Everyone knows what menthol is, but not everyone knows that it is made from mint essential oil. Mint is common everywhere: in cooking, in folk remedies, in cosmetics. The scent of mint has refreshing properties: it's no surprise that tiny bunches of mints have been hung in homes since ancient times. Mint is a very useful, but delicate plant, withering for several days and even hours after harvest, and anyone who wants to keep mint for a long time needs to know the rules for storing it.
How to store mint
There are several simple and effective ways to save mint. When fresh, it is recommended to store it in the refrigerator, freeze or dry.
Ways to keep fresh mint
To preserve this plant for a long time, mint bunches are thoroughly washed, laid out and gently blotted with a napkin. The mint can then be placed in either a paper bag or a container with a damp towel over them. It is recommended to take a waffle towel for best results. In this form, the package or container is placed in the refrigerator. Using this method, you can keep mint fresh for two to four days.
Mint for the winter: how to save?
To keep mint until winter, you should freeze it. There are several proven ways to freeze mint, but in order for mint not to 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 greatest amount of useful essential oil.
As in the previous method, the mint should be washed and dried thoroughly with a napkin or towel. Next, there are several options for mint packaging.
- You can carefully and not too tightly fold the mint into a small container and put it in the freezer. After a few hours, you need to fold the leaves more tightly, but do it quickly so that the mint does not have time to melt. You can then safely store the mint in the freezer compartment of a simple refrigerator.
- Another way is even simpler: you will need to cut mint leaves and sprigs 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 ice containers, pour water and freeze.
How to store dried mint
It is worth drying mature plants containing a large supply of essential oils. Mint bunches 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 on fabric. When the mint dries well, 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 recommended not to use wooden, ceramic and plastic utensils, as these substances can absorb essential oil. Dried mint should be stored in dark, dry and cool places.
Mint is a plant that is used not only for decorative purposes, but also in cooking, medicine, and perfumery.
To feel its aroma, just rub the leaf lightly. When the flowering period comes, the air around is filled with a pleasant smell - soothing and pacifying.
Growing mint is easy: plant one root, and the next year there will be a small bright green plantation. If the grass is not used fresh and not harvested for future use, then by autumn the stems will turn black and will have to be thrown away.
Therefore, it is reasonable to use fresh mint as much as possible in the season. It is not bad to save it for the winter, to add to dishes and brew fragrant tea.
Features of storing fresh mint
Mint can be harvested at the end of June. At this time, its leaves were sufficiently filled with useful substances and solar energy.
Freshly cut mint wilts quickly. Therefore, to keep it even for a short period, you can not do without a refrigerator. You can use several methods to keep mint from wilting for several days.
- Place the plant in a food container. Wet a waffle towel and place on top. Place the container in the refrigerator. Do not cover with lid. Once a day, remove those leaves that have begun to deteriorate. Mint will stay fresh for five days.
- Wrap the stems in a damp towel. Find enough space on the shelf in the refrigerator so that nothing interferes with the plant. Mint will not fade for 5 days, no more.
- Pack the leaves in a new plastic bag, squeeze out the air as much as possible and close. The plant will keep fresh for 3-4 days.
If the mint will be used after an hour or two, then it is enough to cover it with a damp towel and leave it on the kitchen table.
The plant can also be placed in a vase or other container with water.
How to save mint for the winter
It depends on how mint is stored, whether it retains its healing properties and aroma.
For long-term storage of grass, you can use two methods:
- freezing;
- drying.
Freezing is preferred as it allows more of the original aroma and flavor to be retained in the mint.
Freezing mint
Storing mint in the freezer is a simple and popular way.
Necessary:
- Wash mint under running water and pat dry.
- Put in a container and send to the freezer.
For 6–8 months, the plant remains in a state that is quite suitable for use.
You can freeze mint in another way:
- Put the leaves in an ice mold (2-3 pieces in each cell).
- Pour in cool boiled water.
- Put the mold in the freezer for a day.
- Remove mint cubes and place in a plastic bag or container.
- Send the container back to the freezer.
Mint, preserved in this way, can be used not only in the preparation of drinks and other dishes, but also for cosmetic purposes.
Dry storage of mint
During the drying process, the medicinal plant loses water and is stored for many years. But useful properties, aroma - all this goes away over time. Therefore, stocks of dried mint need to be renewed annually.
Festive video recipe:
It is better to cut the grass for drying before flowering - it has more menthol, which will provide a pleasant taste.
Dry the mint like this:
- Cut the stems with a knife or pruner to about a third of the length.
