How Long Does Fresh Mint Last?

Fresh mint stored stems-down in a glass of water in the fridge, loosely covered, lasts about 1-2 weeks, and wilting or a loss of its normal perky structure is usually the first sign it's declining.

Blackened or yellowing leaves, a slimy texture, and a musty smell replacing mint's normal bright, cooling scent are the clearer signs of actual spoilage. Because mint spreads its scent easily to nearby foods in the fridge, storing it in a way that's at least loosely covered — not open to the whole crisper drawer — also helps keep its own flavor from fading as quickly, a small but genuine consideration for such an aromatic herb.

A mint plant grown in a pot on a windowsill provides an ongoing fresh supply that sidesteps most of the storage question entirely, since mint is notoriously easy to grow and regrows quickly after cutting — a household that goes through mint often may find growing a small amount more practical than repeatedly buying and storing cut bunches.

Mint's essential oils are concentrated enough that even a few wilted leaves mixed into an otherwise fresh bunch can be picked out and the rest used without much loss, unlike a more uniformly delicate herb where one bad leaf sometimes signals trouble for the whole bunch.

A mint bunch with its leaves still tightly closed rather than already unfurling fully is generally a sign of a more recent harvest, correlating with a longer remaining window once it reaches home storage.

See Fresh Mint's full storage & shelf-life guide (with spoilage signs) →