What to do with fresh mint? How to keep it as fresher longer? How to store it? Get to know your mint better, along with some tips and tricks! Get the best mint recipes for desserts, sides and main course meals

Got fresh mint?

Its a race against time to make sure you use it before it looses it vibrant green luster!

The struggle is real, people. I feel your pain!

Front view of a mason jar filled with fresh mint

Tips for keeping mint fresh

  • If you get the store bought fresh mint, wash it thoroughly first
  • Gently dry it and then place it in a dry paper towel
  • Place the paper towel in a ziplock bag and write the date on it
  • In the refrigerator, keep it away from the yellow light. Place it in the darkest part of the fridge
  • Use up the mint within 10 days
  • Grow your own mint and keep it in your herb garden so it will stay fresh longer. Balcony and Garden Web has so many great tips on growing it indoors
  • This is what it looks like after 10 days. Its a little worse for the wear, but, still in good shape
Top view of mint on paper towel with text, "after ten days" written next to it

5 Ways to use fresh mint

  • Dry it in the oven and use it in teas, coffee, ice cream or soups
  • Mix it in vegan butter to make compound butter
  • Put it in salad dressings
  • Make lemonade out of it
  • Turn it into a pesto recipe.

Growing mint

I have LOVED growing my own mint, but, sadly, they never stay alive for very long. I have tried growing them indoors and outdoors too, but, they didn’t last long.

Growing mint outside worked better for me. They mint plant lasted long than when I grew it indoors. I took lots of advice from the internet and the best advice came from Bonnie Plants. You can even contact them through the help button and ask them your questions.

As for growing it indoors, the best tips I have found are on Balcony and Garden Web’s site. They make it easy to grow mint indoors without any hassle

If you grow your own mint, share with me some of your tips. Comment below and let me know. I am always happy to hear from the experts.

Closeup view of a mason jar filled with fresh mint

What to make with mint

  • Summer Fruit Salad
  • Frozen Hot Chocolate
  • Watermelon Salad
  • Pear Salad Dressing
  • Sugar Snap Peas with Mint Paste
  • Za’atar and Mint Dressing
  • Pasta with Grilled Veggies
  • Pasta Sauce with Fresh Herbs
  • Spicy Smoothie
  • Carambola Jam
  • Affogato

Questions about mint?

I love working with fresh mint and it shows! Here are some common questions I have been asked about mint.

If you have more questions about mint, feel free to comment below.

What to do with yellowed mint / rotten mint / browned mint?

If your mint is turning brown, yellow or any color that is not green, it can still contribute to something useful:
1) Put it in your indoor compost container.
2) Spread it around trees or outdoor plants and let it compost into the soil.
3) Put it vinegar, add baking soda and use this combination to clean surfaces of your home.

Top view of mint on paper towel with text, "after ten days" written next to it

How long can mint stay fresh?

If stored properly, it can stay fresh for 2 weeks. Sometimes, I have been able to stretch it to 3 weeks

How many types of mint are there?

There are over 600 Varieties of mint (Source: UCDavies). Here are the 17 most common varieties of Mint

Can it be frozen?

Yes, they can be frozen, but, they have to frozen in the right way. Never freeze mint directly. Instead, put it in ice cubes, add extra virgin olive oil to it, cover the tray and freeze it.

You can also put it into a vegan compound butter recipe and freeze the butter.

Summer fruit salad

Top view of a white bowl with blackberries, peaches, avodado and quino

I love the taste of mint on fruits! It changes the flavors of the fruit for the better, don’t you agree?

This fruit salad recipe uses my mint vinaigrette recipe. The whole recipe takes less than 10 minutes to make and its beyond delicious

Take it to picnics, eat it for brunch, lunch or even dessert. I like the addition of quinoa to the recipe because it adds extra nutrition to it

How to Prepare Fruit Salad
Quick Summer Fruit Salad Recipe made with just a few ingredients. Perfect for a light lunch or a summer picnic
Check out this recipe
closeup view of quinoa fruit salad with a mint leaf garnish

Frozen hot chocolate

Front View of Frozen Chocolate Drink in a tall glass bottle with mint on the side

There is nothing better than drinking a frozen hot chocolate on a HOT summer day!

Don’t just take my word for it, make it today and you will see what I mean.

In the milk, I steeped a leaves of mint and then added the other ingredients when the milk cooled. Its so very easy that you can make it every day of summer

Top it with vegan whipped cream and some chocolate syrup! You have earned it.

Vegan Frozen Hot Chocolate
Frozen Hot Chocolate made with milk and steeped mint. This silky smooth ice drink is perfect way to beat the summer heat.
Check out this recipe
Top view of vegan frozen hot chocolate with a mint leave on the side and a green stripped straw

Watermelon salad

Front view of a grey plate with arugula, melon balls and mozzarella balls

The has a few mint leaves in it, as well as the pear salad dressing. This salad is a fun salad to make for summer that happens to be picnic friendly too.

It takes less than 10 minutes to make, so, run to the kitchen and make it now

How to make a Watermelon Salad
5 Minute Arugula Watermelon Salad with just a few ingredients.
Check out this recipe
Front view of a grey plate with arugula, melon balls and mozzarella balls

Pear salad dressing

Top view of a small glass bottle filled with pear salad dressing and arugula shaped as a fan next to it

This is now my all time favorite salad dressing. I love its simplicity and its light taste

The biggest selling point for it is that its a no-oil salad dressing! how cool is that?

