Mint is a valuable medicinal plant with an unsurpassed aroma. It is used as a stimulant, as an aid in the treatment of stomach ailments, as an aromatic spice in drinks and food. In order for mint to please you in winter, the grass should be properly harvested. To preserve nutrients and vitamins, it is better to freeze the plant, but you can also dry this fragrant culture.

Rules for collecting mint for winter harvesting

To harvest mint, you should follow the basic rules for collecting:

Advice. Of course, you should not harvest mint near roads or livestock farms. Also, you must be sure that the area is not treated with chemicals or fertilizers. Otherwise, instead of useful tool you can get harmful.

For the collected mint, you can organize a short-term storage place in the refrigerator. Wrap leaves or shoots in dry paper towels and place in a resealable container or plastic bag. This method will preserve the aroma and taste of mint for about 1 month. Then parts of the plant will darken, become limp and lose their medicinal properties. For longer storage, there are other options.

How to freeze mint for the winter

For long-term freezing to be successful, first of all, after cutting or buying mint, place it in water for a few minutes. For these purposes, you can use a large shallow container. After that, rinse the greens under running water, shake off and place in a single layer on a dry towel. Do not cover the top with anything. Ted the grass periodically. It will take about half an hour for the plants to dry.

Advice. For more long term you can’t leave the washed mint - it will fade and become unsuitable for freezing.

Advice. Delayed young plant parts should be frozen separately. They are distinguished by a more subtle and delicate aroma and taste, therefore they have a slightly different purpose in cooking.

Other methods of long-term freezing differ little from those described according to the algorithm of actions:

• whole plants can also be frozen in bags: the stem will withstand the load, if not crushed and broken before being sent to the freezer;
• you can finely chop the plant before freezing;
• another option is a slurry of mint ground in a blender, an excellent ingredient for baking;
• for cocktails, you can make frozen tender mint leaves in ice cubes. To do this, use a standard freezing of water in silicone containers.

Advice. Be sure to sign the contents of the freeze so that you don’t get confused in whitish packages in winter.

How to dry mint for the winter

Mint is qualitatively dried only in a suspended state. Usually, a balcony, attic or veranda is used for these purposes. During the process, it is important to observe the following conditions:

• after collecting, soak the herb in water at room temperature for 10-15 minutes, and then wash thoroughly under running water;
• sort and remove damaged copies;
• choose a dry and well-ventilated area. The place for drying should not fall under direct sunlight;
• divide the stems into bunches of equal size and tie each of them;
• hang the mint leaves down.

Advice. Even when following the drying technology, charm may appear in the beams. Periodically inspect the mint, if you find characteristic signs, remove the branches.

To dry the leaves separately from the stem, use another method:

dried mint

• place the leaves evenly on a clean piece of cloth or paper;
• send to a dark place;
• Stir the mint leaves from time to time to prevent contention.

You can also dry mint using the express method, in the oven. Parts of the plant should also be evenly distributed on a sheet covered with paper. This method has a significant disadvantage - the characteristic aroma will disappear. Only natural drying will preserve all the useful and tasty features of the mint bouquet.

How to save mint: video

What is menthol, everyone knows. And the fact that menthol is obtained from essential oils mint, many do not know. Mint is widely used in cooking and traditional medicine and in cosmetology. The characteristic smell of mint can refresh a room, which is why in the old days there was no house that did not have bunches of mint hanging in it. But mint is an extremely delicate plant, it literally wilts before our eyes, so those who want to keep mint for several days or longer need to know how to properly store this odorous herb.

How to store mint

How to store fresh mint

In order to keep the mint in fresh for several days, it is washed well, carefully laid out, blotted with a towel or paper towel and folded either into a paper bag with a lock or into a container with a lid. A wet towel, preferably a waffle towel, is thrown over the bag or container and put in the refrigerator in this form. AT this case mint can be kept fresh from 2 to 4 days.

How to save mint for the winter

In order for mint to be preserved for the winter at home, it must be frozen. There are several ways to freeze, but, in any case, you need to collect mint in the midst of its flowering - the end of June - the beginning of July, during the period when it has the highest level of essential oil.

In order to lay a supply of mint for the winter, it must be washed well, dried with a towel or paper napkins. Mint is neatly folded into a container, leaf to leaf, no need to tamp, and put in the freezer. After a few hours, the frozen leaves can be folded more tightly, but this must be done quickly so that the leaves do not begin to thaw. You can store it in the freezer of a regular refrigerator.

You can take leaves and twigs and cut them into strips, put in a container, close and put in the freezer.

You can finely chop the mint, put in ice containers, pour water and freeze. The resulting cubes are good to use for making cocktails.

How to store dried mint

Only mature plants should be dried when they contain the highest content of essential oils. Leaves with stems are collected in loose bunches and hung in a dry place. Leaves without stems are laid out on a sheet of paper or cloth. In both cases, it is necessary that the plants are not on a straight line. sunshine. Well-dried raw materials are laid out in glass jars with tight lids. Storage in linen or cotton bags is allowed. Of course, you can use wooden or ceramic dishes, plastic, but this is not very desirable, since given material tends to absorb the essential oil.

