Wondering how to use a mint plant from your garden?
This herb grows fast, and it’s easy to end up with more than you know what to do with. The good news is, it’s perfect for adding fresh flavor to drinks, salads, and more.
From sparkling drinks to a fruity salad and even homemade extract, these ideas are a great way to bring your harvest straight into the kitchen.
Don’t forget to check out my Backyard Gardening Tips page—it's packed with useful ideas and inspiration for both new and experienced gardeners.
From invigorating drinks to a vibrant salad and even homemade extract, mint is remarkably versatile.
It adds brightness, freshness, and that unmistakable cool finish. Next time you're harvesting mint, try one—or all—of these ideas and let your garden’s best flavor shine.
In this post, you’ll find five easy and delicious ways to use mint—plus simple tips for picking, cleaning, and storing them so they stay fresh longer.
Looking for even more gardening ideas? Check out How to Grow Mint and The Best Herbs to Grow for Cooking.
Table of Contents
Tips for Using Fresh Mint from the Garden
1. How to Harvest Mint Properly
For the best flavor, harvest mint in the morning after the dew has dried but before the sun gets too hot. Use clean scissors or garden shears to snip stems just above a leaf node (where the leaves meet the stem). This encourages fuller growth and helps the plant stay healthy and bushy.
2. How to Clean Fresh Mint
Once harvested, rinse mint under cool running water to remove dirt or bugs. Gently swish it in a bowl of water, then lay it on a clean kitchen towel or pat it dry with paper towels. For especially gritty leaves, consider using a salad spinner to help dry them quickly without bruising.
3. How to Keep Mint Fresh After Picking
To keep mint fresh, treat it like fresh flowers: trim the ends and place the stems in a glass of water. Cover the top loosely with a plastic bag and store in the fridge—it should stay fresh for up to a week. Alternatively, you can wrap the mint in a damp paper towel and seal it in a plastic bag in the crisper drawer.
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5 Ways to Use Fresh Mint from Your Garden
1. Mint Orange Lemonade
Blend fresh mint with warm water, sugar, lemons, and oranges in a blender for a bright, vitamin-C-packed twist on classic lemonade—perfect for beating the heat.
Get the Recipe: Mint Orange Lemonade
2. Lemon Mint Sparkling Water
Create an infused water that feels fancy by combining lemon-flavored sparkling water, fresh lemon slices, and garden mint. Let it chill—mint infuses best after about 30 minutes for a clean, refreshing sip.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Mint Sparkling Water
3. Lemon Basil Mint Spritzer
Combine honey syrup, lemon juice, and mint with basil, thyme, and a touch of ginger. Once chilled, top it off with sparkling water for a lightly herbed, effervescent mocktail that sparkles.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Basil Mint Spritzer
4. Melon Mint Salad
A simple, fresh fruit salad where cubes of watermelon (or a mix of melon varieties) are tossed with lemon juice, honey, and chopped mint. It’s gluten- and dairy-free, takes just 10 minutes, and looks as good as it tastes.
Check it out here for full details: Melon Mint Salad
5. DIY Mint Extract
Use fresh mint to steep in vodka for about 30 days to create your own mint extract—perfect for baking (like mint chocolate chip ice cream or cookies) or as a thoughtful homemade gift.
Learn how here: How to Make Homemade Mint Extract
Helpful Kitchen Tools
Libbey Ascent Tumbler and Rocks Drinking Glasses Set of 16, Glass Drinking Glasses with Curvature, Versatile Glassware Set for Parties and More
Barnyard Designs Indoor Herb Garden Planter Set with Tray, Metal Windowsill Plant Pots with Drainage for Outdoor or Indoor Plants, Set/3 (White)Glass Water Pitcher, Fruit Infuser Pitcher with Removable Lid, High Heat Resistance Infusion Carafe for Hot/Cold Water, Flavor-Infused Beverage & Iced Tea - 2 Qt
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