How to Get the Gel Out of an Aloe Vera Plant

One of the most useful and used natural home remedies for stings, scrapes and burns is aloe. There are many creams and gels on the market today that contain aloe and even some tissues. The most potent form of aloe, however, comes directly from the plant itself. This article will show you how to correctly remove the gel from the aloe plant.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Aloe Plant
• Paring Knife
• Plastic Wrap
• Small Plastic Container with Lid
• Sheers or Scissors
• Tape
• Rubber Spatula

Removing the Gel from the Aloe Plant

1. Lay the piece of plastic wrap down on a flat, clean surface.

2. Tape the plastic wrap down so it will not move.

3. Snip off a leaf of the aloe plant one inch from the base of the plant.

4. Snip off the small tip of the leaf.

5. Slice from the wide end of the leaf to the small end with your paring knife, being careful to slice just at the bottom of the whitish area of the membrane. Discard the top of the leaf.

6. Place the topless aloe leaf on top of the plastic wrap.

7. Using the flat side of the paring, at a 45 degree angle, slide from the wide end to the thin end of the leaf, making sure to slide your knife in such a way that it touches the bottom half of the rind.

8. Discard bottom rind.

9. Using the spatula remove the fresh gel from the plastic wrap and place into the plastic container and cover.

Tips & Warnings

• Aloe will store indefinitely in a cool environment.
• Use sparingly, a little goes a long way.
• When using any sharp instrument do so with great caution.