- Rinse and let water drain.
- Lay out in a shady place for about a week.
The stems can be tied into small bundles and hung under the roof.
Dried mint should be crushed, poured into a linen bag or jar. You can store it in a pantry or kitchen cabinet.
In a similar way, only the leaves are dried and preserved.
Mint is a useful plant. In summer, you can use fresh leaves and stems. But it is impossible to grow mint all year round in our climate zone, so it is advisable to keep the plant dry or frozen. Mint will not take up much space either in the pantry or in the refrigerator. But at any time you can drink mint tea, prepare another drink or dessert with fragrant leaves.
The fragrant plant is grown for food, medicinal purposes, for perfumes and as an ornamental crop. While in the flowering phase, mint exudes a soothing scent that promotes relaxation. Planting a single root will provide you with a harvest for the next season, sufficient for fresh consumption and harvesting for future use. By figuring out how to store mint, you will provide your family with a unique seasoning and tea brew for the whole winter.
The storage conditions of mint determine the presence of medicinal characteristics and aroma in it. In order to harvest grass for a long time, it can be dried or frozen. Until recently, drying was considered the only way to preserve the culture. However, when frozen, the maximum amount of useful substances, the original taste and bright smell remain in the plant.
Raw material preparation
Mint cutting for the purpose of harvesting begins at the end of June and continues until autumn:
- harvest time is determined by the beginning of flowering;
- the best is the raw material of plants of the second or third year;
- it is recommended to collect plants in the morning and evening hours, in the absence of dew, in warm, dry weather;
- it is necessary to cut off a third of the branch, because essential oils and other active substances are concentrated in leaves, flowers, stem tops.
On the remaining stem, fresh growth will have time to appear before the end of the season..
How to store fresh mint
Fresh mint will keep well in the refrigerator for up to a week. To do this, the branches are wrapped in a moistened towel or placed in a container. If you want to put mint in a plastic bag, you need to make sure that air does not enter the container.
Drying mint
Drying mint does not require much effort and time:
- cut stems are easier to keep tied in bunches that are hung in a shaded, ventilated room;
- it is proposed to experiment and add sprigs of other spicy herbs to the collection, giving a variety of shades to mint drinks;
- if cut plants are stacked to dry on pallets, the layers should not be thick. Raw materials are regularly mixed.
Readiness is determined by the leaves - if they are easily separated from the stem and crumble, it's time to chop the mint and store it in paper bags and glass jars.
plant freezing
In order to have fragrant greens on the table all year round, you need to pay attention to the winter frost. Today, there are several options for freezing. At the same time, the color of the leaves, fresh taste and useful characteristics are preserved. Whole leaves are used for brewing tea, decorating dishes, making desserts, cocktails. The crushed billet is suitable for sauces and pastries.
whole leaves
Cut greens are placed for five minutes in cold water, regardless of the place of growth, washed under the tap and laid out in a thin layer on towels. It will take half an hour to get rid of excess moisture. Acceleration of the process is possible by mixing the raw materials.
Dried mint is sorted: large, healthy leaves and the upper part of the shoots are placed in small jars or plastic containers. Use plastic bags incorrectly: the workpiece becomes too fragile. The filled container goes to the freezer.
Whole branches
Freezing stems with leaves is not prohibited. A dense package is stuffed with portioned bunches of mint, carefully folded into a tube and placed in a freezer. During the procedure, you need to monitor the safety of the leaves.
finely chopped
Mint leaves are useful in the winter in a crushed or pureed form. It is convenient to perform such freezing in special mini-forms or liners from under assorted sweets. Leaves are cut off from the washed branches and left for 10 minutes to dry. The prepared raw material is finely chopped with a knife or crushed in a blender. The resulting puree is placed in molds and placed in the freezer. The frozen workpiece is poured into bags of dense polyethylene and closed hermetically.
In ice cubes
To freeze mint leaves in ice cubes, you need to get silicone molds or a special container. Tender leaves and tops of stems are laid out in the cells in the amount of 4-6 pieces and poured with chilled boiled water. The blanks are placed in the freezer for several hours, removed from the molds and transferred to plastic bags. This method of freezing allows you to keep the leaves whole, which looks beneficial and elegant in various drinks.
Mint leaves are used as a spice in many cuisines around the world. They are added to soups, main courses, refreshing drinks, desserts.
Traditional medicine recommends mint tea as an excellent remedy for nausea and stomach cramps. It helps to cope with stress, calm tachycardia and fall asleep quickly after a hard day. It is also indicated for liver diseases. Such a medicine is not only useful, but also very tasty.
