How to Dry Mint Herb

As a popular herb, mint is used in many recipes. The oil in the mint leaves give the herb its fragrance and flavor. Dried mint is less flavorful than fresh mint, but it is available year round. The drying of mint and other herbs preserves them for several months. Although there are a few methods for drying mint, oven drying is the fastest and the easiest.

Cookie sheet
Air tight container or zip lock bags

Instructions

- 1
  Buy fresh mint from a farmer's market.
- 2
  Wash the herb briefly under cold running water. Dry completely with paper towels. Any moisture on the mint during the drying process leads to mold.
- 3
  Remove any blossoms on the mint.
- 4
  Spread the mint on a cookie sheet or other oven-safe pan. Place the herbs in a single layer.
- 5
  Turn the oven on to warm or to 140 to 200 degree F. Leave the oven on for 20 to 30 minutes and then turn off.
- 6
  Place the mint into the warm oven. Drying times vary due to type of oven and heat source. Check mint regularly to see if it is dry and crisp. The correct length of time requires trial and error.
- 7
  Remove mint from the oven, and let cool.
- 8
  Store mint in an air-tight containers such as a sealable bag. Place in a cool, dark area.
- 9
  Strip leaves from stems when needed for a recipe. Throw away the stems. Crush leaves to put in food. Keep the stems on the mint as this helps it retain much of its flavor.

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