Brilio.net - Banana leaves are often used to wrap various Indonesian foods, such as lontong, market snacks, and side dishes. In traditional markets, banana leaves are also used to wrap rice and other foods. Banana leaves are known to be sturdy and can make food more fragrant and last longer, so many people rely on them as wrappers.
However, not all banana leaves have a flexible texture. Young banana leaves that are bright green are more flexible than old banana leaves, but are difficult to find. As an alternative, old banana leaves that are more readily available in the market are often used even though they are drier and easier to tear.
These leaves have a wide shape and a cheaper price, so they are in great demand. Flexing banana leaves is important so that they do not tear easily when used. Old banana leaves can also be used well if they are flexible. Some methods for flexing banana leaves include drying them in the sun or burning them on a stove. Although effective, each method has its own drawbacks.
Drying banana leaves basically takes a long time. Even when the sun is hot, banana leaves will be flexible in 1-2 days. While if burned, it takes extra energy because you have to burn each banana leaf one by one. The process also requires caution so that the banana leaves do not burn out.
But don't worry, if you want to bend banana leaves in large quantities, there is a quick trick that can be done. A YouTube user CHANEL DAFA44 once shared the trick through one of the uploaded videos. He claimed that the method of bending banana leaves that was applied was faster and saved energy.
As reported by BrilioFood on Tuesday (11/7), the method used is to rely on the oven. In the video, he uses a perch oven with several racks. But basically, you can use any type of oven.
photo: YouTube/CHANEL DAFA44
The method is also easy. First, preheat the oven that will be used. After that, put several banana leaves at once into the oven. Make sure the oven temperature is stable and not too hot.
photo: YouTube/CHANEL DAFA44
After that, close the oven and wait a few minutes. The heat inside the oven tends to be even, so it can flex the top and bottom of the banana leaf. That way, you don't need to flip the banana leaf that is being heated.
photo: YouTube/CHANEL DAFA44
Once done, remove the banana leaf and replace it with a new one. In the video, YouTube user CHANEL DAFA44 claims that the texture of the banana leaf that has been oven-dried becomes more flexible. Even when bent, the banana leaf does not break at all.
The condition of banana leaves like this will certainly make it easier to use as food wrappers. You don't need to worry anymore about the leaves breaking or tearing when used. Because they are flexible, banana leaves wrap food tightly.
(brl/lut)
