How to Harvest Mint the Right Way—Plus Tips for Drying and Storing Your Supply

Lamb, mojitos, and watermelon salad can all be improved by the addition of a bit of fresh mint, which is why so many home gardeners like to add this aromatic herb to their gardens. But when it comes time to get those freshly clipped leaves from your yard to your table, there are a few things the pros say you’ll need to keep in mind. 

Keep reading to learn how to harvest mint from your backyard like an expert, including what you can do to store all the extra mint that is sure to pop up during the growing season.

Tools You'll Need

• Garden shears
• A container to carry your mint

How to Harvest Mint

1. Clean your garden shears with soap and water, or rub them down with an alcohol wipe to disinfect them.
2. Snip mint stems right above the leaf node, according to Luay Ghafari, gardening consultant and author of the book Seed to Table. "What this does is help promote more growth at that node,” he says, adding that you’ll want to avoid plucking leaves off the plant.

When to Harvest Mint

You can harvest mint at any point after it has been established, according to Ghafari. "So, if you just freshly transplanted a seedling, give it a few weeks to get accustomed to its new home before you harvest from it," he says, adding that it’s an incredibly hardy plant. 

That being said, he does advise against harvesting mint when the plant may be thirsty or droopy. "Harvest only when the plant is lush, and the leaves are upright," he says.

The best time of day to tackle this job is the early morning or early evening. "I also try to avoid cutting mint during the hottest part of the day to not let the sun fry the fresh cut," says Bolus. "Overall it won’t kill the plant in any way but could stunt the growth of the stalks that were cut."

How to Store Fresh Mint

While Ghafari says it’s best to harvest mint and use it as needed, you can store it in your refrigerator. "Put the stems in a cup of water and cover the leaves loosely with a plastic bag," he says, noting that you’ll want to change the water as needed. "Alternatively, you can wrap it in a paper towel and place it in a plastic bag."

How to Dry Mint

Mint can be preserved in several ways, but Ghafari says drying is the most common way to preserve it for long-term use. He suggests using a dehydrator for the best results; follow his instructions below.

1. Wash the mint and dry it thoroughly. Ghafari suggests that you leave it sitting out on clean kitchen towels to air dry for a couple of hours before moving on to the next step, which involves removing the leaves from the stems.
2. Discard the stems and place the leaves on the dehydrator racks per the manufacturer's instructions.
3. Then, you’ll need to run the dehydrator on a low-temperature setting and at the manufacturer's recommended time. "You may need to run an additional cycle if the mint is not completely dry," Ghafari says.
4. Once the mint has been sufficiently dried, pack the mint (whole or crushed) into clean mason jars and store it in your pantry.

No dehydrator? No problem! Ghafari says you can also air dry it in your home by leaving the mint out on your kitchen towels for a couple of days. "Mint can also be dried in bundles," he says. "Simply bundle up a few stems together with a piece of twine and hang the bundle in a warm room in your home." In a few days, Ghafari says the stems and leaves will dry.

Mint can also be preserved in the freezer. "You can chop it up, add it to water, and freeze it in an ice cube tray," Ghafari adds. "The mint and water cubes can be added to punches, can be boiled for tea, and can be added to cocktails."