Ingredient Guides

How To Dry Mint (3 Methods for Dried Mint)

By Samira Kazan

updated April 11, 2025

Fresh mint leaves and dried mint on a flat surface - 1

Dried mint and fresh mint on a flat surface - 5

How to dry mint at home with three methods to choose from: oven-drying, using a dehydrator, or air-drying. This post also includes how to store, convert, and use dried mint!

I think my obsession with dehydrating and preserving came at just about the right time. Along with DIY methods for things like ‘sun-dried tomatoes’ and garlic & onion flakes, I’m now moving on to herbs – like how to dry mint, how to dry rosemary , and how to dry thyme .

Since moving from London to Oxford, I’ve been able to take advantage of my extra space (and garden!!) for lots more herb growing, which means I’m constantly looking for ways to make my herbs last longer. I already store herbs in the fridge and freezer , but learning how to dry mint leaves (and stems) can be great for preserving mint for a long shelf-life. Plus, it’s usually fresher and better-tasting than the store-bought versions.

When preserving mint at home, you can also easily prepare dried mint leaves, crushed mint, powdered mint, etc. Best of all, there are tons of ways to use the dried herb too – within spice mixes, for sauces and dressings, for mint tea , etc. Check out the ‘uses’ section below for tons more options.

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How to dry mint
How to store dried mint
How to use dried int
FAQs
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How To Dry Mint (3 Methods for Dried Mint) Recipe

How to dry mint

There are three main ways to dry mint including using a dehydrator, oven, or air-drying. Using a dehydrator is my preferred method for the low heat and quick turnover.

Herbs and mushroom slices in a dehydrator - 8

Oven drying mint can be quick, but you need to be careful not to cook/burn the leaves as you often can’t get temperatures that are as low.

Lastly, air-drying mint is a great heatless option, but will really only work in warm climates that aren’t humid (a room that is around 60-68¬∫F/15-20¬∫C will work well). Cold/humid climates may lead to moldy mint.

Wash and dry the herb : It’s important to wash and carefully dry any mint before dehydrating it – to get rid of any critters and germs.

Add the mint to a bowl of water and swish it carefully. After rinsing, you could use a salad spinner to get rid of as much excess water before patting dry or go straight to patting dry.

It’s important to get rid of ALL the excess moisture before drying the mint so it can be a good idea to let it air-dry for an extra 30-60 minutes, pat dry once more, before using the oven or dehydrator method.

In A Dehydrator : Once rinsed and dried, remove the mint leaves from the stems (you can dry the stems separately if you want).

Mint leaves separated from the steps - 10

Lay the leaves in a single layer across your dehydrator tray/s, making sure to leave space in-between for the air to circulate.

Dry the mint at 40¬∞C/105¬∞F for between 2-5 hours, until they are brittle and crumble to pieces rather than bending.

Before and after dehydrating mint leaves - 11

The time will vary based on your machine, how much you’re drying, the climate you live in, etc. It’s best to check on them after 2 hours and then again every 15-20 minutes.

Allow the dried mint leaves to cool entirely before transferring to an airtight jar.

In The Oven : After rinsing and drying the mint, remove the leaves from the stems (or leave them, for now) and lay them out on a parchment-lined baking tray/s with space between for air to circulate.

Place the tray in the oven at its lowest temperature , best to be under 200¬∫F/95¬∫C (higher temperatures can cause the mint to brown and “cook”). Depending on the temperature, this process will take a different amount of time.

For example, 120¬∫F/ 50C ¬∫ may take between 1.5-4 hours. 180¬∫F/80¬∫C may take 1-2.5 hours.

It can be a good idea to slightly prop the oven door open using a heat-proof wooden spoon or potholder to release the steam and dry the leaves faster (as well as avoid overheating them). You can also flip the mint leaves after 1 hour to allow for faster even drying.

Air-drying : After rinsing and drying mint (fresh), you can gather it into a bouquet and tie it together with a piece of twine/string at the bottom of the stems.

Hang the bouquet in a warm, well-ventilated area away from any direct sunlight. You can do this by creating a hanging apparatus with strings, drying the bouquet of mint from a hanger, or even using a herb drying rack .

Use this method if you live in a warm, dry climate to avoid your mint becoming moldy. Also, make sure to dry them away from sunlight as the sun causes the leaves to brown and destroys the mint essential oils.

Allow it to hang dry for between a couple of days up to 1-2 weeks until dry and ‘crumbly’ to the touch.

Due to the long drying time, it can be a good idea to cover the herbs with a ventilated ‘protective covering’ like a paper bag – to avoid dust settling on the herbs (and little critters) .

How to store dried mint

Once dried, no matter which method you use, the dry mint leaves should still be green in color and have a strong minty aroma . If it is significantly darkened, then it’s likely ‘cooked’/burnt.

You can store the leaves whole, crumbled (by hand or food processor), or as a powder (using a coffee/spice grinder or food processor for longer). Store in airtight glass containers and avoid anything porous (like cardboard and certain plastics) that will absorb the oils.

A hand holding a jar with dried mint leaves - 13

Store the dried mint in a cool, dark area for up to 12 months for optional freshness. After that, it will begin to deteriorate in quality.

