Aloe Vera is a popular ingredient in skincare products, juices, and herbal remedies. Though these products have their advantages, it’s hard to improve upon the effectiveness of Aloe gel straight from the leaf of the plant. Aloes are tough, low maintenance plants, and easy to grow indoors. Harvesting the Aloe gel for yourself allows you to access the good stuff at its freshest, most concentrated, and most effective. This is especially important when using Aloe topically. If you choose to ingest it, you can control the concentration of Aloe in your juice mixtures and smoothies.
What you will need:
- An Aloe Vera plant
- A sharp knife
- A clean cutting board or work surface
- Refrigerator storage containers
Optional: rubber gloves (useful to avoid scraping yourself on the serrated edges)
First, make sure your Aloe plant is mature and healthy. The leaves should be fleshy and green, and at least eight inches in length. The outermost leaves are the best to use. These are the oldest and largest, containing a thick, nutrient-rich gel layer. Although Aloe leaves will not grow back, the plant wound seals quickly and new growth (which emerges at the center) is not affected.
1. Remove the leaf. A sharp knife creates a clean cut, limiting damage to the plant. Slice close to the base of the leaf and away from the center of the plant.
2. Once you have your Aloe leaf, rinse the outer skin and knife well under running water.
3. Remove the serrated edges and skin. Mature Aloe Vera leaves are slightly curved. Place the concave side down on a cutting board. Next, slice around the perimeter. This will leave you with the top and bottom layer of skin, exposing the Aloe gel in between. The top layer of skin comes off next. Run the knife just under the surface and peel it away. Now you can flip the leaf over and do the same to the other side.
4. Transfer the Aloe gel to a storage container like a plastic or glass dish with a lid. You can scrape the leaves if you will be using the gel topically and you want to get every last bit. If you plan on consuming it, be forewarned that this portion may contain some aloin, a compound found in the skin which can have a laxative effect. Store in the fridge. fresh Aloe gel will keep for about a week. If you wind up with more than you can use in that time, stick your leftovers in the freezer. You can also lengthen the shelf life by adding vitamins. For every 1/4 cup of gel, add 500 mg of Vitamin C and 400 IU of Vitamin E. You can grind Vitamin C caplets or drain Vitamin E capsules by pricking them with a small pin. Run the mixture of gel and vitamins through a blender, or stir vigorously with a spoon. This mixture can be stored for up to 8 months in the refrigerator.
For more help in demystifying the process, this video, How to Filet an Aloe Leaf, is a great visual aid!
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Nelly says
Fresh aloe is wonderful. Thanks for all the great info on harvesting. I’m referring my buyers to your website for more info.
Tammy Miller says
I’m going to try this! Thanks.
I wonder how long it keeps and what type of environment it should be stored in?
Fran says
4. Transfer the Aloe gel to a storage container like a plastic or glass dish with a lid. You can scrape the leaves if you will be using the gel topically and you want to get every last bit. If you plan on consuming it, be forewarned that this portion may contain some aloin, a compound found in the skin which can have a laxative effect. Store in the fridge. fresh Aloe gel will keep for about a week. If you wind up with more than you can use in that time, stick your leftovers in the freezer. You can also lengthen the shelf life by adding vitamins. For every 1/4 cup of gel, add 500 mg of Vitamin C and 400 IU of Vitamin E. You can grind Vitamin C caplets or drain Vitamin E capsules by pricking them with a small pin. Run the mixture of gel and vitamins through a blender, or stir vigorously with a spoon. This mixture can be stored for up to 8 months in the refrigerator.
M says
I stored my aloe in a mason jar and the bottom of the whole mason jar broke with a clean cut? Im wondering why, is this bad?
penny says
I love harvesting my aloe. I would like to find people who want to use it.
tracie says
i use aloe all the time..i use veg n fruits for just about all my beauty and skin needs. i have started creating my own blends of herbal hot/cold teas, which has gone very well with ppl i have given samples. I think there should be a web page where ppl can sample and trade/sell their home..beauty…health products..as long as they were home grown and only organic products allowed…
tara says
I made a blend for my sunburn, and husbands ridiculously dry working hands. Mostly cuz I think aloe smells like b.o I mixed with herbs from my garden, rosemary and lemon balm… I may have put honey in it too I think. Anyway, it was wonderful.
mary busuttil says
Totally agree with a website for sampling remedies and ideas and advice!
