You can use any type of mint for freezing, I had several bunches different varieties. Immediately after cutting or purchasing, aromatic greens should be placed in water, even if the mint grew in a summer cottage or was cut from a garden bed. Place in a large bowl cold water, lower the mint for a few minutes. Then we wash the shoots under running water, shake them off and lay them out on a towel in one layer. No need to cover. It will dry out in about half an hour. During drying, stir the mint several times and stir it, this will evaporate the water faster. Don’t leave it for too long; limp mint is not suitable for freezing!
After it dries, we begin sorting. We put small leaves and the tops of young branches aside for now - we will deal with them a little later. Place large leaves without damage or spots and beautiful shoot tips with two or three leaves in small jars or plastic containers. Bags are not the best solution for this purpose - when frozen, the leaves become fragile and break easily. If you need to keep them whole, then freeze them only in a jar. Place the filled containers in the freezer.
Mint can be frozen whole sprigs. Divide the bunch into small portions, put it in a tight bag, carefully wrap it, trying not to wrinkle or break the leaves. Place it in the freezer, making sure to label it frozen.
There are two ways to freeze mint for tea, infusions, and decoctions: finely chop it like any greens, or leave the leaves whole. I like the second method better; mint leaves in a cup of tea look beautiful, like fresh, and the aroma remains. We tear off the tops of the shoots with several leaves and put them in bags. Roll it up, not too tightly, and freeze it. Then, if necessary, frozen leaves can be added either whole or cut.
Freezing mint in ice cubes
For this method you will need an ice container or silicone molds suitable size. You can also use plastic inserts from boxes of candy as a container. We arrange small whole leaves and tender tops of shoots into cells, each containing 4-6 pieces.
Fill with cold boiled water. Place in the freezer for several hours. Remove from the molds and put into bags. With such freezing, the leaves do not break and in drinks they will look like they were just picked.
Freezing chopped mint
It is most convenient to freeze mint in the form of puree in small molds. I use silicone ones for candies. Wash the greens (I have a mix of different varieties), tear off the leaves, leave for 10-15 minutes in a colander.
Pour into a glass of blender, add a little water so that the leaves are crushed better. Grind into pulp.
Place in small molds and place in the freezer. When they have hardened, pour them into tight bags and seal them tightly. Can be stored for up to a year.
How to use frozen mint
Whole leaves and tops of shoots are useful for brewing tea and preparing other aromatic drinks, compotes, alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails. Blanks can be added to vegetable stew, meat, chicken, in salads, dessert soups, cottage cheese and cereal casseroles, cheesecakes.
Frozen branches are used in preparing meat and vegetable rolls, preparing different dishes in a double boiler or in foil (it turns out very tasty chicken fillet with potatoes).
Ice cubes are ideal for refreshing drinks: fruit and berry smoothies, all kinds of cocktails. In the same way, you can freeze mint for Mojito, selecting the most beautiful leaves.
Mint puree will be a natural flavoring for baking, an addition to sauces for meat, chicken, and dressings for vegetable and fruit salads.
Mint is the most valuable medicinal plant with an unsurpassed aroma. It is used as a stimulant, an assistant in the treatment of stomach diseases, and an aromatic spice in drinks and food. In order for mint to delight you in winter, the herb should be properly prepared. To save useful substances It is better to freeze the plant and vitamins, but this fragrant crop can also be dried.
Rules for collecting mint for winter harvesting
To prepare mint, you should follow the basic collection rules:
Advice. Of course, you should not harvest mint near roads or livestock farms. You should also be sure that the area is not treated with chemicals or fertilizers. Otherwise, instead useful remedy you can get something harmful.
For collected mint, you can organize short-term storage in the refrigerator. Wrap the leaves or shoots in dry paper towels and place in a sealable container or plastic bag. This method will preserve the aroma and taste qualities mint for about 1 month. Then parts of the plant will darken, become limp and lose medicinal properties. There are other options for longer storage.
How to freeze mint for the winter
To ensure long-term freezing is successful, first of all, after cutting or purchasing mint, place it in water for a few minutes. For these purposes, you can use a large shallow container. After this, rinse the greens under running water, shake off and place in one layer on a dry towel. Do not cover the top with anything. Turn the grass periodically. The plants will need about half an hour to dry.
Advice. For more long term You cannot leave washed mint - it will wither and become unsuitable for freezing.
Advice. Set aside young parts of plants should be frozen separately. They are thinner and delicate aroma and taste, therefore they have a slightly different purpose in cooking.
