Mint gives a wonderful flavor to savory and sweet recipes. Because it's such a versatile ingredient, it's always good to keep it fresh for your recipes. It lasts up to a week in plastic bags and two weeks in pots, but you can also freeze it if you like. Freezing whole leaves is a good option for those who want to prepare savory meals or meat; making ice cubes from the chopped herb is an alternative for those who prefer to use it in drinks, desserts, soups and even home remedies.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Using plastic bags
Step 1. If you washed the mint, tap it to dry it
Wet grass spoils faster than dry grass. As a general rule, you should not wash the mint before storing it. However, if it has already been washed, take a piece of paper towel and press the sheets gently to dry them.
Step 2. Wet a sheet of paper towels in cold water
Wet two squares of paper and wring out the excess water afterwards. The paper should be damp but not soaked.
Step 3. Wrap the mint in paper towels
Place the bundle in the middle of the paper and wrap the other half loosely around the top. This will prevent the herb from dehydrating in the fridge.
Step 4. Place the wrapped mint on paper towels in a ziploc bag
Choose a bag large enough to hold the grass without crushing the leaves. Seal the top by pulling the zipper. Do not remove all the air from the bag.
If you don't have a big enough ziploc, you can use a grocery bag and roll up the ends. You can also trim the mint to fit the bag
Step 5. Place the bag in the refrigerator
Lay the mint aside on a shelf inside the refrigerator. Don't put anything on top of the bag, or you will crush the herb and it will be harder to cook with it.
Step 6. Wash the mint before using it in your recipes
When you want to consume it, just take the herb out of the fridge. To wash it without damaging its delicate leaves, fill a bowl with cold water. Hold the sprig of mint by the stem, dip the leaves in water, shake off the excess and dry with a paper towel.
Step 7. Throw away the mint after a week or when it starts to get dark and gooey
The herb usually lasts about a week with this storage method. The leaves will start to darken and wither when it spoils.
Method 2 of 4: Storing in Water
Step 1. Trim the end of the mint
Remove it from the elastic (if it's wrapped around one) and use kitchen scissors to cut about 3 cm from the end of the stem. If there are leaves near that area, pull them out.
- This method is great for market-bought or home-grown mints.
- You don't need to wash the mint before doing this. Ideally, wait until it's time to use it. If you have already washed it, dry it before putting it away to prevent it from spoiling too quickly.
Step 2. Place two fingers of cold water in a bowl or jar
Use just a little water. You can choose small jars, cups or bowls.
Step 3. Transfer the mint to the jar
The ends of the stems should touch the water. Let the herb spread around the edge of the jar.
Step 4. Place a plastic bag over the bottle
It can be a grocery bag or a ziploc. Gently pull the top of the bag over the jar, taking care not to crush or press on the leaves.
- If you have chosen a tall container with a lid, use the lid instead of the bag. But be careful she doesn't crush the leaves.
- If the bag is loose around the bottle, use a rubber band to hold it in place.
Step 5. Place the bottle on a shelf in the refrigerator
To avoid spilling the water contained in it, do not place it on top of other objects. Leave it directly on a shelf to keep the mint safe.
Step 6. Change the water every two to three days
It will turn a strange color after a while. Take the mint out of the fridge, hold it gently with one hand while draining the jar with the other. Refill the bottle with two fingers of water.
Step 7. Wash the mint when you are ready to use it
Trim the leaves from the stems and place them in a bowl of cold water. Shake off excess water and repeat the process if there is dirt on the leaves. Dry with a paper towel.
Step 8. Throw away the mint after two weeks
The water in the bottle will keep the herb fresh during this period. Keep the sheets in place until you use them in your recipes. Discard the herb when it starts to darken and wither.
You may notice new roots coming out of the stems. This is perfectly normal
Method 3 of 4: Freezing Whole Sheets
Step 1. Spread mint leaves on a baking sheet
They should be spread side by side, in a single layer. Do not let the stems or leaves touch each other, otherwise they may freeze together.
- You can also use a shallow pot, such as a skillet, for this.
- Mint should not be washed before storing it. If you do, dry it completely with a paper towel. Too much water can freeze herbs.
Step 2. Place the tray in the freezer for two to three hours
Do not put anything on top of the mint to prevent it from being crushed and the leaves sticking together.
Step 3. Transfer the frozen leaves from the tray into a plastic bag that can go to the freezer
Remove the freezer tray and place the leaflets in the plastic bag. At this point, the sheets can touch each other.
You can use a pot with a lid to store the mint in the freezer. In this case, it can be difficult to remove all the air from the container and the herbs may not fit properly
Step 4. Remove the air from the bag that was placed in the freezer
There are many ways to do this. You can squeeze the air by pressing the bag when closing it or suck it up with a straw and close the bag quickly. Another option is to suck in air with a straw before quickly closing the bag. If you have a vacuum sealer, use it for best results.
Step 5. Write the storage date on the bag of mint before taking it to the freezer
The date must indicate the day of storage and expiration of the product. Place the mint on a shelf in the freezer and leave nothing on top of it.
You don't need to defrost the herb to use it in your recipes
Step 6. Cook with the same frozen mint
It is not necessary to defrost or water it before cooking. The flavor and texture are enhanced when the herb is frozen.
Step 7. Dry it with a paper towel if you are not going to use it right away
If you want to keep the herb fresh, thaw it for a few hours. Place a piece of paper towel under it to help absorb water from the leaves. Then carefully dip it into a bowl of water.
Step 8. Discard frozen mint leaves after 6 months
The herb only lasts 6 months in the freezer, so throw it away after that time.
Mint that dehydrates and fades in the freezer should not be used. Throw away any leaves that appear to be spoiled
Method 4 of 4: Freezing in Cubes
Step 1. Chop the mint
Stack several leaves and roll them up before chopping them into small pieces. Do this until you cut everything.
You can wash the mint in advance if you like, but that doesn't make much of a difference
Step 2. Fill an ice pan halfway with mint leaves
Fill each compartment halfway, pressing the leaves to keep them inside the cubes.
Step 3. Cover the mint with water
Fill the rest of the compartment with water, but be careful not to overflow. You can use a teaspoon to slowly add small amounts of water.
Do not place the mint ice cube tray under taps. The flow of water can fill the trays very quickly and expel the mint from the cubes
Step 4. Keep the mold in the freezer for up to six months
Place it on a shelf in the freezer and don't leave anything on top of it. The herb will freeze in a few hours and can last up to six months with this method of storage.
- If the tray has a lid, use it to avoid the risk of contamination.
- Discard the mint if it's faded. As this can be difficult to notice, you should never use frozen cubes after six months.
Step 5. Pass the mint cube in a sieve when you want to use it in a recipe
You can also use paper towels or calico. Simply place the cube on top of the cloth and suspend it over a cup. When the ice melts, the chopped mint will remain on the fabric.
The ice water will rinse the herb, so you don't need to wash it off afterwards
Step 6. Place mint cubes directly into drinks
If you want to use the herb in lemonade, margaritas or just in water, take one or two cubes from the tray, put them in a glass and fill it with your drink. When the ice melts, the drink will be infused with a very refreshing mint flavor.