Mint leaf compresses are effective as an anti-inflammatory and healing agent. A bath with mint infusion will relieve skin rashes, allergies, redness.
Mint in a glass (photo source - vizardis.livejournal.com)
How to store mint if cut branches wither without water within 2-3 hours? To extend this period as much as possible, do as with flowers - cut the stems obliquely, cut off all the leaves that will stand in the water and put the “bouquet” in a glass, jar or low vase. Remember to pour fresh water every day. So you can keep fresh for 3-4 days.
If no container is available, cover the plants with a damp cloth.
Another way is to use an airtight plastic container or a ziplock plastic bag. Fold absolutely dry leaves there, close and put in a cool dark place. To protect the transparent packaging from direct sunlight, cover it with a thick cloth. The shelf life is about the same.
Immediately remove the plastic or cellophane packaging from the mint purchased in the store and rinse the leaves thoroughly and leave to dry on paper towels or a clean cloth.
mint in the fridge
Mint in a bag (photo source - vizardis.livejournal.com)
A little more - 7-10 days mint will lie in the refrigerator. Tear off clean green leaves without damage, yellow spots and signs of wilting. Place in an airtight container and store in the fruit and vegetable compartment.
Mint in a paper napkin or towel will last 5-7 days.
If the plants have already begun to wilt, you can slow this process down by 3-4 days by placing the stems in a glass of cold water and refrigerate. Top with a plastic bag.
Keeping mint in the refrigerator will relieve you of an unpleasant musty smell. In this case, you do not need to close it.
Frozen mint keeps well through the winter. It produces the same tasty and healthy teas, decoctions, desserts.
The plants are washed, dried, the leaves are torn off, put in a plastic bag, air is released, tightly tied and put in the freezer. No need to stuff the bag tightly. After a few hours, if it takes up a lot of space, the leaves can be laid more tightly. But the operation must be carried out quickly so that they do not have time to thaw.
If there is a quick freeze mode, put the mint leaves on a tray and turn it on for 7-10 minutes. Then pack in bags and put away for permanent storage.
Less space is occupied by molds for ice. Mint is finely chopped, put in them, filled with water and sent to the freezer. Then you will get very beautiful and originally designed cocktails. This method of harvesting for the winter is suitable if you plan to make teas or decoctions.
Most often, to save mint for the winter, it is dried. To preserve the maximum nutrients and aroma, cut the plants in late July or early August. Choose a dry day - mint picked immediately after or during rain, after drying, will not acquire a pleasant greenish, but an ugly brown color.
Of course, plants should not be collected along roadsides, near livestock farms and farms that use chemical fertilizers abundantly.
You can dry both whole stems and individual leaves. The first ones are tied in several pieces with a thick thread, the second ones are laid out on trays, clean paper or cloth. You can leave them outside in a well-ventilated place, out of direct sunlight. You can dry at home, but also in a natural way. Dried in an oven or an electric dryer, mint almost completely loses its aroma.
Drying, depending on the weather, will take 10-14 days. Ready leaves are easy to grind into crumbs.
"Brooms" are stored in the same form in clean cloth bags. Sometimes they are finely broken and poured into glass or tin containers with tight-fitting lids. Ceramic, porcelain, wood and plastic containers are not recommended as they may absorb essential oils. The same is done with dried leaves, ground into powder and whole.
Dried mint is best stored in a dry place at room temperature, away from direct sunlight and heat sources.
Your brownie
P.S. There are many recipes for mint jam. But not all of them turn out to be a beautiful, amber color or can be stored for a long time. Watch the video, which reveals the secrets of making this wonderful dessert.
Now mint, in the family of which there are more than three hundred species and which grows almost everywhere where people live (with the exception of deserts and northern latitudes), is actively used in cooking, herbal medicine and folk medicine.
Since it is needed at any time of the year, and, moreover, with the maximum content of useful qualities, it is important to properly collect and dry it.
What plants are suitable for drying?
In order for the mint you have collected to be not just a dry, useless herb, but a real receptacle for the best culinary and medicinal properties, you should follow a few important rules when collecting it:
1. You should not collect plants near roads and industrial enterprises, if, in addition to aroma and pleasant taste sensations, you do not want to get impurities of any harmful substances into the load.
2. Young mint is not suitable for harvesting, because it does not retain aroma and medicinal properties, and also dries out significantly during the drying process.
