Harvesting Mint
Harvest just before the mint flowers for the best flavor. The oils are most concentrated in the plant leaves at this stage, so your mint will be the most delicious just before it flowers. However, you can harvest any time from late spring to early fall. The mint will flower in the summertime. If you notice flower buds, just pluck them off so the plant uses its energy to grow more leaves instead of to produce flowers.
Pick the mint in the morning. The best time to harvest your mint is after the dew has dried but before it gets too hot. Head out to your garden in the morning to collect the stems. Wait until the dew dries so the excess moisture doesn't rot the leaves after you pluck them.
Cut off individual stems if you only need a few leaves. There’s not much to it—just use your pruners to trim off a few stems that look good. Wherever you clip the stems, the mint will grow new stems that branch off, leading to more mint. Then, simply pluck the leaves from the stems. The smallest, youngest stems usually have the most flavor.
Trim the plant down to the first set of leaves for a larger harvest. Get out your clippers and cut the mint down to 4–6 inches (10–15 cm), or between the first and second set of leaves. The plant will grow back and produce more mint, so don’t worry. You can do this once or twice per season to harvest lots of mint leaves at once.
Keep harvesting mint throughout the growing season. Even after you pluck off stems or cut down the plant, your mint will just keep growing! From spring to fall, you’ll have fresh mint any time you want it. Mint will spread and could take over your garden if you don’t harvest it continually.
Rinse and dry the leaves just before you use them. Once you're ready to use the mint, wash the leaves and stems gently with warm water to remove any dirt or debris. Make sure you dry the mint really well, as excess moisture causes them to go bad more quickly. Mint has the best flavor when it's fresh, so only harvest as much as you'll use within a day or two whenever possible.
Storing Mint
Stick the stems in water if you’ll use them within a week. Fill up a glass or jar with a little bit of water and drop your mint stems into it. Keep the container in the fridge and your mint will be good for around 7 days. Change out the water every few days.
Store the mint in a plastic bag in the fridge for up to 7 days. To keep the mint from drying out, wrap it in a damp paper towel. Then, wrap it in plastic or pop it into a plastic bag. Stick it in the fridge and use it within a week.
Freeze extra mint so it lasts longer. Lay out your mint leaves on a tray in a single layer and pop it in the freezer. Once the leaves are frozen (at least 30 minutes), take the tray out and dump the leaves into a plastic bag. Squeeze out all of the air and stick the bag back in the freezer. They’ll last for 1 year. Some herbs need to be blanched before freezing, but you’re in luck because mint isn’t one of them!
Create mint ice cubes to pop into drinks and dishes. Chop up your mint leaves and pack them into an ice cube tray. Carefully fill the rest of the tray with water and freeze it. You can either toss these minty ice cubes in drinks or add them right to your pan!
Dry your mint so you can use it for years to come. Cut a bunch of mint stems and tie them together near the cut end. Hang them upside down in a dark, dry room with a temperature between 70 and 90 °F (21 and 32 °C) for about 2 weeks. When all of the leaves are crispy, pluck them from the stems. Crumble them up if desired, then store them in an airtight glass container. Keep your glass container out of the sun and the mint should last 1 to 3 years.
Using Mint
Toss fresh leaves into your favorite recipes. Once you’ve harvested your mint, it’s easy to pop a few leaves or sprigs into any dish. Mint goes especially well with peas. It also pairs perfectly with pork and lamb. You can even add chopped mint to sorbet or fruit salad for a tangy treat!
Make mint tea with your freshly harvested leaves. You can have a warm cuppa anytime you want if you’ve got mint in your garden! Just put a couple of leaves in a cup and pour boiling water over top. Steep for up to 5 minutes, then sweeten your tea to your liking.
Freshen up your drinks with mint ice cubes or garnishes. Mint is a staple in many delectable cocktails from a mojito to a mint julep, the official drink of the Kentucky Derby. Toss some mint ice cubes into water, lemonade, or your favorite cocktail. You can even muddle the mint or use it as a garnish to add a sweet, herbaceous flavor to any beverage. You can even toss mint ice cubes right into your pan as you’re cooking!
Add frozen leaves to your dishes without defrosting them. Thawing herbs makes them limp, so skip that step! Just toss the frozen mint right into your recipe as you’re cooking.
Sprinkle dried mint into your recipes for a fresh taste year-round. Add dried herbs to your dishes when you first start cooking so they have plenty of time to impart their flavor. For your reference, 1 tablespoon of freshly chopped herbs is equal to 1 teaspoon of dried whole or crumbled herbs and ¼ teaspoon of dried powdered herbs.
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