Using Banana Leaves
The fruit is not the only useful harvest from a banana plant. Banana leaves have been used for thousands of years in tropical cultures for cooking, serving, and wrapping food.
Cooking Uses
- Wrapping — Fish, tamales, sticky rice, and other foods wrapped in banana leaves and steamed or grilled develop a subtle, slightly sweet flavor from the leaf.
- Lining — Use leaves to line a grill grate or baking pan to prevent sticking and add flavor.
- Plates — Traditional in South and Southeast Asian cuisine. A banana leaf plate is disposable and biodegradable.
Preparing Leaves for Use
Fresh leaves can be stiff and prone to tearing. To make them pliable, briefly pass the leaf over an open flame or pour boiling water over it. The heat softens the leaf and makes it flexible enough to fold and wrap without cracking.
Other Uses
- Mulch — Chopped banana leaves and pseudostems decompose into excellent mulch
- Animal feed — Banana leaves and pseudostems are fed to livestock in many tropical countries
- Fiber — Musa Basjoo is called the "fiber banana" because its pseudostem fibers have traditionally been used in Japanese textile production