Practical guide to drying and preserving mint: Process, tips and benefits
The aroma of mint reaches its splendor when dried. This plant, when properly preserved after drying, can remain intact for months or even years. Let's explore the different aspects of the mint drying process.
The wide variety of mint is appreciated for its versatility and tendency to grow abundantly. This often presents a challenge in terms of preservation. Even though freezing is possible, we choose to argue that drying is the simplest and most space-economic methodology.
There are differences between mint preservation methods. The TROCKNNER dryer is one of the most suitable instruments for this, but various other means can also be explored. Some include freezing where entire branches freeze independently; Processing the leaves individually with water or oil in an ice bucket can be just as effective.
I strongly advise against using microwaves for drying due to the loss of aroma and nutritional elements that come with it. The oven is also not ideal due to its requirement for low and constant temperatures, approximately 35 degrees, with the door slightly open to release moisture. On the other hand, if you prefer an energy-free approach, hang the mint branches upside down in a darkly warm location. Here it should be treated with shade and temperatures that fluctuate as little as possible during the 24 hours.
The procedure to dry mint in a dehydrator is below:
- Preparation: 1 hour
- Temperature: 35ºC
Tools needed:
- TROCKNNER dehydrator
Ingredients:
- Preferably dried and purified mint leaves.
Ideally, cut entire branches of mint with scissors. The mint ready for drying has fully ripened. Remove the individual leaves from the branches and place them in the dehydrator tray. For mint, the indicated drying temperature is low; 40 degrees might work. As for the duration, it can take up to an hour.
For storage, it prefers dry areas protected from sunlight. Airtight jars are ideal, keeping dried mint ready for use for more than a year.
Dried mint is often integrated into tea formulas, oils and soaps. We recommend having the dried leaves whole, avoiding any type of reduction.