Other methods of long-term freezing differ little from those described in the algorithm of actions:
- Whole plants can also be frozen in bags: the stem will withstand the load if you do not crush or break it before sending it to the freezer;
- you can finely chop the plant before freezing;
- Another option is a paste of mint ground in a blender, great ingredient for baking;
- For cocktails, you can make frozen tender mint leaves in ice cubes. To do this, use standard freezing of water in silicone containers.
Advice. Be sure to label the frozen contents so that you don’t get confused in the whitish packages in winter.
How to properly dry mint for the winter
Mint is dried efficiently only in a suspended state. Usually a balcony, attic or veranda is used for these purposes. During the process, it is important to observe the following conditions:
- After collecting, soak the herb in water room temperature for 10-15 minutes, and then wash thoroughly under running water;
- sort and remove damaged copies;
- Choose a dry and well-ventilated area. The drying area should not be exposed to direct sunlight;
- divide the stems into bundles of equal size and tie each of them;
- hang the mint with the leaves facing down.
Advice. Even if you follow the drying technology, sweetness may appear in the bunches. Inspect the mint periodically and remove branches if characteristic signs are detected.
To dry the leaves separately from the stem, use another method:
Dried mint
- place the leaves evenly on a clean piece of cloth or paper;
- send to a dark place;
- Stir the mint leaves occasionally to prevent scorching.
You can also dry mint using the express method, in the oven. Parts of the plant should also be distributed evenly over a sheet covered with paper. This method has a significant disadvantage - the characteristic aroma will disappear. Only natural drying will retain all the useful and tasty features of the mint bouquet.
How to preserve mint: video
Rinse a bunch of mint under cold running water. Place in a colander to drain the liquid.
Then place the mint sprigs on a towel and leave for 5-7 minutes.
To freeze mint, I use this plastic container; you can take any suitable shape.
For the first freezing method, tear off the mint leaves without damaging them and place them in a clean food container. The leaves should lie freely, do not stuff them tightly. When frozen, they will not lose their shape and will easily separate from each other. Cover the food container with a lid and put it in the freezer. 
For the second method, I take small sprigs of mint (sage mint in the photo), rinse, and let the water drain.
On cling film or put a little mint in the bag, fold the first layer, then put the mint back in, wrap it again and continue adding mint and wrapping until the bag is finished.
We put the folded bag of mint in another bag and put it in the freezer. I recommend this method to those who have little space in the freezer.
Delicious and enjoyable preparations!
Mint is a spicy plant that has a refreshing menthol taste. It contains a large number of essential oils, which is why it has such a persistent and strong odor. Mint has long been used in aromatherapy, herbal medicine and, of course, pharmacology. This plant can lift a person out of depression, and mint also helps cope with insomnia. The field of cosmetology has also not spared mint. It is used to make masks, scrubs, refreshing and cleansing tonics, and ice cubes.
I would also like to say something about mint in the field of cooking. There is quite a lot of space here for this wonderful grass. Mint is added to all kinds of teas, both black and green. It is also an excellent spice for cooling or, conversely, warming drinks and cocktails. Mint is good in berry and spicy sauces. It is added to soups and baked goods. And of course, no dessert is complete without mint garnish.
Interesting: it turns out that mint behaves well when frozen. She completely preserves how appearance, and its entire fragrant bouquet of smell. Today we invite you to find out. We offer three freezing options. After all, in the summer it is quite cheap, it costs a penny, but in winter time you'll have to pay a lot more, and the winter mint flavor isn't nearly the same.
Freezing mint whole sprigs
For the first method we will need mint, cling film and kitchen towel.
Place the mint in a special sieve for washing vegetables, turn on the water, and rinse each leaf well. Shake off excess liquid.
Place the mint sprigs on a clean kitchen towel. Dry until each leaf is completely dry.
We wrap it in portions required quantity mint sprigs with a triple layer of cling film. Place the mint in the freezer. We get it as needed.
This mint is good for cooking compotes, preparing various cocktails and drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, making sauces, etc.
Freezing mint in portioned cubes
To freeze mint in portioned cubes, take selected mint, a kitchen towel, and a form for freezing ice. Wash the mint thoroughly under running cool water and dry it, placing all the branches separately.
We tear off the mint leaves, load them into the blender bowl, having previously installed the “metal knife” attachment.
Turn on the blender at full power and puree the mint leaves for one minute.
Arrange the mint in portions, filling each cell of the form. Place the form in the freezer. When the mint is completely frozen, transfer it to a bag. We use it as needed.
