How To Clean And Store Bamboo Leaves
Before making rice dumplings, the first thing you need to get ready is the bamboo leaves. I will usually clean them 1-2 weeks ahead of the Dragon Boat Festival, then freeze them for later use.
Prep Time30 minutes mins
Soaking6 hours hrs
Total Time6 hours hrs 30 minutes mins
Cost: 5
1 Ziplock bag
1 Dishwashing net
Soak dry bamboo leaves in plenty of water for 5-6 hours until soft.
Clean the softened bamboo leaves with a dishwashing net or sponge, change the water and clean for 2nd time, then rinse thoroughly again with clean water.
Drain off the water, then put into zip lock bag, keep refrigerated if using the next day.
Store the cleaned leaves in the freezer if you wish to keep for a longer time (I used to keep it up to a year).
Thaw the frozen leaves at room temperature for 1-2 hours before using (do not soak the frozen leaves directly into water as it will crack).