Peppermint extract is made from the volatile oils of the peppermint plant and can be used in cooking, skin care, and for medicinal purposes. It can be made by steeping peppermint in alcohol or diluting peppermint oil in rubbing alcohol. The extract contains menthol, which has various benefits. It can be made at home using alcohol and peppermint leaves or oil.
Peppermint extract is an extract obtained from the volatile oils of the peppermint plant. It has a very distinctive mint flavor and aroma which can be used in a wide variety of ways and some people believe it is also helpful in treating certain medical conditions. Most markets contain food grade extract and it can also be obtained in health food stores and through herbalists, who may also offer it for skin care.
There are two ways to get peppermint extract. Traditionally, it is made by steeping dried or fresh peppermint in alcohol, allowing the oils in the plant to escape, flavoring the oil. It can also be made by diluting peppermint oil in rubbing alcohol. Pure peppermint oil is a much more volatile and potent form of peppermint extract, made by distilling or pressing peppermint; as a general rule, the oil is about four times stronger than the extract.
This extract is traditionally used in holiday cooking, where it can be added to ice cream, candy, cookies, cakes, and other baked goods. Some cooks also use it in more savory dishes, particularly spicy dishes, which tend to pair well with mint. In addition to being used in foods, peppermint extract can be used in skin care to soothe the skin and is commonly included in soaps because people find its aroma pleasant. Peppermint extract also has antibacterial properties and can be used to soothe sore throats and upset stomachs.
As with other members of the mint family, peppermint’s distinctive aroma is dominated by menthol, a substance that is often isolated for use as a flavoring and medicinal ingredient. Many of the peppermint extract benefits appear to come from the menthol, although other compounds in peppermint may also contribute. Menthol is known to reduce itching, cool inflamed skin, soothe sore throats, and relieve low-level pain and inflammation on the skin’s surface.
Like other extracts, peppermint extract can be made at home. If you want to make a food extract, use an alcohol like vodka to steep peppermint leaves or to dilute food-grade peppermint oil. If edibility isn’t that much of a concern, you can use any alcohol to macerate or dilute and if you use peppermint oil, it doesn’t need to be safe for consumption, but be sure to mark the container to indicate that the peppermint extract is it is not safe to eat.
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