Is it possible to freeze mint: three ways to keep it fresh and fragrant until spring

The only way to preserve the beautiful green color and fresh menthol flavor of mint is to freeze it. For this you will need an ordinary household refrigerator with a freezer and 15 minutes of time. But in winter you can enjoy any drinks and dishes that require this herb.

Which mint is suitable for freezing?

The first and main requirement for mint sprigs intended for freezing is that they must be fresh. Not even that - super fresh. It is better to dry greens that were picked a long time ago and have already withered.

It is also important that:

• there were no traces of disease on the leaves and stems (white or gray coating, rust, black spots);
• the plant was not too young (it contains a minimum of aromatic substances) or old (faded mint leaves become coarser and the content of essential oils decreases) - if possible, this herb should be harvested at the beginning of flowering;
• the collection took place in warm sunny weather.

It is strictly forbidden to freeze (or even eat) mint collected on roadsides, near industrial enterprises and in other places that are unfavorable from an environmental point of view.

Preparing the greens

First of all, the mint should be sorted out - remove crushed or damaged stems, as well as weeds that could accidentally get into the bunch. After this, start washing the greens under cold running water.

Contact with warm, and especially hot water should not be allowed: the mint will lose some of its aroma and will look lethargic.

Next, the washed mint sprigs are dried with a clean waffle towel or gauze folded in several layers. But if freezing occurs in ice trays, this preparation step can be neglected.

For decoration, mint can be frozen whole. If the herb is intended to be added to drinks, it is better to separate the leaves from the stems.

Freezing methods

Depending on how and for what the mint will be used in the future, you can prepare it for the winter in several ways.

In vacuum bags

Ideally, aromatic herbs should be frozen this way, because when left for a long time at low temperatures, the plants “dry out” - moisture evaporates from their tissues, and with it the essential oils, which provide a pleasant aroma. If the greens are in a bag from which the air has been removed, there is simply nowhere for the moisture to escape. This means that even after 5–6 months, mint will fully retain its taste and look fresh.

In ice trays

This preparation is great for cocktails and iced tea. If you plan for the mint to impart its aromatic and flavor notes to the drink, the leaves should be finely chopped, immediately placed in molds, filled with drinking water (pure or with lemon juice added) and placed in the freezer. The faster this task is completed, the more essential oils will be retained in the greens.

In cases where the mint inside the ice cubes is used as a decoration, it is better to use whole leaves. The tops of the stems look the most beautiful.

In plastic containers

If you don't have a vacuum sealer or ice cube trays, you can freeze the mint in a regular plastic container. It is important to ensure that the operating temperature range is indicated on it: a container that is not intended for use at temperatures below zero degrees may release harmful substances or simply become unusable.

Freezing in a container will be a winning option in the following cases:

• The need to use mint arises often, and a small amount of it is consumed (there is no point in opening a vacuum bag, and opening and closing the container is a matter of two seconds).
• The estimated shelf life is less than two to three weeks (during this time the herb will still not have time to lose its aroma and dry out).

A prerequisite for this method is the presence of a sealed lid.

Important questions and answers

Still, mint is more often dried than frozen, so people who decide to try a different method of preparing aromatic herbs are faced with many questions, the answers to which are not so easy to find.

• How long can mint be stored in the freezer?

The lower the temperature, the longer the plant retains its properties.

At -20–23°C, the herb can be stored in a vacuum bag for 6–8 months. It is not recommended to store ice cubes for more than 2-3 months, especially if water with natural juice was used to fill them. It is advisable to use mint in a container within a month or a month and a half - then it will noticeably lose both taste and quality.

• Is mint thawed before use?

If you need to decorate a dish, place the mint in advance in a container with very cold or even ice water and place it on a shelf in the main compartment of the refrigerator.After the greens have warmed to above-zero temperatures, you can use them for their intended purpose.

When defrosted without water, the leaves become limp and may lose color. Do not defrost mint to brew tea.

• Can mint be re-frozen?

Such mint becomes unsuitable for consumption. Moreover, its appearance leaves much to be desired - the leaves lose their attractive color, shape and elasticity. If the temperature difference was very large, the mint will spread in your hands, like a boiled cabbage leaf.

It’s so easy to freeze mint that there’s no point in buying it in winter for exorbitant amounts of money. However, this is not only a way to make preparations for future use, but also an excellent way to survive the heat - ice cubes with menthol taste and aroma will make any cold drink refreshing. In addition, you can wipe your face and neck with them in the morning - this will help maintain youthful skin and give it a natural glow.