Remember that when drying mint, it is highly discouraged to use wooden, ceramic and plastic dishes, since these substances are capable of absorbing essential oil. Dried mint should be stored in a dark, dry and cool place.
One of the most popular spices is mint. And this is not surprising. Thanks to its useful properties mint is widely used in recipes traditional medicine... And the recognizable aroma of spicy herb made it a popular component of many drinks and culinary recipes... The picking season for mint is in August. How to preserve this plant so that it can be used all year round?
Storing mint in the refrigerator
If you plan to store the spice for a short time, it is enough to place the plant in the refrigerator, having previously performed the following manipulations:
- Rinse freshly cut mint branches under running cold water.
- Shake off the plant to remove excess moisture.
- Prepare a damp cloth (preferably a waffle towel) or cheesecloth.
- Wrap the mint in a cloth soaked in water.
- In this form, place the spice in the refrigerator.
An alternative to a damp towel is Plastic container... Place the branches in the container and seal it with a lid. If you do not have a suitable plastic container at hand, do not despair. Use a regular plastic bag - put twigs or just mint leaves in it. Next, the "storage" must be tightly tied. This form of storage of mint allows you to keep the spice for 3-5 days. If a longer storage of the product is required, it must be frozen or dried.
Storing mint in the freezer
Freezing without blanching
- Wash fresh herbs under running cool water.
- Dry the plant slightly.
- Put the mint in plastic bag, and after - in freezer.
You can freeze whole branches or leaves separately. The latter, if desired, can be pre-crushed. This or that variant of the form of storage of the product depends on personal wishes, as well as the further use of the plant. If you plan to subsequently include a spice, for example, in confectionery, then it is more convenient to cut the mint in advance, when the plant is fresh. Frozen mint can be stored for 4-9 months. However, it should be borne in mind that prolonged exposure to cold slightly changes the taste and aroma of the plant.
Freezing with blanching
Longer storage of mint is possible if you first make a short heat treatment.
- Wash the mint.
- Dip the branches of the plant in boiling water for a few seconds, and then immediately in cold water.
- Shake off the grass and place in a plastic container or plastic bag.
- Send the packaged mint to the freezer.
Freezing mint for drinks
If you are a fan of mint cocktails and chilled drinks, prepare the spice as follows:
- Rinse and dry the grass.
- Separate the leaves.
- Chop the greens.
- Divide the shredded leaves into ice cube trays.
- Fill the mold with water and send it to the freezer.
Keeping mint dry
The best way to store mint is to dry it. In dried form, the plant can be freely stored for more than a year without fear of damage or loss of useful properties.
- As soon as you cut the sprigs of mint, immediately send them to the shade. Under the influence of direct sunlight, the plant loses essential oils, and it is they that contain the lion's share of healing components.
- Stems with leaves are tied in several pieces in bunches and hung in a well-ventilated and shaded room - in the attic, in a secluded place on a balcony or veranda. Inflow fresh air will not allow the leaves to debate and will help the plant dry faster.
- If you plan to dry the leaves exclusively, separate them from the mint stems and spread them out on paper or clean cloth (still away from direct sunlight). From time to time, the leaves must be turned over.
- When the spice is dry, it should be transferred to paper bags or pouches. An alternative would be glassware with a lid - jars and bowls.
- The dried herb is stored in dark place at room temperature during two years.
Mint is a unique plant. It is widely used in cooking, medicine, and cosmetology. Fragrant green bushes can be purchased at the market or in the store, or you can grow in your garden. Although this culture is not as simple as it seems at first glance. It is much more difficult to preserve the product for a long time.
If you often cook with this seasoning, like to add leaves to tea, or use plants for medicinal purposes, learn how to store mint at home. You can do it different ways, choose a convenient option for yourself.
Fresh storage
Mint, like any greens, has a limited shelf life. After cutting, it stays fresh for several hours, and then withers quickly. The bunches of greens are usually large and are not completely consumed at once. Here's how to store fresh mint properly to use it longer:
- Place the twigs in a jar with clean water, after removing the lower leaves and cutting off the edge of the stems. Keep container cool and change fluid once a day. This will save the product for 3-4 days in its original form.
- Fold clean, dry leaves in a bag and tie it tightly to keep air out. Place the workpiece in a dark and cold place. You can store mint in this way for up to 3 days.
- If you need to preserve the freshness of the product a short time, no more than a day, wrap the twigs with a dense damp cloth. Make sure that the material does not dry out, for this you can wrap it with plastic.
If necessary, more long-term storage fresh greens keep mint in the refrigerator:
- Plants will stay fresh for up to 5 days if kept in a jar of water on the bottom shelf of the main compartment. Cover the tops with a clear bag to help reduce moisture loss.
- Fresh mint can be stored in plastic food containers for up to 7-10 days. For this, clean, dry shoots are suitable, you do not need to pick off the leaves. The best place for containers with mint will be the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator.
For how else you can store fresh herbs in the kitchen, see a short video:
However, these are all recipes for the summer. How to properly collect and save mint for the winter, read below.
Harvesting rules for the winter
The most valuable plants are those that only emit buds and are in the initial phase of flowering. It is then that the concentration of essential oils and other useful substances in them reaches the maximum level. IN flowering plants there is less benefit, so it is important not to miss a moment.
- The harvest time is in July-August, depending on the region and climatic conditions.
- Harvesting mint for the winter should take place in dry weather.
- Cutting greens is best done early in the morning, before dew appears on the leaves, or late in the evening, when there is no scorching sun.
Do you know that…
If you grow mint yourself, for winter harvesting choose bushes at the age of 2-3 years. Cut off the top third of the stem where the young green leaves are. The rest of the plant is not suitable for processing - too rough.