3. If you want to dry the leaves with stems, you must wait for the plants to fully bloom. Only leaves can be collected before flowering, but after the inflorescences are set. The highest content of essential oil is in a mature plant. During the flowering period, mint becomes most fragrant.
4. Cut the mint one third of the length of the main stem. In this case, the plant will be able to grow back, and you will get another extra crop or even two during the season.
5. It is important to start collecting in dry weather, and also after the dew disappears, otherwise the mint will not remain green and after drying it may turn brown.
6. For drying, it is necessary to take only high-quality material: discard damaged and diseased plants immediately.
Dry mint properly
And now the mint is collected, washed from dust in cold running water and thoroughly dried for several hours in the shade on paper towels (or in a centrifuge, if you have one on your farm). After that, you can proceed to the main drying.
If you have collected leaves with stems, you can make small loose bunches of them to ensure free access of air to each plant, and tie them loosely.
In this case, bunches of mint are hung on specially prepared wooden poles or ropes.
Individual leaves are laid out in a thin layer on paper or on a piece of natural fabric. Perhaps somewhere on a closet in the room.
An attic, porch, balcony or barn is also suitable, but in any case, it is necessary to provide shade and good ventilation. Places where dust often and easily gets in should also be avoided.
The impact of the sun on plants is unacceptable, because. at the same time, their useful properties are lost. To protect the material from direct sunlight, in some cases, home-made "caps" are used, wrapping suspended bunches of grass with paper (newspapers). Only the plants in these bags should be placed freely so as not to "suffocate".
High humidity in the room is also unacceptable, otherwise the raw materials may rot. For better drying of lying leaves, they should be stirred or turned over from time to time.
A comfortable temperature for drying mint is from 20 to 30 degrees Celsius.
By the way, if the purpose of harvesting mint is to brew herbal tea, you can dry several plants together. So it turns out an interesting, fragrant and healthy collection.
For example, mint leaves (a small amount) along with raspberry, currant and cherry leaves.
In this case, similar drying conditions are observed.
Is speed drying allowed?
Vegetables and fruits harvested for the winter are often dried at home in ovens or electric dryers, which today can be purchased at almost any electrical store. But is it possible to dry herbs in this way and, in particular, mint?
In principle, it is possible, but only under the only condition: if you provide a temperature no higher than 30 degrees. Higher readings on the thermometer will "kill" the taste, aroma and medicinal properties of the plant.
Since the collection of mint is carried out mainly from the end of July to the end of August, the necessary temperature regime for its drying is already provided by nature. So conditionally accelerated drying justifies itself except in a rainy summer.
Storing dried mint
To save space, some housewives grind the grass or even grind it into powder.
This is allowed, but still it is best to leave this product whole, in leaves and even with stems, so it retains all its unique taste and aroma.
The best places to store spices are glass jars with ground-in lids or natural fabric bags (cotton or linen).
Hermetic vessels made of ceramics or wood, vacuum packaging and zip-lock bags are also used, although it is still preferable to do without plastic and cellophane, which can absorb essential oils. For the same reason, it is not recommended to use paper or any cardboard containers.
Store properly packaged mint in a dark and dry place, away from heating appliances.
Mint retains its best properties for no more than two years, no matter how carefully it is stored, so try to always mark the harvest date on the package and do not forget to review your stocks from time to time.
If your mint is stale, but it’s a pity to throw it away, you can add it to bath water. It is pleasant and beneficial for the skin.
An alternative to dried mint?
Recently, when freezers have appeared in many owners of the house, they are trying to freeze various products, because in the case of quick freezing, their color, taste and aromatic properties can be perfectly preserved.
Suitable for freezing and mint. For this, freshly cut plants are taken, washed in cold running water and dried well.
They are divided into “portioned” bundles, wrapped in aluminum foil and sent to the freezer.
It should be remembered that mint can both give off and absorb different odors, so you need to think carefully about its neighborhood with other products.
And yet, after weighing all the pros and cons of this method, you will agree that the old, traditional way of drying and storing mint will never let you down.
If you carefully thought through the whole process and did everything right.
So let's sum it up:
- the best time for harvesting mint: July-August, the period of budding and flowering;
- necessary conditions for collection: dry weather, mid-day, favorable environmental conditions;
- drying conditions: 20-30 degrees heat, shaded place, airing;
- best storage conditions: dark place, well-closed glass container or cloth bag.
By observing these conditions, you can enjoy fragrant and healthy mint tea at any time of the year, cook a delicious dish or put your health in order.
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