Store dried mint in a dry and dark place, away from heat sources.

A bouquet of fragrant mint fills the house with fragrance and peace. The city fatigue, insomnia and headache from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Drinking a glass of mint decoction relieves spasm, reduces nausea, cures the throat, restores appetite, relieves stomach pains and simply refreshes on a hot day. The leaves of the plant, added to dishes during the cooking process, make the food tastier. How to keep mint for a long time? A bouquet of fragrant mint fills the house with fragrance and peace. City fatigue, insomnia and headaches from the hustle and bustle of everyday days go away. Drinking a glass of mint decoction relieves spasm, reduces nausea, cures the throat, restores appetite, relieves stomach pains and simply refreshes on a hot day. The leaves of the plant, added to dishes during the cooking process, make the food tastier. How to keep mint for a long time?

Ingredients

How to store mint

1. Wet way. You can keep mint leaves fresh for up to a week by wrapping the plant in a damp towel and putting it in the refrigerator. Looks nice on kitchen table and a bouquet of mint, which for decoration can be put not only in a vase, but also in a can, a small tall saucepan, flower pot or in a jug. In this case, the water must be changed daily.

2. Dry way. Our grandmothers have been used to healing herbs dry. Dehydrated parts of the plant can be stored for many years. Truth, useful qualities herbal teas are lost over time, and therefore it is recommended to renew the supply of dry mint annually.

Dry the grass like this: flowering mint is cut with a pruner or knife, washed if necessary lower part plants from dust clean water let the water drain. The resulting raw materials (whole or cut into pieces) are laid out thin layer on a clean cloth in a shady place, or hung in the form of thin bunches in a ventilated room away from sun rays. medicinal properties the entire aerial part of the plant possesses, but if there is a lot of mint, the housewives prefer to collect only the leaves for storage.

3. Freezing. Modern refrigerators allow long months to store vegetables, berries, herbs. Why not freeze the mint too? Ice cubes with a fresh mint leaf in the center look especially impressive. Mint cubes can be used both in the preparation of cocktails and in soups or salads.

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 culture preservation. However, when frozen, the plant remains maximum amount nutrients, initial taste and bright smell.

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 all year round on the table fragrant greens, you need to pay attention to the winter frost. Today, there are several options for freezing. This preserves the color of the leaves, fresh taste and useful features. 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, is 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: into jars of small volume or plastic containers large, healthy leaves are laid and top part shoots. 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 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.

Application of blanks:

• The leaves in general and the tops of the shoots are suitable as tea leaves, the basis of fragrant, cooling drinks, compotes, cocktails. Such a preparation is useful as an additive to vegetable stews, stews and poultry, salads, first courses, cereal and cottage cheese casseroles, cheesecakes.
• Sprigs are used as an ingredient in meat and vegetable rolls, steamed or baked in foil.
• Ice cubes are excellent in refreshing drinks, such preparations are especially relevant for Mojitos.
• Crushed mint serves as a flavoring for all kinds of sauces, pastries, fruit or vegetable salads.

No matter how you store mint, this plant will bring benefits and leave a pleasant taste experience.

Cultivated and wild species of mint are actively used in cooking, folk and traditional medicine. This fragrant plant, rich in essential oils and has long been famous for its healing properties, today you can see it on the beds of household plots and in gardens.

But if in the summer, having picked a few fragrant twigs, it is so easy to cook healthy tea or a decoction, use fresh foliage in a soft drink or pastries, then in winter the whole is covered with snow. How to keep mint fresh for the winter? Are there ways to use until spring medicinal properties plants and enjoy its aroma?

If a couple of decades ago, Russian housewives used to mint only sushi, today, thanks to the development of technology and the influence of the culinary traditions of other countries, opportunities have increased significantly. But before preparing mint for the winter, it must be collected and prepared for processing.

Harvesting mint for the winter

The best season to harvest mint for the winter is July and August. In most regions of the country, mint is about to bloom at this time or is already crowned with pinkish or pale lilac inflorescences. In foliage, tops of shoots and flowers during this period accumulates the largest number essential oil and others active substances for which culture is so valued.

The best raw materials can be obtained:

• from plants 2–3 years old;
• in the morning or evening hours, when there is no dew on the plants;
• in dry cool weather.

The cut is carried out at 1/3 of the length of the stem, since its hard part is not suitable for winter storage, but until the end of the season it can still give new shoots.

Harvested herbs before storing in the refrigerator or before drying the mint , freeze, carefully sort out, removing dry, damaged parts of the plant and impurities, wash and be sure to dry. If you want to keep the mint fresh for the winter, put the prepared greens in bunches in containers with a small amount of water, cover with a film or a plastic transparent bag on top and transfer to the refrigerator.

Mint shoots or leaves separated from the stems can be wrapped in paper towels and placed in resealable bags or containers.

