How to peel dried old loofah

Dried old loofah can be peeled directly, but it needs to be soaked to soften the skin first. After sun drying, the skin of the old luffa becomes fibrotic, and the difficulty of peeling is related to factors such as dryness and storage time. The skin of dried old luffa becomes hard due to dehydration, and direct peeling can easily break or leave fibers. It is recommended to soak the entire loofah in warm water for at least half an hour. After the skin absorbs water and softens, use a nail or knife to cut a gap longitudinally from the top and slowly tear off the skin along the fiber path. If there is still some adhesion on the epidermis, you can gently scrape the remaining part with a spoon on the back. insufficient soaking time may result in incomplete peeling, while excessive soaking may affect the structural integrity of the internal pulp. The partially dried skin of the old luffa may tightly adhere to the flesh, and forced peeling can cause the flesh to shatter. In this case, the loofah can be cut into small pieces and steamed for a few minutes, then the fibers can be softened by steam before peeling, or the skin can be directly retained for cleaning utensils and other purposes. If the luffa is stored for too long and causes internal mold growth, it is not recommended to continue consuming or using it.

It is recommended to wear gloves when handling old luffa to avoid fiber pricking the skin. The peeled luffa flesh can be cut into small pieces for washing dishes, bathing, or making handicrafts. When stored, it should be placed in a cool and ventilated place to avoid mold growth caused by a humid environment. If long-term storage is required, the peeled loofah flesh can be dried again and sealed for storage.