How to dry mint at home and important points

Dried mint has many uses in Iranian cuisine. Sunlight, shade, fan, microwave, oven, radiator, heater, etc. can be used to dry mint. Mint is a valuable vegetable which has a pleasant smell and pleasant taste and is used in foods such as soup, buttermilk, yogurt, salad, cocoa etc.

Time to pick mint

Mint has the best flavor before flowering and is the best time to pick it. It is better to pick mint early in the morning. Mint root is permanent and should remain in the soil, it is enough to pick a third of the stem.

Clean and wash the mint

Separate the mint leaves from the stem. Remove damaged, moldy black flowers and leaves. Use cold water to wash the mint. Soak in cold water for about 10 minutes to remove mud and dust. Then rinse and spread on a napkin or towel to drain the water.

Drying mint in the shade

Peel a squash, grate it and squeeze the juice. If the mint is just a leaf, it dries faster. So be sure to separate the stems. Rinse well and rinse. The mint must be completely dry and not a drop of water on it, because if the mint is wet, the dried mint will turn black. When dry, spread on a cotton cloth, towel dryer or tray. Place in a shade to dry completely. If it is stored before it is completely dry, it may become moldy. Tip: To get extra water from washed vegetables, you can pour them in a cloth bag and use the washing machine dryer.

The fastest way to dry mint

Drying mint in the microwave is very quick and easy. Put a kitchen paper towel on a plate and spread some mint on it. Escape the plate into the microwave and set it to maximum power and time of one and a half minutes. Open the microwave every 10 seconds and turn the mint over so that the heat reaches the mint better. In this way, while the mint dries in the shortest possible time, the color of the mint stays green. But heat may reduce its properties.

Drying mint with fan wind

 You can spread the washed and rinsed mint with the stem on a clean, cotton cloth. Adjust the fan wind on the vegetable. After 10 to 12 hours with a fan and a day without a fan, the mints are completely dry. Dried vegetables are easily separated from the stem.

Dry the mint with an air conditioner

Remove the mint leaves from the stem, wash and drain to drain. Put them in a clean cloth bag and put them in the air conditioner overnight. The heat behind the gas cooler dries the mints quickly. This method is good for drying high volume mint.

Drying mint by hanging method

One of the traditional methods of drying vegetables is hanging. Put a few sprigs of mint together and tie them in a small bunch with thread or elastic. Then hang the string upside down on a rope away from the sun where the air is flowing, so that it dries gradually. It is better to have a dark place with a temperature between 21 and 27 degrees Celsius and away from dust. Hanging one of the best methods in this method increases the aroma of mint. If you do not have a place away from dust, you can put mint in a paper bag and make a few holes or crevices in it. Close the envelope with thread and hang it. It takes up to 3 weeks for the mint to dry completely in a hot, dry environment.

Spread a thin layer of mint leaves on the bottom of the oven tray and place the tray in the oven. Turn on the oven for two to three minutes at 85 degrees Celsius (175 degrees Fahrenheit). Leave the tray in the oven for 8 hours until the mint is completely dry.

Hints

Approximately 1 kg of fresh vegetables gives 50 grams of dried vegetables. From 3 batches of mint, you will have about 1.5 to 2 glasses of dry mint.

Dry shade vegetables have a better color than dry sun.

Do not dry the mint in heat, it will turn black. It is better to dry in a cool place where the air flows.

It is better to fry the mint a little before using it in food.

Hot mint should be crushed and passed through a sieve.

Never spread mint on the newspaper because its lead is absorbed by vegetables and is harmful to the body.

Preservation of dried mint

Make sure there is no moisture left in the mint, as moisture will cause it to become moldy.

If you keep the mint in the air or sunlight, its aroma will decrease.

Store dried herbs in small containers.

Keep dried mint leaves in a closed jar away from air, moisture and sunlight.

Keep the right mint leaves. Dried mint, which is crushed when consumed, has more aroma.

Never put paper in a dry mint jar, as the paper absorbs the essential oils of the mint.