Drying Mint is such a simple way to preserve this delicious pantry staple! Learn how to dry mint leaves in a food dehydrator or in the oven.
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Dried mint is an incredibly versatile herb for home cooks. From homemade mint extract to mint chocolate ice cream, to homemade mint tea, mint packs so much flavor into lots of fantastic dishes.
Drying your own mint leaves is both easy and affordable, and I’ll show you how.
And if you don’t have a dehydrator or don’t want to use either of the other two drying methods, this tutorial on How to Freeze Mint will be right up your alley.
I have owned this dehydrator for at least a dozen years, and it has held up beautifully. I’ve added additional trays over the years and it is a workhorse in summer and fall.
I can dehydrate garlic, dehydrate basil, dehydrate oregano, dehydrate marshmallows, dehydrate tomatoes, dry pears, dehydrate onions, and dehydrate apples in a flash. That’s what is called a preserving win. <—things cool kids say.
How to Store Dried Mint
As long as it is stored in a cool and dry place, your dehydrated mint will be good for a year.
Make sure the dried mint leaves are fully cooled before putting them into an air-tight container. As it cools it will release heat that could result in condensation and eventually cause the leaves to mold.
Four Ways to Dry Mint
Drying Mint Leaves in a Dehydrator
Rinse the stems in a bowl of water, and then carefully dry in a salad spinner or between layers of a tea towel/flour sack. Try not to press on the leaves as mint bruises easily.
Carefully remove the leaves from the stems, picking to choose only the best ones. Arrange the mint on the drying racks so the leaves aren’t touching. Set the dehydrator to 95F and dry for 6-12 hours, rotating the racks every few hours if possible.
Hanging Mint to Dry
Air drying whole stems of mint in a paper bag will work great in warm places without a lot of humidity. Suspend small amounts of mint in a paper bag with holes punched in it and close the top of the bag with string, yarn, or a rubber band.
Hang in a place where it can get air circulation. Peek in the bag every few days. Drying times will vary depending on conditions.
Drying Mint in the Microwave
Wash and remove leaves from stems. Place flat between two paper towels and microwave on high for 40 seconds. Move the leaves around and microwave in 20-second increments until the mint is dried and crunchy (~1.5-2.5 minutes).
Drying mint leaves in a microwave only works well in small quantities. Do not try to dry too much at once.
Dehydrating Mint in the Oven
Place clean dry mint leaves on baking drying racks set inside baking sheets. Don’t let the leaves overlap or touch.
Place the trays in the oven at the lowest temperature possible (usually 140-170 degrees F) and prop open the door with the handle of a wooden spoon. This allows condensation to escape instead of just settling back onto the mint.
Bake for 3-5 hours. Check every 45 minutes, rotating trays and making sure leaves are not touching.
Pro Tips/Recipe Notes
- Avoid the temptation to increase the heat on the dehydrator or oven to speed up the process. Low and slow wins in the race on this one.
- The mint is ready when pieces of it break or snap instead of bend. It will feel like dried fall leaves when ready.
- Store whole or grind in a food processor, mortar and pestle, or a coffee grinder used just for spices.
- Store in an air-tight container like a mason jar.
How to Dry Mint
Ingredients
- 1 bunch mint
Equipment
Instructions
How to Dehydrate Mint in a Dehydrator
- Rinse the stems in a bowl of water.
- Then carefully dry in a salad spinner or between layers of a tea towel/flour sack.
- Carefully remove the leaves from the stems.
- Arrange the mint on the drying racks so the leaves aren’t touching.
- Dry mint at 95F, rotating the trays every few hours.
- The mint is ready when it is dry to the touch and has the consistency of dried leaves (~6-12 hours).
- Allow leaves to fully cool before crushing or storing whole in an air-tight container.
How to Dry Mint in the Oven
- Place clean dry mint leaves on baking drying racks set inside baking sheets. Don't let the leaves overlap or touch.
- Place in the oven at the lowest temperature possible (usually 140-170 degrees F) and prop open the door with the handle of a wooden spoon.
- Bake for 3-5 hours. Check every 45 minutes, rotating trays and making sure leaves are not touching.
How to Air Dry Mint
- Suspend small amounts of mint in a paper bag with holes punched in it and close the top of the bag with string, yarn, or a rubber band.
- Hang in a place where it can get air circulation.
- Peek in the bag every few days. Drying times will vary depending on conditions.
Notes
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This was really helpful. Thanks for sharing this tip.
Always happy to help people with these little tricks!
This is so clever, Sarah! I often use the dried mint from inside mint teabags when I can’t find dried mint in the shop. But I have a large mint plant in the garden. Never thought to dry it myself. 😂
If you have a mint plant at home, you’ll never run out of mint. Those things are prolific!! 🙂