Banana peels are one of those things that goes straight in the bin, it’s just one of those byproducts that most of us have no use for, even if Americans consume around 3.2 billion pounds of banana every year.
So next time you eat a banana you may want to think twice about thrashing the peel. That's because you should be eating them too!
It turns out that banana peels are nutritional powerhouses loaded with energy-rich B vitamins, potassium and magnesium.
Banana peels taste a bit fibrous so they are not too palatable when eaten raw. It is recommended to boil them for at least 10 minutes to tenderize them. Also, if you plan on consuming the skin be sure to buy organic bananas.
Banana peels can be diced and sautéed the same way you would any other veggie. They are especially tasty when served with beans. Here's a great recipe for banana skins and black-eyed peas.
As you'll see in this video, banana peels are also great in smoothies and can be candied. Check out how Inhabitat's Yuka Yoneda uses them:
If you really want to eat bananas nose to tail remember that the blossoms are also edible.
Take a look at this infographic from Sustainable America which highlights 10 different things you can do with banana peel.
You’ll be surprised at just how many uses there are for banana peel and a little angry you’ve been throwing them in the trash for all this time.
They can be used to fertilize tomato plants, feed plants, make vinegar and even to clean leather shoes.
There’s also some tips on how to store bananas to make sure they last longer. We've also got this useful infographic on 10 things to do with stale bread.
