Banana leaves are used as a cooking material for food. The leaves are useful for wrapping food like tamales, banana rice cake, and vegetable fillings before it’s cooked. The leaves are durable and can stand high temperatures, which makes them popular to use in countries like Asia, Africa, and South America.
Banana leaves are sold in grocery stores across the country. Most are usually found in Asian grocery stores. If you bought some, it will usually come in the bulk of 10 leaves or more. After using some to cook with, you will end up with a surplus. In order to keep them longer, you’ll need to store them. Is the freezer a good option to store banana leaves?
Can you freeze banana leaves? Yes, you can freeze banana leaves. Properly stored, it can last for up to 1 year in the freezer. It’s best to choose quality leaves for freezer storage. That way, it will last the longest. The banana leaves should be green and have tears and cuts. If the leaves are starting to turn yellow, they will not freeze well, which will shorten their shelf life in the freezer.
Do Banana Leaves Freeze Well?
Due to the texture of the banana leaves, it freezes extremely well. It’s important that it’s wrapped tightly, and no air can leak into it. Once it’s exposed to air in the freezer, it will start to get freezer burn. This will damage the leaves, and you won’t be able to use them anymore.
How To Freeze Banana Leaves
Freezing banana leaves is straightforward and quite simple to do. However, it does require a bit of time to prepare them, so they will stay fresh in the freezer.
Below are the steps in detail to freeze banana leaves:
Step 1: Clean and Dry
Start by cleaning the leaves using water. This will help loosen and remove the dirt and debris that’s on the leaves.
You can either clean it under running water or use a wet paper towel.
Once it’s rinsed, dry the banana leaves off with clean paper towels.
Step 2: Cut and Prepare
On the leaves, you will notice a central vein. Cut it out, and it will leave you with two long thin strips of the leaf.
Then cut the leaves into the size that you intend to use later. For most types of foods, it’s best to cut the banana leaves into square-shaped. This allows the leaves to hold any type of fillings whether it’s meat, fruits, or vegetables.
Step 3: Boil Water
Choose a pot that’s large enough to fit the leaves without folding them. Place water into the pot about halfway full. Then heat the water until it starts to boil.
Step 4: Blanch the Banana Leaves
Once the water starts to boil, place the banana leaves into the pot. I recommend you place each leaf at a time into the pot. This will prevent them from sticking to each other.
Blanch each banana leaf for about 30 seconds.
Step 5: Dry the Leaves
After it’s blanched, let it sit on a plate to dry. This is an important step since you don’t want any moisture on the leaves. If there is water on the leaves during freezing, it will damage them.
To help speed up the drying process, you can use a clean paper towel and gently wipe the moisture off it.
Step 6: Prepare For the Freezer
When the banana leaves are all dry, it’s time to prepare them for the freezer. Lay a piece of the leaf on parchment paper. You can cut the paper, so it will be the same size as the leaf.
Then place another piece of parchment paper on top of the leaf. Repeat this process until you have about 10 of them in a stack.
Doing this will prevent the banana leaves from sticking to each other during freezing.
Step 7: Store and Freezer
Once you have the banana leaves stacked, transfer them to a freezer bag or an airtight container.
If you’re using a freezer bag, press on the bag to remove any excess air before sealing it.
For an airtight container, check the seal on the lid for any damages. If there are not any, secure the lid to the container tightly.
Then with a marker, label the freezer bag or container with the date of freezing and place them into the freezer.
How Long Can You Freeze Banana Leaves?
You can freeze banana leaves for up to 12 months. After that, the quality of it will start to deteriorate. This is usually due to the leaves suffering from freezer burn. The longer the leaves are stored in the freezer, the higher the chance it will get freezer burn.
Once the quality of leaves deteriorates, there’s a chance that you may not be able to use them. Once it’s thawed, and you try to wrap the fillings, the leaf may break.
Therefore, to ensure the banana leaves are of their best quality, it’s recommended to use them within 12 months after freezing.
How Do You Defrost Banana Leaves?
Due to the thin texture of the banana leaves, defrosting them doesn’t take long. All you need to do is remove the leaves from the freezer, set them on a plate, and let them thaw at room temperature. Within 5-10 minutes, it should completely be thawed. Then you are ready to use them.
Make sure to never try to use the banana leaves right out of the freezer. Some people think it’s fine since the leaves are thin, and it’s strong. What will happen is that as you are wrapping the leaf around the fillings, it will split apart.
Can You Refreeze Banana Leaves?
When it comes to banana leaves, it’s best not to refreeze them. By freezing them more than once, it will affect their quality greatly. After it’s been thawed for the second time, the banana leaves will likely split apart and won’t be useful as a cooking material anymore.
Therefore, it’s a good idea to freeze them individually by splitting them up with parchment paper. This will allow you to remove just the amount you need without needing to remove all of them.
Other Questions about Banana Leaves
Can you freeze banana leaves with the fillings inside?
It’s not recommended to do so. Most of the fillings are high in water content, which means they will expand during freezing. This will cause the leaf to split or break apart. It’s best to just freeze the banana leaves themselves. After it has thawed, you can put in the fillings and cook it.