How to store aloe leaves

Video: How to Cut and Store Aloe Vera | RinkusRasoi

Content

Steps
Method 1 of 3: Storing whole leaves
Method 2 of 3: Retrieving and Storing the Gel
Method 3 of 3: Making Honey and Aloe Cream
Tips
What do you need
Storing whole leaves
Removing and storing the gel
Making aloe and honey cream

Aloe Vera is a very useful and versatile plant. It is used to treat burns, to prepare face and hair masks, and is even used as an additive in a drink. You can buy aloe vera leaves from free classified sites like Avito, or buy the plant itself from a gardening store and keep it at home to cut the leaves as needed. If you have aloe vera, cut the leaves, peel them, and freeze them. This way they will always be at your fingertips when needed. You can even mix aloe vera gel with honey and use this mixture as a moisturizer for your face and hair.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Storing whole leaves

1 Store whole aloe leaves in the refrigerator for 4-5 days. Wrap the sheet in plastic wrap. Cover the cut end of the leaf tightly with cling film, which connected it to the plant. Whenever you need to use aloe, simply unfold the plastic wrap and remove the gel.
- Use an indelible marker on the tape to write the date you put the sheet in the refrigerator so you know how long you will keep it.
2 Freeze aloe leaves for long-term storage. Simply place the aloe leaf in a plastic freezer bag and place the bag in the freezer. The leaves will retain their firmness and taste (if you are going to eat them) for 6-8 months, although they may actually stay fresh for much longer.
- For extra storage, wrap the aloe leaves in plastic wrap before placing them in a plastic bag.
3 Thaw aloe leaves at room temperature. Wait until the leaves are completely thawed. This can take 2-3 hours depending on the size of the leaves.
- Never defrost aloe leaves in the microwave. This will affect their structure and significantly reduce their beneficial properties!

Method 2 of 3: Retrieving and Storing the Gel

1 Wash the aloe leaf with cold water. Take a leaf that you bought from a vendor or that you cut from a plant in your home.Rinse off any dirt and sticky mucus from the sheet. Dry the sheet with a paper towel.
- If you cut a leaf from your plant, place it vertically in a glass beaker or glass jar for 15 minutes before washing the leaf. This is necessary to remove the aloin (red or yellow liquid) from the leaf. If not, it can cause diarrhea and stomach upset when ingested.
2 Cut off the top and bottom of the leaf. Use a clean cutting board and a sharp knife. Cut off a small portion of the leaf at the top and bottom. These parts usually contain little useful gel.
- The aloe leaf is covered with thorns from top to bottom, so be careful when handling it - you can get hurt.
3 Cut off the thorns from the aloe leaf. Lay the sheet flat on a cutting board. Cut off the spiked areas by going through the length of the sheet with a knife. Try to cut as little of the flesh under the top layer as possible.
- It is best to use a small knife to cut the thorns.
4 Remove the shell of the leaf with a vegetable peeler. Lay the sheet flat on a cutting board. Take a vegetable peeler and start peeling the leaf from the top edge. Gradually go down to the bottom edge of the sheet, thus completely removing the outer layer. Turn the sheet over and peel it off the other side.
- When you're done peeling off the green shell, you should have a thick gel core.
- If there are thin strips on the sheet that cannot be removed with a peeler, carefully cut them off with a knife.
- The inside of the aloe has a viscous consistency, reminiscent of mucus. Avoid touching it with your hand, which you have a peeler or knife in, so that the cutter does not slip out of your hand.
5 Cut the raw aloe gel into small cubes. Take a knife and cut the aloe into small cubes of equal size, being careful not to cut your hands with the knife. You can choose the size of the cubes to your taste, but the small cubes are useful for adding to smoothies and drinks.
- If the cut aloe cubes are taking up a lot of space on the cutting board, transfer them to a small, clean bowl.
6 Store fresh aloe gel in the refrigerator for no more than 10 days. Transfer the gel to a clean, sealed container and place the container in the refrigerator. You can get it at any time and use it as needed, whether it is preparing a face mask, adding to a drink or treating a burn.
- Date the container so you know when you put it in storage.
- If the gel's ten-day shelf life is coming to an end, you can freeze the leftovers so you don't have to throw them away!
7 If you want to freeze aloe gel, put it in small ziplock bags. Depending on how you plan to use the aloe (as a smoothie and drink additive, for cosmetic purposes, or to treat a burn), arrange the cubes by size in different ziplock bags.
- Aloe gel can lose color when frozen. This can be prevented by adding liquid vitamin E to it.
- You can grind the aloe in a blender for 30 seconds and then pour the resulting mass into ice cube trays.
- Be sure to sign the bags and include the date they were frozen.
8 Store aloe in the freezer for no more than 8 months. After placing the fresh aloe bags in the freezer, do not place any other food on top to avoid crushing the aloe or warping it when freezing.
- If you want to freeze many packets of aloe, do not place them side by side. They can freeze to each other when frozen, making it difficult for you to separate them when it's time to use them.
9 Thaw aloe at room temperature or use frozen. You can add a few cubes of aloe to your smoothie. You can defrost it and mix with honey or coconut oil to make a hair and face mask. You can lubricate the burned skin with aloe vera to speed up healing.As you can see, there are many ways to apply aloe gel!
- Never defrost aloe gel in the microwave. This will disrupt its structure and reduce its healing effect.

Method 3 of 3: Making Honey and Aloe Cream

1 Whisk the aloe gel in a blender for 30 seconds. Use a refined, diced aloe gel obtained from a leaf you bought from a vendor or cut from your plant. Grind it in a blender until tender.
- Whisking the aloe in a blender is optional, but it will make it easier to mix the gel with the honey further and give the cream a softer texture.
2 Measure how much aloe you have. Use a kitchen scale to weigh the amount of gel you have. After weighing, transfer the gel to a clean bowl.
- If you don't want to dirty your scales, you can weigh the aloe directly into the bowl.
3 Mix equal amounts of aloe and honey. Use 100% natural raw honey found in many grocery stores. Add honey to bowl of aloe and stir until smooth.
- The cream of honey and aloe does not lose its freshness for a long time due to the fact that honey, in principle, does not deteriorate. Mixing equal amounts of aloe and honey significantly increases the shelf life of aloe.
- You can use this trick if the gel is nearing the end of its shelf life.
4 Store aloe honey cream in an airtight glass container for up to 3 years. Store the mixture in a cool, dry place. Make sure the container is clean and dry before using it.
- You can put aloe and honey cream in several small glass jars and give it to your friends. Make a pretty label and gift them along with other cosmetics. You will have an unusual skin care gift set.
5 Moisturize your face with aloe and honey cream or add it to drinks. This cream is an excellent remedy for acne. You can also apply it to your hair as a moisturizing mask. It can also be used as a sweetener for hot tea or morning smoothies.
- You can even use this cream for baking. If the recipe calls for adding honey, replace the honey with this cream.

Tips

Add lemon juice to fresh aloe gel to slightly extend its shelf life and give it a fresh citrus scent.
Aloe leaves can be purchased from classified sites such as Avito and Yula. You can also buy the plant itself to cut the leaves from it yourself and get the gel at any time!