Top Tip: in the immediate days after drying the mint, check on the leaves for any sign of moisture in the container. If there is then repeat the drying process for a little longer. Otherwise, the entire batch can become moldy.

How to use dried int

There are tons of ways to enjoy your dry mint, including:

Used for mint tea : Add 1 tsp dried mint leaves to your mug of hot water and steep for 3-4 minutes.
As part of spice blends & herb salt .
Within herby compound butter .
In tzatziki and similar dishes – like this Lebanese Cucumber Salad (Kh‚Äôyar bi laban) .
Added to cheese recipes – like this Goat Cheese or Herby Vegan Feta .
Within marinades and dressings – like this 5-Ingredient Delicious Lemon Herb Tahini Sauce or Easy Raspberry Salad Dressing .
As part of a ‘rub’/Marinades for meats or tofu .
Within cocktails and ‘ herby’ drinks – like this Refreshing Blackberry Earl Grey Iced Tea or Fresh Raspberry Lemonade (Naturally Sweetened) .
Within soups & stews .
You can also use dry mint leaves within beauty applications – like soap .

It’s best to harvest mint just before they flower – so late spring usually. This is when their oils will be at their ‘peak’ levels. It’s also best to harvest them in the early morning before the sunlight/heat evaporates any of the oils. Choose leaves that are fresh, bright, and green.

Yes, you can use stems for mint tea too – for less waste. You could also grind it into a mint powder.

Use 1/3 the amount of dried mint to fresh mint. I.e., 1 teaspoon of dried for 3 teaspoons (1 tablespoon) fresh mint.

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Equipment

Magnetic Spice Tins
Dehydrator

IngredientsUS CustomaryMetric1x2x3x

▢ 3.5 oz fresh mint leaves

This would yield about0.4oz/11g dried mint

Instructions

Step 1: Wash and dry the herb

It’s important to wash and carefully dry any mint before drying it – to get rid of any critters and germs. Add the mint to a bowl of water and swish it carefully. After rinsing, you could use a salad spinner to get rid of as much excess water first before patting dry or go straight to patting dry. It’s important to get rid of ALL the excess moisture before drying the mint to it can be a good idea to let it air-dry for an extra 30-60 minutes, pat dry once more, before using the oven or dehydrator methods.

Step 2 (choose a method):

In A Dehydrator

Once rinsed and dried, remove the mint leaves from the stems (you can dry the stems separately if you want). Lay the leaves in a single layer across your dehydrator tray/s, making sure to leave space in-between for the air to circulate.
Dry the mint at 40¬∞C/105¬∞F for between 2-5 hours, until they are brittle and crumble to pieces rather than bending. The time will vary based on your machine, how much you’re drying, the climate you live in, etc. It’s best to check on them after 2 hours and then again every 15-20 minutes.

In The Oven

After rinsing and drying the mint, remove the leaves from the stems (or leave them, for now) and lay them out on a parchment-lined baking tray/s with space between for air to circulate. Place the tray in the oven at its lowest temperature, best to be under 200¬∫F/95¬∫C (higher temperatures can cause the mint to brown and “cook”). Depending on the temperature, this process will take a different amount of time. For example, 120¬∫F/50C¬∫ may take between 1.5-4 hours. 180¬∫F/80¬∫C may take 1-2.5 hours. It can be a good idea to slightly prop the oven door open using a heat-proof wooden spoon or potholder to release the steam and dry the leaves faster (as well as avoid overheating them). You can also flip the mint leaves after 1 hour to allow for faster even drying.

Air-drying

After rinsing and pat-drying the fresh mint, you can gather it into a bouquet and tie it together with a piece of twine/string at the bottom of the stems. Hang the bouquet in a warm, well-ventilated area away from any direct sunlight. You can do this by creating a hanging apparatus with strings, drying the bouquet of mint from a hanger, or even using a herb drying rack. Use this method if you live in a warm, dry climate to avoid your mint becoming moldy. Also, make sure to dry them away from sunlight as the sun causes the leaves to brown and destroys the mint essential oils.
Allow the mint to hang dry for between a couple of days up to 1-2 weeks until dry and ‘crumbly’ to the touch. Due to the long drying time, it can be a good idea to cover the herbs with a ventilated ‘protective covering’ like a paper bag – to avoid dust settling on the herbs (and little critters).

How To Store Dried Mint

Once dried, no matter which method, the dry mint leaves should still be green in color and have a strong minty aroma . If it’s significantly darkened, then it’s likely ‘cooked’/burnt. Also, allow the leaves to cool completely before transferring so there’s no risk of ‘steam’. You can store the dry mint leaves whole, crumbled (by hand or food processor), or as a powder (using a coffee/spice grinder or food processor for longer). Store in airtight glass containers and avoid any porous boxes (like cardboard and certain plastics) that will absorb the oils. Store the dried mint in a cool, dark area for up to 12 months for optimal freshness. After that, it will begin to deteriorate in quality. Top Tip: in the immediate days after drying the mint, check on the leaves for any sign of moisture in the container. If there is then repeat the drying process for a little longer. Otherwise, the entire batch will become moldy.

Notes

Nutrition

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.