Whether you want to store fresh mint for a day or use it as a spice in your cooking, you need to know how long fresh mint lasts. Luckily, there are some easy tricks to keep it fresh for months. Generally, how long mint will stay fresh depends on your storage, and the best way to preserve mint to increase its shelf life is discussed here in the article below!
How Long does Fresh Mint Last?
There are numerous types of mint. It entirely depends on how you plan to utilize them and how long you want to keep them. It seems like a garden plant; you can get fresh leaves. When you have garden-fresh leaves, you can store them in the pantry, refrigerator, or freezer.
They can survive for 5-7 days if you store them in the refrigerator or pantry, but if you freeze the leaves, they can last for two to three years. Mint leaves can be brewed, and dried leaves can be kept for one to three years, but the extract can be kept in the pantry for four to five years.
What is the Best Way to Preserve Mint to Increase its Shelf Life?
Whether you are looking to freeze fresh mint or preserve mint for an extended period, it’s important to store it properly. If you do not, you may find your mint leaves spoiled quickly. The best way to store mint is to keep it in a refrigerator.
When you store mint in the fridge, ensure it’s not overfilled. The leaves are delicate and readily broken. To stop harm: Fill the container only about half full. Once the container is filled, cover the top with a plastic bag. This will allow it to retain its flavor for up to ten days. If you are storing mint for a long, try to dry it.
Dried mint has a milder flavor than the fresh variety. The easiest way to dry your mint is by air drying. You will need a paper towel or stray or string. Once you’ve wrapped your mint in a damp paper towel, place the bag in the freezer.
If you want to maintain the mint’s freshness, you should change the bag at least every couple of days. The only effective method to keep mint fresh is refrigerating it in its original packaging. To keep fresh mint leaves at home for longer, read on to learn how to store them properly.
1st Approach of Mint Storage
A plastic zip-top bag covered in a wet paper towel is ideal for storing soft herbs, such as fresh mint. To remove as much extra moisture as possible, run a paper towel under cool water and ring it out. Put the bunch of mint in a paper towel-wrapped package and put it in a zip-top plastic bag for storage. Mint leaves kept in the fridge properly can last for up to three weeks.
2nd Approach of Mint Storage
The general rule is to maintain herbs with fragile stems and soft leaves like cilantro, and parsley, treating them like a bouquet of fresh flowers and dill. Fresh herbs with trimmed stems should be put in a glass of water, which should then be put in the refrigerator. Mint leaves can also be kept in the fridge in a small glass or partially filled with chilly water. Every few days, make sure to change the water.
3rd Approach of Mint Storage
Another method is to preserve the mint with olive oil. Many solutions are available on the market if you want to avoid dealing with the bother of producing your olive oil. They are affordable and can be bought in most supermarket stores. You can also store fresh mint in a clean metal or glass container. This will provide the mint with the right moisture and keep it fresh for months.
4th Approach of Mint Storage
Keeping fresh mint in an airtight container is one of the simplest ways to store your favorite herbs fresh for months. Whether you plan to use your mint in a salad or tea or you want to add it to a frozen drink, it’s important to store it properly. The best way to store fresh mint is to ensure the leaves are fresh. This will prolong its shelf life and help avoid mold and fungus. It’s also best to store it in a cool, dry place.
5th Approach of Mint Storage
Adding fresh mint to ice cubes is a great way to keep your drinks cool. However, the flavor can degrade quickly. You can freeze mint for up to six months and use it in your favorite recipes. You want to preserve as much of the flavor as possible when freezing. You will need a clean, dry, well-washed mint to freeze mint. The leaves can be sliced or chopped and then stored in ice cube trays. This method is especially useful for long-term storage.
You can freeze mint in ice cube trays, which is one of the easiest ways to preserve it. This is a fantastic option for people who don’t like to thaw out the herbs, and it is also a safer method than refreezing. For a fresher flavor, you can also freeze mint in water. You will need to fill the ice cube trays with enough water to cover the mint completely. You may need to squeeze down the leaves a bit to ensure they are fully submerged.
Is it Safe to Freeze Fresh Mint?
Yes, mints can be frozen for long-term storage. Mint leaves can be frozen by chopping them coarsely and putting them in an ice cube tray. Store the ice cube tray in the freezer after adding water to it. The ice cubes should be frozen before being placed in a freezer-safe plastic zip-top bag.
Put the ice cube in a fine mesh sieve, let it melt at room temperature, and then let the water drain out to use the frozen mint. Mint leaves that are properly packed and kept frozen can survive three to six months. Additionally, frozen mint ice cubes can be directly inserted into iced tea or other beverages.
Can you Consume Mint Every Day?
According to the Power of Positivity, you should include more mint in your regular diet since it is a plant that can aid digestion, brain health, and even cold symptoms. You are not required to consume peppermint or spearmint, however. This is because mint appears to have health benefits beyond just preventing foul breath.
Other herbs like basil, oregano, rosemary, and thyme are included in the mint plant. Therefore, feel free to flavor your food with a little mint the next time you’re in the kitchen. Not only will they add a little more flavor, but mint is also loaded with nutrients, according to Healthline. It is incredibly high in vitamin A and antioxidants, which aid in improving your vision.
How Come my Mint has Turned Black?
Mint prefers moist soil, and excessively dry soil may cause the leaves to become black. Conversely, overwatering can also result in the decay and blackening of the leaves. The plant can be misted between waterings, or the pot can be set on a tray with stones and water.
What is the White Substance on the Mint Leaves?
Invasion of pests: In comparison to fungi or viruses, insects are much easier to distinguish from other sources of white spots. Mealybugs, spider mites, thrips, whiteflies, and aphids are the pests that most commonly create white dots on mint plants, while other pests may also attack your mint.
How can you Identify if Fresh Mint is Bad?
Discolored, wilted leaves are the telltale symptom of damaged herbs, though occasionally mint is still usable in this condition. Giving fresh mint and other herbs a quick sniff will reveal whether they have spoiled.
A strong, chilly, minty-fresh aroma should be there whether the mint is fresh, frozen, or dried. Although more fragrant, spearmint should smell comparable to peppermint. This does not indicate that it has gone bad; rather, it is typical.
Keep in mind that fresh herbs can quickly spoil, becoming moldy and mushy if they are damp or exposed to moisture. At this point, you ought to compost them. On the other hand, as long as the mint leaves don’t smell bad, they should still be fine to use, even if they are just a little bit browning when dried.
Conclusion
Herbs are one of the best components to flavor any sweet or savory recipe. Fresh mint is a beautifully aromatic ingredient that tastes great in homemade frozen drinks like smoothies and cocktails and herbs like basil, cilantro, and parsley. Mint leaves that are purchased fresh from the grocery store can be stored in a variety of ways. The leaves won’t have the same flavor and texture as before if you put them in a refrigerator, but it will significantly extend their shelf life.
However, since herbs are fragile, it’s crucial to understand how long mint may survive and how to store mint correctly to ensure that it does. Mint should be well-washed and kept in a jar with a tight-fitting lid for optimum storage. The mint stems can also be dipped into the water after keeping the bunch of mint in a bowl that has been filled with water. The leaves can be kept in this way for at least 4-5 days and will retain their freshness.