Pear Salad Dressing Recipe
A no-oil pear salad dressing recipe made with all natural ingredients. Serve it on salads, fruits or used for marination
Check out this recipe
Front view of a small glass bottle filled with pear dressing with arugula salad in the background

Sugar snap peas

Top view of a brown plate filled with cooked sugar snap peas with 3 open pea pods open and a few peas on the side

Why it plain old sugar snap peas when you can eat them with fresh mint!

I muddled fresh mint, salt, ginger and a couple other ingredients. Then, I sauteed sugar snap peas before mixing in the mint paste

Sauteed Sugar Snap Peas Recipe
Sugar snap peas quickly sauteed and mixed with a light fresh mint mixture. These sugar snap peas are the perfect side dish or a light lunch
Check out this recipe
Top view of an open sugar snap pea pod with peas showing

Za’atar and mint dressing

Front view of a small glass cruet filled with mint vinaigrette. Background has mint and blackberry

There isn’t a better aroma than when za’atar and mint come together!

This salad dressing is, by far, the most aromatic salad dressing ever. Its perfect for a fruit salad or a regular salad

How to Make Mint Vinaigrette
Quick 5 minute mint vinaigrette dressing with Za'atar
Check out this recipe
Front view of a small glass cruet filled with mint vinaigrette. Background has mint and blackberry

Pasta with grilled veggies

Overhead view of vegan pasta with grilled veggies on a black plate

Every time I think of pasta, I think of the sauce. How do I make it without marinara sauce?

This time, I made it with a mint, parsley, sun-dried tomato sauce. Add grilled veggies to it and this is the perfect pasta recipe

Vegan Pasta With Grilled Veggies
A nutritious and colorful vegan pasta recipe made with red lentil pasta
Check out this recipe
top view of fusilli pasta with grilled veggies on a black plate

Pasta Sauce with fresh herbs

Fresh Mint, butter, parsley, breadcrumbs and pasta!

Casarecce Pasta with Broccolini Rabe (Rapini)

What else is there to say about this recipe! Its a quick and easy pasta recipe for any day of the week

Casarecce Pasta With Broccolini Rabe
Simple casarecce pasta with broccolini rabe in a rich herb butter sauce
Check out this recipe
Closeup view of a white bowl filled with casarecce pasta, roasted broccolini, vegan butter sauce and panko bread crumbs as garnish

Spicy smoothie recipe

Angle view of 2 small glasses filled with pineapple smoothie and garnished with banana, mint and pomegranate. They are placed on a stainless steel plate with ice cubes, pomegranate seeds, banana rounds and mint leaves

This is not your average smoothie recipe!

There is spice and mint in it. You have to try it to know why I love it so much

Pineapple Smoothie with Jalapeno
Simple vegan pineapple smoothie with jalapeno.
Check out this recipe
Angle view of 2 small glasses filled with pineapple smoothie and garnished with banana, mint and pomegranate. They are placed on a stainless steel plate with ice cubes, pomegranate seeds, banana rounds and mint leaves

Carambola jam

Overhead View of A Jar With Star Fruit Carambola Jam in an Open Mason Jar. A White Tray with Toast and a side of butter

Mint is great in any jam recipe, especially a fruity one.

This is a carambola with kiwi jam recipe and its beyond delicious

Star Fruit Carambola
Star Fruit Carambola put in a jam with Kiwi and ginger.
Check out this recipe
Overhead View of A Jar With Star Fruit Carambola Jam in an Open Mason Jar. A White Tray with Toast and a side of butter

Matcha affogato

Overhead View of A Bowl Filled With Ice Cream and Matcha Milk - Matcha Affogato

Muddle mint, add matcha and some sweetness.

Mix it with ice cream and you have the perfect dessert on your hands

Affogato Made 3 Ways
3 quick and easy ways of making Affogato.  Matcha, Orange Julius and Traditional
Check out this recipe
Overhead view of 3 Mason Jars filled with 3 different types of affogato and surrounded by orange slices, coffee, matcha powder and mint leaves

Now that you are a mint aficionado, impress your friends with your knowledge. Pin it, share it on Facebook and Tweet about it! Be sure to let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

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7 Comments

  1. My husband and I are South Arican. One thing we love is a lamb chop hot off the Braai (bbq) my husband makes a homemade marinade with fresh mint, lemon juice and steak and chop seasoning which he combines and leaves the chops overnight refrigerated. Best ever!!!!

  2. Love the post and love mint. Don’t forget you can also make a Mojito. You can see my recipe for the ultimate Mojito cocktail at gardening4joy.com.

  3. I’m growing mint in my garden for one recipe so I found yours and I’m going to try them! But this is how I use mint: watermelon cubed or balls (using a small scoop), pour Midori (melon liqueur) over it, add julienned mint, let sit overnight in the fridge. Very refreshing (and adult!) the next day…we take this on a boat ride for a hot day. Delicious!

    1. How interesting, Michele. I have never tried it your way. I am making a note of it and will try it over the weekend. Thanks for the information