How to Work with Banana Leaves

Fresh banana leaves are far more flexible and watertight than frozen leaves. To start, rinse leaves in warm water and dry them with a clean towel. Right before using them, pass the leaves over a hot flame—either a gas range, grill, or open fire—in order to make them more pliable.

When working with frozen leaves, let them defrost on the counter overnight, in the refrigerator for a day, or out in the sun for a few hours. As with fresh leaves, rinse them, dry them, and pass them over a flame before using.