Learn how to freeze mint with this simple tutorial! Preserve your fresh mint for tea, cocktails, and more, and enjoy your harvest all year long.
Mint is one of my absolute favorite herbs to grow in my garden (okay, I say this about a lot of herbs, but it’s true!).
It’s also a versatile herb! I add it to cocktails (like strawberry mojitos) and mocktails, make my own mint tea, and use it for garnishes and edible flower ice cubes.
In the winter, I miss that fresh mint growing in my herb garden. The next best thing is to preserve it!
Freezing mint is such a great way to keep it for long-term storage so you can enjoy garden mint all year long! With three different methods, you’ll surely be stocked up with mint for every use.
Mint is one of the most popular and versatile herbs to grow in the garden Its refreshing flavor and aroma make it a staple ingredient in both sweet and savory dishes. From mint juleps to mint chocolate chip ice cream, mint is a must-have herb for every home cook
During mint’s peak growing season in summer you’ll likely end up with more fresh mint than you can use, Freezing is the perfect way to preserve all that flavorful mint so you can continue enjoying it all year long But does mint have to be frozen in water? Or can you successfully freeze it without water too?
Below you’ll find a complete guide on freezing mint along with pro tips for the best results.
Can You Freeze Mint Leaves Without Water?
The good news is yes, you absolutely can freeze mint leaves without water! There are a few simple and effective methods to freeze fresh mint plain:
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Air drying – Wash mint and dry thoroughly with paper towels. Arrange leaves in single layer on baking sheet and allow to air dry 1-2 hours. Transfer dried leaves to freezer bag/container and freeze.
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Freezer tray – Wash mint, pat very dry with paper towels. Spread in single layer on parchment lined tray and freeze 1-2 hours until solid. Transfer frozen leaves to airtight freezer container.
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Freeze in oil – Chop clean, dry mint leaves. Mix with just enough olive or avocado oil to coat. Spoon into ice cube trays or muffin tins and freeze until solid. Pop out cubes and store in freezer bags.
So while many people do freeze mint in water or ice cubes, it’s not at all necessary. As long as you thoroughly dry the leaves first, plain freezing works great.
Why Freeze Mint Without Water?
Here are some of the top reasons to freeze mint leaves without water:
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Retains flavor – Excess moisture can dilute mint’s flavor when frozen. Keeping leaves dry helps concentrate the minty flavor.
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Prevents clumping – Wet mint leaves will stick together when frozen. Dry leaves freeze separately.
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Saves freezer space – Freezing in water or ice cubes takes up more room compared to plain dry leaves.
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Quick and easy – Simply wash, dry, and freeze – no need to fuss with trays of water or oil.
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Versatile – Dry frozen leaves are easy to grab by the handful or sprinkle into recipes as needed.
So if freezer space is limited or you want fuss-free freezing, plain mint is the way to go.
Does Freezing Affect Mint Quality?
Freezing mint leaves does change the texture slightly compared to fresh. The leaves become more brittle and darkened.
But the good news is the flavor remains remarkably unaffected, especially if frozen properly by first drying the leaves. Frozen mint retains much of the aromatic essential oils that give it that cool, refreshing taste.
While not as lovely as fresh, frozen mint still packs a flavor punch. It’s ideal for use in cooked dishes, sauces, baked goods, and beverages where appearance isn’t as important.
Proper Handling for Freezing Mint
Follow these tips to successfully freeze fresh mint leaves without water:
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Select fresh, undamaged leaves – Choose vibrant leaves without wilting or brown spots.
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Wash and dry thoroughly – Gently rinse mint, then pat very dry with paper towels to remove all moisture. Wet leaves will stick together when frozen.
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Work quickly – Freeze leaves right after harvesting and cleaning to maximize flavor and color retention.
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Freeze leaves whole – Chopped or torn leaves release moisture; keep intact.
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Use freezer-safe packaging – Choose airtight bags or containers meant for freezing to prevent freezer burn.
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Remove air pockets – Press out excess air which causes freezer burn and deterioration.
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Label – Identify mint type and date frozen for easier identification.
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Use within 6 months – For best quality and flavor, use frozen mint within 6 months.
How To Use Frozen Mint
The cool, refreshing flavor of frozen mint makes it perfect for:
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Beverages – Add to lemonade, iced tea, cocktails, smoothies
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Sauces and dressings – Pesto, chimichurri, salad dressings
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Soups and stews – Chili, chicken noodle, minestrone
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Desserts – Ice cream, frozen yogurt, fruit salads
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Baking – Pies, cookies, quick breads
Simply use frozen mint as you would fresh – no need to thaw first. The frozen leaves will impart bright mint flavor as they melt into the dish during cooking.
Should You Freeze Mint in Water?
While not required, some people do prefer freezing mint in water or ice cubes. Here are a few reasons why:
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Creates a protective coating around leaves
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Keeps leaves separated so they don’t stick together
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Allows chopping mint before freezing
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Ice cubes are ready to pop into drinks
So if you don’t mind giving up freezer space, freezing in water can be useful. But with proper handling as outlined above, plain freezing works just as well.
Storing Fresh Mint – Other Options
In addition to freezing, you can also prolong the life of fresh mint with these storage methods:
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Water – Stand mint sprigs in a vase or jar of water, like flowers. Change water every 2 days. Lasts 1 week.
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Plastic bag – Place mint sprigs in open zip-top bag in fridge. Keeps 3 weeks.
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Moist paper towel – Wrap leaves in damp paper towel in airtight container. Keeps 2 weeks.
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Herb keeper – Special containers with water reservoir at bottom to keep herbs hydrated.
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Hydroponic growing – Growing mint in water eliminates wilting.
