Cactus Leaf

Store whole, unpruned leaves in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. If purchasing pre-cut, use within a few days.

Always wear gloves when handling fresh cactus paddles to avoid the spines. Carefully shave them off with a knife.

Rinse the paddles thoroughly to remove any remaining spines or glochids (tiny barbed bristles).

Boiling or grilling cactus paddles helps reduce their natural sliminess. You can also salt them and let them sit for 30 minutes, then rinse.

Chop cooked cactus into salads, stews, or serve as a side dish.

Tomatoes

Onions

Cilantro

Lime

Avocado

Cheese (queso fresco, cotija)

Eggs

Chiles

Not removing all the spines and glochids, which can be irritating.

Not rinsing or preparing the paddles to reduce sliminess, leading to an unappealing texture.