In this form, "bouquets" of mint and green leaves retain their freshness and original appearance for up to 4 weeks, but then nature takes its toll. Greens lose color and elasticity, moisture and useful material disappear.

How to store mint if it is impossible to save plants in the refrigerator for a long time? You can use one of the oldest ways- dry mint, which in this form will retain both aroma and valuable oils.

How to dry mint at home?

Drying mint does not require serious labor or complex preparations. Prepared, clean, moisture-free mint:

• disassembled into small bundles;
• the tops of the shoots fall into spacious paper bags;
• tied up and hung out in a dry, ventilated place without access to sunlight.

With this method of drying, the grass is not exposed to ultraviolet and thermal radiation, wind and dust, and besides, it is inaccessible to insects.

If desired, other spicy-flavoring herbs are included in the bunches, for example, oregano, St. John's wort, thyme or sage. Such sets will not only help to diversify the winter tea drinking, but will also become an excellent healing tool.

If the mint is dried on pallets, the plant material is spread out in a thin layer and also provides protection from the sun, drafts, insects or pollution. In this case, in order for the process to proceed more evenly and faster, the grass will have to be gently ted from time to time.

Features of drying and storage of mint greens

Mint greens, like other herbs, can also be dried in modern electric dryers, however, in this case, it is important to remember some features of the herb. How to dry mint so that it retains as many essential oils, vitamin and healing substances as possible? First of all, do not expose raw materials to elevated temperatures. Optimal temperature regime for drying herbs is 20–35 °C. Therefore, the most gentle mode is used in the electric dryer, and it is not recommended to dry the mint in the oven for the winter.

Delicate greens lose moisture quickly, so the drying process is very intensive. Do not overexpose the mint inside the dryer, as this will lead to excessive fragility of the leaves and the loss of some of the beneficial properties.

If the room where the bunches of mint are hung is damp, the grass should be moved to another place as soon as possible, otherwise mold will settle on the stems and leaves and make the raw material unusable.

Overdried or exposed high temperatures mint is easily recognizable by the brown color of the leaves. Such grass has practically no smell and is useless for health.

How to store mint in dried form?

At room temperature, drying takes several days. You can determine the readiness of dried mint by pressing on the leaf plate, if it is easily separated from the stem with a rustle and crumbles, drying can be completed, the raw material is crushed and packaged for long-term storage.

Do not forget how to properly store mint after drying. Chopped greens, although it takes less space, but loses taste and aroma faster, so it’s wiser not to turn dry grass into powder, but when grinding, use not a coffee grinder, but gentle manual methods.

The best storage containers are clean, dry glass jars with a tightly ground lid that does not allow moisture, pests, or foreign odors to penetrate. At the same time, in a cool dry place, spicy herbs retain their aromas and taste for up to 6–8 months.

How to freeze mint for the winter?

With the advent of powerful modern freezers housewives have another opportunity to prepare mint for the winter. Under influence low temperatures the plant seems to be conserved, all processes in it stop. As a result, mint retains its color, aromatic and flavor properties. You can freeze mint for the winter both in bunches and in hotel leaves by packing the washed and dried raw materials in cling film, bags, foil or plastic containers.

Fans of aromatic refreshing drinks can use mint leaves to make portioned ice cubes. Chopped grass or individual whole leaves are placed in molds and filled with boiled water, sent to the freezer.

For a healing tea that is extremely useful for winter colds, you can freeze a slice of ginger or a little lemon zest along with mint.

After hardening, the cubes are conveniently stored in resealable bags, preventing melting and re-freezing.

Aromatic sugar from fresh mint

Another way to keep mint fresh for the winter will appeal to all sweet lovers. Fragrant sugar based on selected mint greens is suitable for preparing a wide variety of culinary dishes, it can be added to pastries, drinks, fruit salads and desserts. At the same time, sweetness takes over everything beneficial features plants, and mint is kept fresh for the winter.

For 200 grams of chopped mint greens, take the same amount of sugar. The ingredients are thoroughly crushed and mixed in a blender until smooth, and then laid out in dry, clean jars, compacting the sugar along the way.

Sugar with mint greens is stored in the refrigerator for quite a long time, and in order for food to acquire the real flavor of this fragrant plant, it is worth adding it to the finished dish.

Mint green syrup

For one and a half glasses of chopped mint greens, you will need a glass of sugar and the same amount of water. Half of the sugar is covered with mint leaves and left for several hours so that the grass gives juice and the sugar begins to dissolve. Syrup is made from the remaining sugar and water, checking its readiness after boiling, drop by drop on a saucer. If the drop does not spread, the sugar syrup is ready, and you can pour mint over it.

To preserve all the properties of the plant, the syrup should not be kept on fire for too long. Immediately after boiling, the pan is removed, the syrup is cooled and, after rubbing through a sieve, poured into sterilized dry bottles or jars.

How to store mint syrup? Vitamin and very fragrant syrup is perfectly stored for up to two months, if the corked jars are removed in the refrigerator or cellar.

How to freeze mint - video