How to Eat Raw Aloe

Aloe vera has been used for centuries as a topical skin treatment. Common in Indian and Southeast Asian cuisines, aloe can also be eaten, either cooked or raw. The pale green “skin” of the stalks hides the clear “meat” inside the leaves, as well as the natural gel the plant produces, both of which are edible. You can use aloe on salads or in drinks, where it provides a refreshing taste. Aloe is considered safe for oral consumption, but because it has a natural laxative effect, long-term, regular consumption is not advised.

Preparing Raw Aloe

While the outer green skin of aloe can be eaten, it is often bitter and tough, so it is removed and only the clear inner portion of the stalk is consumed. The easiest way of getting at the gel is to peel away the skin with a sharp knife and then crush the meat inside and eat it as is. However, more elaborate preparations often have large pieces of the stalk cut into rectangular portions that can then be added to salads or drinks for texture. You can rinse off the gel the plant naturally excretes before eating the meat, but the gel is also edible, although the sticky texture may be unpalatable for some people.