How to keep mint fresh at home in winter, rules and best ways
Mint is a very useful plant that has medicinal properties and is very popular among tea drinkers. Keeping mint at home is easy, but there are several ways that work best for one purpose or another. And above all, it is important to know how to store greens, in order to get the maximum taste later.
Peculiarities of mint storage
The plant does not require special efforts for storage, as it lends itself well to processing and can also be stored in its original form. It retains the aroma and taste well. The mint can be frozen or other methods can be used.
Storage methods
There are many ways to save greens, the main thing is to do the procedure correctly so that all the qualities are best preserved. Plants are frozen, tinctures are boiled or dried from them and stored in a container. Drying is carried out in bunches or the leaves are laid out separately. Packages are usually suspended.
At room temperature
Mint leaves retain their properties well at room temperature, but before storing, the mint is washed and dried.The main thing is to keep the temperature at the same level and avoid an increase in air humidity. Sudden changes can cause the leaves to destroy and they will wither. After the procedure, the sheets are kept cool.
In the fridge
Green vegetables can be stored well for 5 days in a jar of water. To prevent moisture from escaping, cover the mint container with a clear bag. Food containers are chosen for storage up to 10 days. Before that, the greens are washed and dried. Harvesting takes place in dry weather. Take 2-3 year old plants. A third of the stem is cut off, since the leaves are the softest and youngest there.
In the freezer
This method allows you to preserve nutrients and later use greens for culinary and medicinal purposes. To do this, take 5-6 branches and put them in regular bags. Once the bags are placed in the freezer. The next day, the greens are put in one bag so that it does not take up much space.
You can also grind mint before freezing it. The cut plant is laid out in containers.
It is not necessary to cut the mint, the grass is also stored in whole leaves. It depends on what that room requires.
A medicinal plant is frozen in ice cubes, which stores tissues well and does not allow mint to lose its properties. The cubes are put in bags and hidden in the camera.
Dried
Drying is carried out in dry weather, and the temperature is maintained at 22-25 degrees. The leaves are washed, laid out on the fabric in separate leaves or twigs. Can also be cut into small pieces. For drying, the mint is tied in bunches and hung.The place is chosen away from direct sunlight. The plant dries in a few days.
grow at home
To always have fresh mint on hand, the plant is planted in a pot. To do this, take a twig and place it in water, wait for it to take root. Then the seedling is transplanted into the ground and watered.
In water
Store mint or chopped leaves in jars. A tincture is made from water. You can also add sugar. But this method has its drawbacks. Although greens retain their pleasant aroma, they cannot be stored for more than 3-4 days, as the product begins to deteriorate.
Before the procedure, the leaves are washed and cut. But it depends on the final product and its future use. Pour mint with warm water, sugar can be added. After that the container is placed in a refrigerator.
In the towel
After drying, the plants are wrapped in a paper towel. This will help protect the mint from excess moisture, sunlight, and keep it dry and warm. Choose a larger towel. In this case, it is not worth cutting the mint, as this will later complicate transportation.
In ice cubes
After being washed and sorted, the mint is divided into leaves. After that, water is poured and the plant is placed in molds. Then they are sent to the freezer. At low temperatures, the water will freeze quickly and the product inside the ice will stay fresh longer.
Once the mint is removed, you can start cooking. In this form, it is ideal for salads, as well as for infusing tea and tinctures. These blanks are especially relevant for the winter.The greens will help restore vitamins and make you feel invigorated. Due to its medicinal properties, it is often used as a cold and flu medicine.
In a cool place
In order not to put the container in the refrigerator, it is placed in a cool place, but it is important to keep the temperature at the same level. The humidity should not be high either.
mint sugar
To do this, you only need two products: mint and sugar. This sweet addition will go well with desserts. The product has a well-defined sweet aroma. It is often added to coffee and tea to add flavor. Also, mint sugar can be added to sauces and dressings, sprinkled with berries and yogurts. This product is added at the end of cooking so that it does not lose its taste.
They take fresh mint, wash it and cut it. The twigs are immediately thrown away, being careful not to catch lazy leaves, otherwise the sugar will quickly deteriorate. After 30 grams of mint is mixed with 150 grams of sugar. Turns out it's a serving. Little by little, the mint will soak up the juice and turn into a puree. Store sugar in a tightly closed container. This method of storage does not take much time, and the final product can be used profitably.
How to choose the right one, how to keep the mint
The method of storage is chosen at your discretion. Most often it depends on how long the mint needs to stay fresh. Further use is also chosen in advance. If you want to keep greens all winter, it is better to dry them. In the form of syrup or simply stored in water, the plant will quickly deteriorate.
If you plan to use the product in the near future, it is not necessary to put the mint in the freezer. Just put the container in the refrigerator.
Common Mistakes
It is very important, before sending greens for storage in the refrigerator, to check the safety of the leaves. Those that are sluggish or spoiled are already losing their taste and can start to go bad in a container with a good product. Also, sudden changes in temperature will damage the mint. Air humidity should not exceed 50-60 percent. Otherwise, the leaves will quickly wither. It is recommended to wrap the plant in a bag before putting it in the refrigerator. This will protect the mint from environmental influences and temperature drops.
Additional tips and tricks
For preservation, use sealed dishes, it is very important to preserve the taste of the plant. It is also important to sort the product, because the quality of the grass depends on it. For storage for long periods, the plant is dried. For growing at home, it is enough to have a branch. After that, the seedling germinates, it is placed in the ground and is now cared for. The place is chosen in partial shade so that the mint gets enough light and the rays do not damage the foliage.
Climatic conditions affect taste and aroma. Over the winter, if stored improperly, all of that is lost.You don't need to harvest much as the plant can be used sparingly. Medicinal use is also possible. I use molds to freeze in ice. This will help you make good use of the space. With proper processing and compliance with the rules of processing, a quality product is obtained, which will retain its properties for a long time.