Fresh mint is very easy to grow and dry in a dehydrator. You can use the dried mint to make mint tea or use it in your cooking.
You don't need a huge garden to grow mint. You can grow one or two containers of spearmint or sweet mint (or any of your favorite container herbs) and grow more than enough of the herbs to harvest and dry.
If you ever wanted to blend your own herbal teas mint tea is the perfect herb tea to start with.
Ingredients
All you need is some fresh mint and water.
- fresh mint: you can use the mint or spearmint you have grown in your garden or you can purchase a few large bundles of mint at the farmers market.
- water: use cold water
Directions
Follow my easy step by step directions for dehydrating mint perfectly.
Step 1: Harvest fresh mint early in the morning before the sun is high in the sky.
Step 2: Repeatedly rinse the fresh mint in a large dishpan or in your sink with cold water. Rinse until there is no more dirt floating in the water. I like to leave the mint soaking in the water for 10 to 20 minutes. I am always amazed at the dirt I find on the bottom of my bucket
Step 3: Spread the mint stems on a dehydrator tray. Repeat until you have loaded all of the mint on multiply drying trays.
You do not need to spread the mint in a single layer.
Step 4: Set the dehydrator temperature control to 95 to 100 degrees. Place the cover on the appliance and turn it on.
Step 5: If your model have a timer set the timer for 4 hours. Around 3 hours check the mint leaves and see if they are crisp and crumbly. If they are they are done.
The amount of time it takes to completely dry the mint will vary. If the mint is not completely dried return it to the dehydrator and let it run for another hour.
Step 6: Once the mint has finished drying allow it to cool until it is cold to the touch.
Step 7: Strip the dried mint leaves from the stems.
Step 8: Transfer the dried mint leaves to an airtight container until needed. Store the dried mint in a cool dark cabinet out of direct sunlight.
How to use dried mint
One of the most popular ways to use dried mint is to make mint tea. But mint is also used in many savory or sweet recipes to add flavor.
I like to use it when I am making Greek Style Chicken.
You can use it in place of fresh mint in this sweet and tart Fruit Salad Dressing.
Keep in mind that you will only use half as much dried mint as fresh mint for any recipe that is using fresh mint leaves. For example a recipe that calls for 1 teaspoon of fresh minced mint would only need a ½ teaspoon of dried mint leaves.
Recipe FAQ's
Dehydrated mint can be used to make mint tea, added to some savory recipes, sprinkled on salads and mixed into dressings.
Yes, dried mint is stronger than fresh mint. That is why when substituting dried mint for fresh mint in a recipe you will only need to use ½ the amount. The same rule applies for any dried herb. During the drying process the herbs will shrink to about half the size and amount of the fresh herb.
It takes on an average 3 to 4 hours to dehydrate mint. But the time will vary depending on how much mint you are drying. What type of dehydrator you are using and even the temperature of your home can make a difference. It is a good idea to check the mint after a couple of hours of drying time and to occasionally check it to see how it is drying.
Recipe Expert Tips
- Harvesting herbs: Always harvest fresh herbs early in the morning. As the sun rises and the temperature starts to get hotter some of the mint essential oils will evaporate. The herb will have the highest concentration of essential oil when harvested in the cool morning or a cloudy overcast day.
- Dehydrator temperature for herbs: Fresh herbs like mint should be dried at a low temperature so the essential oils do not evaporate completely from the heat. Dehydrators with a temperature setting usually go as low as 95 degrees. Some models may have a low temp of 100 degrees. Use the lowest temp available. If your model does not have a temperature control you will need to watch the herbs closely because they will dry much faster. Remove the herbs once they are crispy dry.
- How much dried mint?: When drying herbs it can be hard to determine how much of the dried herb you will get. Keep in mind that the fresh herb will dry down to about 50% of what you started with.
- Dried herb stems: You can save the dried herb stems and toss them in a bonfire for a sweet treat in the colder months.
Helpful Products
If you are new to brewing loose leaf tea these are a few of my recommended products. I will earn a small commission from Affiliate links.
- Plastic Eight Quart Dishpan: I use a similar plastic tub I buy at the dollar store.
- Disposable Tea Bags for Loose Tea: The Ultra-violet ray sterilized tea bags are made of wood pulp paper, sealed by heat press, no glue, odorless, biodegradable & compostable.
- Stainless Steal Pyramid Tea Infuser: If you don't mind tea leaves floating in your cup this is what I use.
- Porcelain Tea Pot for Blooming & Loose Leaf: So pretty! I have a collection of tea pots but this one is so pretty I may have to get it.
- I Love Tea! Stickers: These stickers are so pretty and I just ordered them!
Check out how to dry herbs below
Email questions or recipe requests to flouronmyface@gmail.com. Follow me on Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook.
How to Dehydrate Mint
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 bunch fresh mint
- 8 cups water
Instructions
- Harvest or buy fresh mint. If harvesting fresh mint do it early in the morning before the sun is high in the sky.
- Repeatedly rinse the fresh mint in a large dishpan or in your sink with cold water. Rinse until there is no more dirt floating in the water.
- Arrange the mint leaves and stems on a dehydrator tray. Repeat until you have loaded all of the mint on multiply drying trays.
- Set the dehydrator temperature control to 95 to 100 degrees. Place the cover on the appliance and turn it on.
- If your dehydrator has a timer set the timer for 4 hours.
- Around 3 hours check the mint leaves and see if they are crisp and crumbly. If they are they are done.
- Once the mint has finished drying allow it to cool until it is cold to the touch.
- Strip the dried mint leaves from the stems.
- Transfer the dried mint leaves to an airtight container until needed. Store the dried mint in a cool dark cabinet out of direct sunlight
- Makes about 1 cup of dried mint. The finished amount will depend on how much fresh mint you start with.
Video
Recipe Expert Tips
- Harvesting mint: Always harvest fresh herbs early in the morning. As the sun rises and the temperature starts to get hotter some of the mint essential oils will evaporate. The herb will have the highest concentration of essential oil when harvested in the cool morning or a cloudy overcast day.
- Dehydrator temperature for herbs: Fresh herbs like mint should be dried at a low temperature so the essential oils do not evaporate completely from the heat. Dehydrators with a temperature setting usually go as low as 95 degrees. Some models may have a low temp of 100 degrees. Use the lowest temp available. If your model does not have a temperature control you will need to watch the herbs closely because they will dry much faster. Remove the herbs once they are crispy dry.
- How much dried mint?: When drying herbs it can be hard to determine how much of the dried herb you will end up with. Keep in mind that the fresh herb will dry down to about 50% of what you started with.
- Dried herb stems: You can save the dried herb stems and toss them in a bonfire for a sweet treat in the colder months.
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