Buzz
Aloe vera offers a wide range of uses. It can be applied to the skin to soothe sunburns, used as a face or hair mask, or even consumed as a health-boosting drink. You can purchase aloe vera from health stores or harvest it directly from a homegrown aloe vera plant. But what should you do once you've harvested the aloe vera? Cut, peel, and freeze the aloe to keep it ready for use at any time. You can also mix aloe vera with honey to moisturize your hair and face.
Steps
Storing Whole Aloe Vera Leaves
Store whole aloe vera leaves in the refrigerator for 4-5 days. Wrap the leaves tightly in plastic wrap, ensuring the cut end is sealed. When you're ready to use it, simply unwrap the plastic and follow the steps to extract the aloe gel.
- Use a marker to write the date on the outside of the wrap so you know how long the aloe has been stored before use.
Freeze aloe vera leaves for long-term storage. Simply place the aloe vera leaves in a freezer bag and store them in the freezer. The leaves will maintain their best texture and flavor (if you're planning to eat them) for 6-8 months after freezing, although technically they can last much longer.
- For better preservation, wrap the aloe vera leaves in plastic wrap before placing them in the freezer bag.
Defrost aloe vera by leaving it on the kitchen counter. Allow the leaves to reach room temperature; defrosting will take approximately 2-3 hours, depending on the size of the leaves.
- Never defrost aloe vera in the microwave – it will change the texture and significantly reduce its health benefits!
Extracting and Storing Aloe Vera Gel
Wash the aloe vera leaves under cool running water. Whether you bought them from a store or harvested them from a home plant, clean off any dirt or debris, then pat them dry with a paper towel.
- If you're using freshly cut aloe vera, place the leaves in a cup or jar for about 15 minutes before moving on to the next step. This helps to release aloin (the red/yellow liquid in the leaves), which can cause diarrhea and other stomach issues if ingested.
Cut off the ends of the aloe vera leaves. Use a clean cutting board and a sharp knife to remove the ends (where the leaves were attached to the plant). These parts contain little usable gel.
- Be careful when handling the aloe vera leaves to avoid pricking your hands with the sharp spines along the edges.
Trim off the spiky edges of the aloe vera leaves. Place the aloe vera leaf on a cutting board. Use a knife to carefully slice off the prickly edges by cutting along the length of the leaf. Try to avoid removing too much of the inner gel while trimming.
- Use a small, sharp knife rather than a large kitchen knife for better precision.
Peel the aloe vera leaves with a vegetable peeler. Lay the aloe vera leaf flat on the cutting board and use a vegetable peeler to remove the skin from one end of the leaf to the other. Continue peeling until the entire outer layer is removed. Turn the leaf over and peel the other side similarly.
- Once done, the green outer skin will be completely removed, leaving only the translucent gel in the middle.
- If some green skin is still left, carefully use the peeler to remove it.
- The aloe vera gel will be sticky and slippery, so try to keep your hands dry to avoid slipping while peeling.
Cut the fresh aloe vera gel into cube-sized pieces. Use a knife to slice the aloe vera into uniform small cubes, being careful not to cut yourself. At this point, you can cut the aloe into whatever size you prefer – cube-sized pieces work well for smoothies or beverages.
- You can either leave the aloe on the cutting board until the entire leaf is cut, or transfer the pieces to a clean bowl next to you.
Store fresh aloe vera gel in the refrigerator for up to 10 days. Place the aloe vera gel into a clean, airtight container and store it in the fridge. It can then be used for skincare, beverages, or soothing sunburned skin.
- Label the container with the date to keep track of how long the gel remains good for.
- If you have leftover gel and the 10 days are almost over, consider freezing the remaining gel to avoid wasting it!
Store aloe vera gel in small zip-lock bags if you plan to freeze it. Depending on how you intend to use the aloe (for smoothies, skincare, or to soothe sunburns), you can store the gel in small zip-lock bags.
- Sometimes, aloe vera gel may discolor when frozen. To prevent this, add some vitamin E to the gel.
- You can also blend the aloe gel for 30 seconds and pour it into ice cube trays to freeze.
- Make sure to label the bags with the food name and the freezing date before placing them in the freezer.
Store Aloe Vera in the freezer for up to 8 months. When first freezing Aloe Vera gel, be careful not to place anything on top to avoid squashing or distorting the gel when it freezes.
- If you're freezing multiple Aloe Vera gel bags, try not to overstuff them in a small space. Once frozen, the bags may stick together, making it harder to retrieve one for use.
Thaw Aloe Vera on the kitchen counter or use it while still frozen. You can add a few Aloe Vera gel cubes to a smoothie. You can also thaw it and mix it with honey or coconut oil for a face and hair mask, or apply Aloe Vera gel to sunburns to help the skin recover faster. There are many ways to use Aloe Vera gel!
- Never microwave frozen Aloe Vera – it will change its texture and reduce its therapeutic effects.
Mix Aloe Vera with honey
Blend Aloe Vera leaves in a blender for 30 seconds. Buy Aloe Vera leaves from a store or harvest them from a home-grown plant, peel the skin, dice it, and blend it until smooth.
- Though blending Aloe Vera is optional, this step will help you mix it with honey more easily, resulting in a smoother consistency.
Measure the amount of Aloe Vera you have. Use a kitchen scale or measuring cup to portion out the Aloe Vera, then transfer the measured gel into a clean bowl.
- If using a kitchen scale, simply place the clean bowl on the scale and measure the Aloe Vera directly in the bowl to avoid transferring it to another dish.
Mix Aloe Vera with an equal amount of honey. Use 100% natural honey, available at health food stores or specialty shops. Add honey to the Aloe Vera bowl and stir with a spoon until the mixture is well combined.
- Honey is an excellent preservative for Aloe Vera as it never spoils. Mixing honey with Aloe Vera in a 1:1 ratio also helps extend its shelf life significantly.
- This is a great way to preserve fresh Aloe Vera gel that is nearing its expiration date.
Store the honey-Aloe Vera mixture in a sealed glass jar for up to 3 years. Keep the mixture in a cool, dry place. Make sure the jar is clean and dry before storing the mixture.
- You can divide the honey-Aloe Vera mixture into smaller jars to create cute gift sets. Add labels and pair them with other skincare products to make a charming spa kit.
Use the honey-Aloe Vera mixture for skincare or as a drink. You can apply it to acne, use it as a hair mask, mix it into hot tea or a morning smoothie for a natural sweetener.
- It can even be used in baking. If the recipe calls for honey, simply substitute it with the honey-Aloe Vera mixture.
Tip
- Add lemon juice to Aloe Vera gel to prolong its shelf life and add a refreshing citrus scent.
- You can buy Aloe Vera leaves at health food stores, or grow your own Aloe Vera plant at home for fresh gel whenever you need it!
What You Will Need
Storing Whole Aloe Vera Leaves
- Plastic wrap
- Freezer bags
Extracting and Storing Aloe Vera Gel
- Aloe Vera leaves
- Paper towels
- Cutting board
- Sharp knife
- Vegetable peeler
- Small bowl (optional)
- Sealable container
- Zippered bag
Mix Aloe Vera with Honey
- Peel and dice the Aloe Vera
- Blender
- Measuring cup
- Kitchen scale (optional)
- Bowl
- Spoon
- Sealable glass jar