Enjoy Mint All Season Long
Now that you know freezing mint without water works beautifully, you can stash tons of flavorful mint in the freezer after an abundant growing season. Use these handy frozen mint cubes, bags, or containers to add refreshing flavor to beverages and dishes all year long.
With proper harvesting, drying, freezing, and storage techniques you can enjoy homegrown mint at its best year-round.
Can you freeze mint in oil?
Yes, if you want to! Mint can be frozen in olive oil or avocado oil in an ice cube tray. Take one out and add it to hot dishes or thaw for herb-based sauces.
How to Freeze Mint 3 Ways
There are a few different ways you can freeze mint, and each has different benefits and uses!
Before starting any of these methods, you’ll need to harvest and prepare your mint. Learn how to properly harvest mint in my tutorial.
Once harvested, give your mint a quick rinse under cool water to wash away dirt and bugs. Pat the mint dry with a clean kitchen towel or spin it in a salad spinner.
Mint leaves can be frozen plain in a freezer-safe container. This method provides the most flexibility, but I don’t find the mint keeps as long as the other two methods. It is also more susceptible to freezer burn. If you freeze the mint by itself, consider using it more quickly.
Step 1. After rinsing, pat the mint leaves dry with a clean towel or spin them in a salad spinner.
Step 2. Place the mint leaves in a freezer-safe bag and squeeze as much air out as you can. Label and stash in the freezer for later use.
I like to freeze mint in water to add to certain cooked dishes and make into mint tea. I find that freezing the mint in water preserves the color better, and it’s easier to grab and go. Frozen mint cubes are even great for use in place of regular ice cubes in a cold beverage!
Step 1: After washing and drying the mint, remove the mint leaves from the mint stems.
Step 2: Stuff each cell of an ice cube tray with individual leaves, packing them in so none are sticking up.
Step 3: Fill each cell with water, then push the mint down to ensure it’s submerged under the water.
Step 4: Freeze until solid, then remove from the ice cube trays and transfer to a bag or glass jar.
If you’re a mojito or a mojito mocktail lover, you can freeze your fresh mint into lime juice and have the cubes ready to go for an easy mojito.
All you need to do is follow the instructions above for freezing mint in water, but substitute the water for lime juice!
I recommend using freshly squeezed lime juice rather than bottled, but you can use whichever you like more.
You can thaw the lime mint cubes and add the liquid lime juice with mint to your beverages, or you can add the cubes in frozen.
- If you find that the mint floats to the top of the ice cubes, you can add half the mint and half the water, freeze it until solid, and then add the rest in a second layer.
- Another way to freeze mint is by making a mint pesto or mint sauce and freezing that! I preserve other herbs this way withbasil pesto andfresh herb sauce all the time, and it works great.
- Make sure you get as much air out of the plastic bag as possible to prevent freezer burn.
- Don’t forget to label your containers! Frozen herbs start to all look the same when they’re in a crowded freezer together.
- You can freeze lemon balm using these same methods.
How to Freeze Mint #ibs #mealprep #growyourownfood #peppermint #mojito #growingherbs
FAQ
How long can you freeze mint without water?
What is the best way to freeze mint?
With a baking sheet, you can freeze whole fresh mint leaves to preserve their shape, making it easy to snip with kitchen shears when you’re ready to use it—no …May 6, 2025
Is it better to freeze mint or dry it?
Drying is considered the best method for preserving mint’s fresh aroma. Nowadays, there are a number of ways to dry mint leaves. Read on to find out more!
Can you freeze mint in Ziploc bags?
This method works for any fresh herb, including basil, mint, and parsley. To freeze herbs this way, first clean and chop them, either by hand or using a food processor, then transfer them to a large zipper-lock freezer bag and add enough neutral oil (such as canola or light olive oil) to coat them.
Can you freeze fresh mint?
Here’s how you can freeze fresh mint: 1. Wash the mint leaves: Begin by rinsing the mint leaves under cold water. This will remove any dirt or debris. 2. Pat dry: Gently pat the leaves dry using a clean kitchen towel or paper towels. 3. Remove the stems: Pluck the mint leaves from the stems. Discard the stems as they can become bitter when frozen.
Can you put frozen mint in water?
Perhaps the most obvious way to use frozen mint is to put it in water with other flavorful additions such as cucumbers, lemon, blueberries, strawberries, or even ginger. Frozen whole mint leaves or mint leaves frozen in water will work perfectly in any water infusion. Check out this delicious mint summer salad.
Can you use frozen mint leaves?
You can use frozen mint leaves in a variety of recipes, including drinks, salads, soups, sauces, and desserts. Simply remove the desired amount of frozen mint leaves and add them directly to your dish. 9. Can I freeze mint leaves for decorative purposes?
Can you freeze mint ice cubes?
Spoon mint paste into mini muffin tins lined with muffin papers or ice cube trays, filling them three-fourths full. Freeze for 2-3 hours, and then remove the muffin liners from the pan and freeze each “puck” in an air-tight container for up to 6 months. Gently rinse mint. Remove mint leaves from stem and chop to desired size.
Can you freeze Mint in a mojito?
Yes, you can! Mint can be frozen by itself in a freezer-safe bag, but for mojitos, I recommend freezing it in lime juice. That way, you can pop a cube of lime juice and mint in your mojito and enjoy! Can you freeze mint in oil? Yes, if you want to! Mint can be frozen in olive oil or avocado oil in an ice cube tray.
How do you keep Mint from sticking to ice cubes?
After washing and drying the mint, remove the mint leaves from the mint stems. Stuff each cell of an ice cube tray with individual leaves, packing them in so none are sticking up. Fill each cell with water, then push the mint down to ensure it’s submerged in the water.