Jackie says
I have aloe Vera & would like people to use it if interested it’s so big I’m always cutting it back I do make containers from home if any 1 out there is interested thanks
Jon Blaine says
Hi Penny I am just starting to use Aloe for arthritis. I would be interested
in a supply of Aloe
Jackie says
hi Jon Blaine I have plenty of aloe Vera if your wanting all I ask is a donation I make containers of pure gel & freeze it I use it myself in smoothies really help with constipation better than laxatives it’s great on skin I do kawa kawa leaves as well they have few more benefits than aloe vera but both r great thanks
Anil says
Can u help me hw to use…..
Leisa says
Thanks for the info on harvesting. How to keep it for longer than a week is wonderful. Never knew that before. Will definitely try it.
Leisa says
Any idea how much and how often to use aloe for a detox?
Fran says
It’s all ready to freeze in cubes and then place in freezer bags now. I’ve used Aloe as a natural health aid for over 30 years…Now I know how to keep it…Much appreciated information.
tracie says
This does not completely regard aloe plants….would like more information in essential oil making..i have begun making oil with strawberries…watermelon…lemon..and i am starting to play with flowers n herbs. Would love any ideas and/or methods anyone may have..THANK YOU in advance…
tara says
So I read somewhere that before you cut the leaf open for use, you should hang it. I stick it with a toothpick, and hang it from the side of a glass to let it drain out some yellow stuff that you don’t want. I don’t remember what this stuff is or why you don’t want it, but it made sense and works. Let drain about 20/30 mins.
Mia says
It is called latex I think and I let it drain for about 2 mins then wash and scrape the leaf or any
Mia says
The latex will irritate your skin
Elizabeth says
I read elsewhere that you’re supposed to soak it overnight or half hour…..err Google it….it removes impurities. Just Google soaking or preparing fresh aloe
pe says
Does anybody knows if a cutted aloe leaf stored in the fridge for about 2 months can be propagated ?
20hasla says
Aloes cannot be propogated by cuttings. I have tried it before with no success. The only two ways aloe can be propogated is by their seeds or by offset divisions.
Mia says
You can propagate aloe Vera bye a leaf but it is usually not successful, I use the pups or offshoots and plant them bye themselves
Cynthia says
You can propagate with the leaf cuttings but you have to dip them into root hormone for them to grow roots. I have and have been very successful. It does take around 6 weeks to grow roots.
GeorgeW64 says
I find it easier to gently squeeze the gel out into a dish, no knives no mess, if you gently roll the leaf between finger and thumb starting from the tip it just pours out, gently squeeze from the tip to bottom till there is nothing left. You can then split the remaining leaf skin and rub it on your skin.
I never thought to freeze it though, I have a jungle of it on my bathroom window sill so I know what to do now.
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Colleen says
Hi! Thanks for the great post. I had a quick question once I did it myself:
If my leaf was bought from the store, kept in the fridge a week, then when cut had some darker pink parts, are those parts ok to use on my skin or eat? I tried it and it tasted quite bitter (like it had gone bad, which is fine because I’m really trying to use it on my skin), but I also know we absorb things from the skin. Any thoughts? Safe for use on skin and/or eats?
Thanks so much!
Vince says
Hi,
I’ve just started to use Aloe Vera (inner leaf) due to some health problems, but I can’t find over all internet someone who says how much Aloe is possible to eat every day.
Any idea please?
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Nori Shaker says
I have two plants of Aloe at my house garden . Now the winter is coming so how can I store
the leaves or gel before freezing season please. I am using gel as food for my digestive disorders
Thank you
Leandra says
How long does the aloe gel last in the fridge?
Barush says
Thanks for really informative and helpful article. I’ve never had aloe plan before but I’m thinking about buying one as I have some skin troubles and I believe aloe could help me with those a lot. I was however wondering how often is it safe to cut the leave/or how often do new shoots appear? (so it wouldn’t slowly start killing the plant.) If anyone could offer some advice about this I’d be very grateful 🙂
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zoe says
What if small pieces of the leaf get “into the mix?” Does that qualify as a do-over?
Peggy Kemble says
Can I mix fresh aloe gel with coconut oil for facial cleanser? What would the ratio be and would it last longer than a week?
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Dorothy Olatunde says
I hv bn taking aloe juice blended with the
green cover for days now but noticed swollen eyelids and boils pls what i do to stop it.. my eyes are looking horrible
I want to eat aloes daily says
Hey , i recently started using aloes and would like to consume about an inch of the gel daily. Is this ok? I don’t want to over or under consume.
Jamie says
Thank you so much for advice on harvesting and storing my aloe. I did it the first time from memory of what my family did when I was a child, your article is reassuring me that I’m on the right track. 🙂
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