Freezing mint in a jar
To freeze mint in a jar, we will need selected mint, jars with lids, and a kitchen towel.
We select beautiful mint sprigs, wash and dry.
We freeze the beautiful top leaves to decorate baked goods and other dishes. We select the leaves and place them in a jar.
An additive that you practically cannot do without in the kitchen. In addition, the leaves will please any gourmet. Besides, regardless, it is one of the best medicines, the main component in decoctions that are intended to heal diseases. In this regard, consumers often wonder how to keep food fresh. The optimal method for achieving this goal is mint, the main secrets and methods of which will be discussed.
Advantages of the method
- Frozen twigs or leaves of the crop completely retain their aroma and taste.
- During the freezing process, the mint vitamin complex is preserved, which brings invaluable benefits to the human body.
- Freezing is a unique opportunity to enjoy aromatic tea from fresh mint in winter, decorate it with leaves fresh salads and desserts.
- The color of thawed leaves of the culture is rich and bright, which cannot be achieved with.
- This method of storing fragrant spices is absolutely simple and accessible to everyone, does not require material or time costs.
Did you know? Thanks to its unique and inimitable aroma, mint has become one of the most sought-after ingredients needed for the preparation of perfumes, both for women and men. It is mint that underlies the scents of the world's most popular brands.
When is the best time to collect
People often complain that they adhered to all the conditions for preparing this magic potion, but the effect was not the same: Mint tea practically devoid of an attractive aroma. 
The thing is that the culture was collected at the wrong time. The optimal period for collecting mint is its flowering stage. It is at this time that the leaves, inflorescences and shoots of the plant accumulate the most essential oils, menthol and beneficial substances, which, among other things, produce a rich aroma.
If you want to prepare the leaves of the crop, they must be collected before flowering, at the stage of setting inflorescences. If you want to prepare whole stems, cut them exactly at the time of flowering, which occurs in late July - early August.
Did you know? Peppermint is one of the most powerful natural sedatives. It can relieve stress and lull you to sleep even during a nervous breakdown. That is why neurologists advise drinking mint tea after every hard day at work, or after any stressful situations.
Preparing to Freeze
The process of preparing mint for freezing is quite simple: the collected healthy leaves and stems of the culture need to be thoroughly washed under running water. The clean workpiece should be laid out on a towel or placed in a colander so that it dries well. 
Freezing methods
Freezing mint raw materials is a fairly new process that began to be used quite recently. Despite this, there are many ways to freeze the crop: whole leaves, twigs, finely chopped and in ice cubes. The last option is a godsend for those who are wondering how to freeze mint for the winter for Mojito.
Whole leaves
For this freezing method, you will need to select only healthy mint leaves, without damage or stains. Clean leaves must be packaged in plastic containers or small jars and place in the freezer. To preserve the integrity of the leaves, jars are best. It is not recommended to freeze the leaves in bags as they will lose their attractiveness.
Freezing mint leaves in their entirety for the winter is the best solution, which will allow you to use the aromatic plant for both tea and desserts in winter.
Whole branches
In addition to leaves, you can also freeze whole mint sprigs. The collected plant branches are inspected, cleaned and washed. After drying, they are wrapped in cling film, foil or a regular plastic bag, being careful not to squeeze the branches, and placed in the freezer.
Important! It is worth remembering that the mint leaves that you are going to freeze must be fresh; under no circumstances should they be allowed to go into the freezer withered. Wilted mint loses its aroma and nutrients.
Finely chopped
TO this method are not used often, since it is believed that during the grinding process, mint raw materials are deprived of their amazing aroma and juice, in which beneficial microelements are concentrated.
However, this is the best option for harvesting mint. The collected raw materials are crushed (you can cut them with a knife, or you can use a blender or food processor). The resulting product must be placed in small molds and frozen, after which the already frozen spice should be poured into a denser bag and sealed.
Important! It is best to freeze mint at a temperature of -18°C to -23 °C.
In ice cubes
Ice cubes with mint leaves are great option mint preparations for aromatic drinks and cocktails, in particular, “Mojito”. Highly recommended easy recipe how to freeze mint in cubes.
To implement this technique, you will need ice containers or small silicone molds, into which mint leaves are placed and filled with chilled boiled water, so that the edges of the leaves are in the water. After this, the containers are placed in the freezer. When the cubes are frozen, they can be poured into a large bag for easy storage. 
Shelf life
There is no exact shelf life for mint. You can understand that this period is expiring by how the product loses its taste and aroma properties.
