Learning how to store an aloe vera leaf is useful, as the leaves can rot easily. Follow this guide for storing aloe vera leaves without using plastic.
One of the best parts about growing an aloe vera plant is the potential to harvest the leaves and make homemade aloe vera gel or juice. Once aloe vera has been harvested, it can only last for up to 24 hours at room temperature. After that, the leaf will start to go rotten and lose its natural essence and properties. Thankfully, there are some plastic-free steps you can take to help store your aloe vera leaf, allowing you to enjoy its many beauty and health benefits for longer.
Wrap Up Your Aloe Vera Leaf
The key to storing an aloe vera leaf is to keep it as moist as possible. So you’ll want to wrap the cut end of the leaf with either a damp towel or reusable beeswax wrap and tie it with some string. Wrap the whole leaf again in a dish towel and tie it again. This will seal in the leaf’s moisture and keep your aloe vera leaf fresh and healthy for longer.
Depending on what you are using your aloe vera leaf for, you can also chop your leaf into smaller parts, and wrap them all up together in a damp cloth. This way you can grab few or more pieces of aloe vera as needed, and still keep the rest of the leaf fresh.
How to Store Your Aloe Vera Leaf
Once you have wrapped your aloe vera leaf using plastic-free wrapping, you can store it in the fridge for up to seven days. If you want to keep your aloe vera leaf for even longer, you can maintain a more long-term supply in the freezer. Simply follow the same steps to wrapping your aloe vera leaf as you would for storing it in the fridge. Your wrapped aloe vera leaf will keep in the freezer for over six months.
Tip: if your aloe vera leaf has become limp and has started to give off a bad smell, it has gone off and should not be used. Fresh and usable aloe leaves are firm to the touch, and have a bright green color and very little smell.
How to Thaw Frozen Aloe Vera Leaves
Once you need some of your frozen aloe vera stash, remove the leaf from the freezer and allow it to thaw naturally and slowly. Do not heat it in any way or use any tools to defrost your frozen aloe vera leaf faster, as this will affect the natural properties of the aloe vera leaf and cause it to turn mushy and unusable.
Read more:
- Overwatered Aloe Plant: Telltale Signs & Easy Solutions
- Planting in Your Apartment: Tips for Beginners
- How to Use Aloe Vera on Hair + Benefits & Drawbacks
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