Cutting can be done several times per season. On a 3-year-old plant - up to 3 times a month
Carefully inspect the collected branches and remove any yellowed, damaged and diseased ones. Rinse the herbs under running water, dry well.
Choose in advance how to prepare mint for the whole winter. It can be frozen in the freezer or dried. In any case, do not delay the processing process if you want the mint to survive properly.
Freezing for culinary purposes
Freezing allows you to save as much as possible the nutrients that mint is rich in. Many housewives prepare such a product for the winter. It is convenient and does not take much time. When low temperatures 6-9 months without loss of quality and appearance.
If you choose this method, here are some options for freezing mint for the winter:
- Prepared branches in the amount of 5-10 pcs. fold whole in regular packing bags. Place them in the freezer. A day later, when the stems and leaves are frozen, put them more densely, in one common package, so that they do not take up space.
- Finely chop the herbs with a knife, place the slices in containers with a lid. Then immediately send them to the camera for storage. You can do the same with whole leaves if you need such a blank format.
- Freeze plant tops and leaves for making drinks in ice cubes. Put greens in molds and cover with chilled boiled water. After a day, remove the container from the chamber, pour the cubes into the bag and immediately put it back in the freezer.
The latter method is ideal for making mojitos, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. Together with whole mint leaves, you can add a piece of orange or lemon zest, cut into long strips and twisted in a spiral, to the blank.
Tip of the day
Do not remove the blanks from the freezer until they are used. Do not re-freeze food. Spoil yourself both the dish and the mood.
Waste-free freezing technology is shown in this video:
Frozen mint greens are ideal for cooking, but not good for medicine. If you need plants for this very purpose, then use the traditional method of harvesting raw materials - drying. How to properly dry mint and how to store it, read below.
Drying of medicinal raw materials
Drying mint is very simple. This is best done at room temperature, without using an oven or electric dryer. This will maximize the preservation of vitamins and nutrients in the greenery.
There are two ways to dry mint at home:
- Tie the plants into small bunches. Hang the workpieces in a dry, protected from sunlight, ventilated place. This can be a shed, attic, shed or veranda in the house. The apartment has a balcony with closed windows... Cooking time is 7-10 days, but everything is individual. The plants must dry completely. Check readiness before storing bundles. Well-dried leaves and stems can be easily kneaded with your fingers.
- To dry individual leaves for the winter, separate them from the stems and spread them on the fabric in a small layer. Check and turn raw materials periodically. And in this case, choose a well-ventilated, semi-dark room. The leaves dried in the light lose their color and aroma.
How to dry the mint collected from the garden or purchased depends on its subsequent use:
- The stems are the basis for the medicine.
- Leaves are allowed to be used in different ways.
After the end of the drying process, do not grind them into crumbs, do this before use. Drink with them, prepare mint infusions, or add to cooking.
The medicinal properties of mint are used very widely: from brewing teas during a cold to healing baths with skin rashes
We answer the question: how much can you store mint infusion?
Mint infusion can be used no more than a day and only it stands in the refrigerator. With longer storage, it changes chemical composition, it becomes at least useless.
Tincture of alcohol is suitable for treatment for about a year. After that, its composition will also begin to change and deteriorate due to the interaction of alcohol and substances contained in mint.
Drying mint greens is convenient for those who want to make preparations for a long time. Shelf life medicinal plant the maximum is until the next harvest.
Storage rules for workpieces
The shelf life of any product depends on its storage conditions. Mint is no exception. Freezing just can't be taken out of the freezer. How to store dried mint properly?
- Place dry bundles in cloth bags or cardboard boxes.
- For crumbs and leaves, choose glass containers that are tightly closed with lids.
- Tin containers from tea or are also suitable for storage, but they should not remain odorless.
- Keep your workpieces in a cool, dark place. Ideal temperature+6 ⁰C or slightly more.
- Avoid the interaction of dry raw materials with moisture, light, strong odors and food.
- For long-term storage, choose a cold corridor, a veranda at home. The apartment uses a pantry or balcony for this.
- Do not leave the product for more than a year, harvest new greens in the summer.
Do you know that…
There are a great variety of mint varieties. They need to be stored in different containers, because they have a completely different, unique smell, taste and aftertaste trail.
As you can see, keeping fresh, freezing, drying and storing mint is very easy. Try several ways to find the best one for you.
Store properly and be healthy!
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Do you like refreshing drinks with mint or savory meat dishes and salads? Faced with the fact that the plant quickly withers and loses its aroma. Learn how to store mint so you can enjoy its refreshing scent and taste at all times.
How to store mint in the refrigerator?
If you purchased or cut fragrant greens and did not use them, store them in the refrigerator. To prevent the mint from wilting, rinse the twigs with leaves thoroughly and shake a little from excess water... Wrap in damp gauze or towel and refrigerate.
The washed greens can be placed in a plastic container and covered with a lid. If you don't have a suitable container, place the fragrant twigs in a disposable bag and tie tightly to keep out air. You can also put the herbs in a glass of water. Mint can be stored in the refrigerator for 4-5 days.
How to store mint for a long time?
The harvesting season for these fragrant greens is late July - early August. At this time, it contains the largest amount of essential oils. Knowing how to store fresh mint properly can help you enjoy it. pleasant aroma throughout the year.
If you want to prepare mint for the winter, then know that you can do this in two ways:
Freezing;
Before freezing greens, rinse them thoroughly and let dry. Fold the prepared twigs and leaves into bags or containers and send them to the freezer. For mojitos and other cold drinks, mint can be frozen in ice cube trays. Fill the molds with water, placing a couple of clean mint leaves in each compartment. Freeze.