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Aloe vera gel is a natural substance used around the world for a variety of applications including treating sunburn, creating facial masks, and as a dietary supplement. These benefits come most plentifully when the gel is harvested directly from the plant. However, storage after harvesting can be a little bit tricky. There are three main methods used to increase the shelf life of your freshly harvested gel: freezing the gel, mixing the gel with honey, and mixing the gel with vitamin C.

Things You Should Know

  • Pure aloe vera gel can be stored in the fridge for up to 1 week.
  • To prolong the shelf life of your aloe vera gel to 1 month in the fridge, blend it with a vitamin C tablet.
  • You can also freeze aloe vera gel for up to 1 year.
Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Freezing the Gel

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  1. Freezing the gel in an ice cube tray rather than one large block means that you can just take out individual pieces whenever you need them.[1]
    • Using a silicone tray works best as you can turn the tray inside out.
    • Small plastic containers also work fine if you do not have an ice cube tray.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Store Aloe Vera Gel
    Once your tray is filled, the gel is ready to be frozen. Make sure the tray is flat in the freezer to avoid any of the gel seeping out.[2]
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  3. Leaving the cubes overnight will give them plenty of time to freeze. The cubes need to be totally frozen to be preserved so make sure you give them enough time in the freezer before removing.[3]
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Store Aloe Vera Gel
    Store the cubes of aloe vera gel in your freezer for up to a year.[4] Keeping them in a bag will enable you to have easy access when you decide to use them. You can use your aloe cubes for things like:
    • Treating sunburn
    • Making homemade soap
    • Making smoothies
    • Making a refreshing hair gel[5]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Mixing with Honey

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Store Aloe Vera Gel
    This container needs to be large enough that you can mix the honey in. [6]
    • Feel free to use smaller containers if it is more convenient for your storage set up.
    • The container should also have a lid to keep contaminants out.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Store Aloe Vera Gel
    Honey has such a low water content versus a high natural sugar content that it helps preserve the gel for a much longer time than the gel would have naturally.
    • This process is similar to the way fruit is often stored in syrup or as a preserve.[7]
    • Using a high-quality honey that is free from preservatives will ensure that the gel lasts as long as possible.
  3. Be sure to keep the gel away from direct sunlight. Because the aloe vera is now in a gel solution with the honey, it mixes really well into other products.[8] These options might include:
    • Facial scrubs
    • Body wash
    • Hair products
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Blending with Vitamin C

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Store Aloe Vera Gel
    The gel has a very gelatinous texture in its raw state and this can make it difficult to work with when using the gel for some purposes.[9]
    • Putting the gel through the blender allows it to become separated and liquified. This makes it much easier to work with.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Store Aloe Vera Gel
    For every ¼ cup (60ml) of gel, add in 500 milligrams (0.018 oz) of vitamin C to the mixture. This combination will help preserve the gel for up to 8 months in the refrigerator once it has been mixed in.[10]
    • You can buy vitamin C from your local pharmacy or grocery store.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Store Aloe Vera Gel
    This will ensure that the vitamin C is mixed in with the aloe vera and that the texture becomes liquefied and broken down. You should be left with an aloe vera juice.[11]
    • The juice should be much more runny and less gelatinous than it was before.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Store Aloe Vera Gel
    There will be a foamy layer on the top of the liquid but this will go away after a few days so there’s no need to worry about it.[12]
  5. The juice is now ready to be used or stored for up to a month.[13]
    • Although you can drink this aloe juice by itself, it combines well with other juices, smoothies, and teas.
    • You can also use this juice as a moisturizer, body wash, and hydrating wash for your hair.
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Warnings

  • If you are harvesting the aloe vera gel straight from the plant you will need to make sure you let the plant sit vertically in some water after slicing a small portion off the end to allow the aloin to drain out.
  • Aloin is a highly potent laxative and if it isn’t removed it can have some unwanted effects on those who consume aloe vera products.
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Expert Interview

Thanks for reading our article! If you'd like to learn more about storing aloe vera, check out our in-depth interview with Karina Menali, L.Ac., DACM, Dipl. OM.

About This Article

Karina Menali, L.Ac., DACM, Dipl. OM
Co-authored by:
Licensed Acupuncturist & Diplomate of Oriental Medicine
This article was co-authored by Karina Menali, L.Ac., DACM, Dipl. OM. Dr. Karina Menali is a Licensed Acupuncturist, Diplomate of Oriental Medicine, Faculty Member at Yo San University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and the Owner of Kai Wellness. She specializes in holistic health, Chinese herbal medicine, and functional medicine. Dr. Menali also helps patients through emotional and spiritual trauma. She holds a BA in Psychology and Sociology from The University of Massachusetts, Boston, a Master's from Emperor's College in Santa Monica, CA, and a Doctorate of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine (DACM) from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine. This article has been viewed 237,032 times.
7 votes - 100%
Co-authors: 14
Updated: November 3, 2024
Views: 237,032
Article SummaryX

The easiest way to store aloe vera gel is by freezing it overnight in ice cube trays, then storing the cubes in the freezer for up to 1 year. Alternatively, you can mix the aloe vera gel with an equal amount of honey and store it at room temperature for up to 8 months. If you want to store your aloe vera as a juice, put 500 milligrams of crushed vitamin C tablets for every ¼ cup of aloe vera gel into your blender and mix it on high for a few seconds. Then, transfer the juice to a covered, plastic container and keep it in your refrigerator for up to 1 month. To learn how to use aloe vera on your hair or skin, keep reading!

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