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If you throw your fruit and vegetable peels in the trash, you could be losing the most nutritious, and even the most flavourful part of your produce. Many fruits and vegetables contain more nutrients in their rinds or peels than anywhere else, while some, like citrus peels, contain more flavour too.
These days, many people choose to scrub their vegetables rather than peeling them, so they can benefit from all those extra vitamins and minerals. On the other hand, eating banana or orange peel doesn’t sound particularly appetising, and some people just prefer their fries skin-off. If you do prefer your produce peeled, do it the easy way with our guide to peeling fruit and veg. Just be sure to keep hold of those peels afterwards, because they still have plenty of use in them.
Which fruit and vegetable peels to use
Almost any fruit or vegetable peel you care to think of can be reused, although you should try to use organic produce if you can, so your peels are free from pesticides and waxes.
Vegetable peels and onion skins are great for making broth or stock, citrus peels can be used as a zesty flavouring or as a natural cleaning product, while banana peels and avocado skins can be used as fertiliser or homemade beauty products.
How to prepare the peels
How you prepare your peels depends on how you are using them. If they’re intended for composting or fertiliser, there is no need to clean them, but otherwise you should clean them before peeling, as this is much easier than cleaning the peels by themselves. Fruit should be washed and dried thoroughly, and vegetables rinsed and scrubbed with a brush to remove any dirt. If you think your produce has been waxed, blanch it in not-quite-boiling water for 30 seconds and the wax should come away.
Cleaning
Lemon peels are the perfect natural cleaning product. They are naturally acidic, which means they’re great at lifting stubborn stains, and they smell great, too.
Clean stains and spills
For stuck on grease, sprinkle the area with baking soda, then rub with the inside of a lemon peel.
Make your coffee pot gleam
To make your coffee pot as good as new, simply add some grated lemon rind and salt, fill with ice cubes, then stir for a few minutes. Tip the mixture out and rinse well.
Clean up your kettle
To remove limescale from your kettle, add a few lemon rinds, fill with water and bring to the boil. Leave the mixture to do its thing for about an hour or so, then tip it out and rinse well.
Use them as a fertiliser
Vegetable peels make great compost, and if you don’t use them for anything else, your garden will benefit from all those wonderful nutrients going back into the soil. In fact, even if you do use them for something else, they’ll probably still contain enough goodness for composting.
Some peels can be used as plant fertiliser right away, without waiting for them to compost. Banana peels are particularly high in potassium, while orange peels are high in nitrogen, both vital minerals for healthy soil. With these, you can simply cut them into small pieces and dig them into the soil. Your plants will thank you for it.
Make infusions
Some peels are a rich source of aromatic oils, and can be used to infuse other ingredients with flavour. Try using lemon peels to infuse gin, or pairing them with rosemary or chilis for a gourmet olive oil. If you have any used vanilla pods, these are also full of flavour, and can be used to make vanilla infused sugar, or vanilla vodka.
Make stock
The traditional way to use vegetable peels is to boil them up to make a stock. You can use pretty much any part of a vegetable that you wouldn’t include in a regular dish to make stock -. think potato and carrot peels, onion and garlic skins, leek greens, fennel fronds or woody herb stems. You can even add leftover Parmesan rinds for extra flavour. Do make sure you have a good mix of different things, however, as a stock made primarily from potato peels will have very little flavour.
To make your stock, place your peels and offcuts in a pan and cover with water. Boil for at least an hour, then strain. Keep your homemade stock in a sealed container in the fridge, and use it as a base for soups, stews and savoury sauces.
Vegetable peel chips
Turn your leftover peels into a delicious and healthy snack by roasting them in a little oil and adding some tasty seasonings. These clever vegetable peel chips from Tasty are so irresistibly moreish you’ll be looking for more vegetables to peel.
Beauty face masks
Many of the vitamins and minerals in fruit and vegetable peels are also great for your skin, so you can save money on expensive treatments and make your own at home for free.
Banana peel sugar scrub
Banana skins are naturally hydrating and contain skin-healthy vitamin C and E. To make a simple moisturising body scrub, sprinkle sugar onto the fleshy side of the peel, rub it onto your skin, and rinse off in the shower.
Citrus skin tonic
Citrus peels are rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, and can be used as a tonic to wake up tired skin. Simply rub the fleshy side of the peel onto your face and rinse with water. Be careful to avoid your eye area, however, as citrus juices will irritate your eyes.
Avocado moisturiser
Avocado is full of healthy oils and makes a great moisturiser. Rub the fleshy part of the peel onto dry areas to give your skin a drink.
Of all the fruit and vegetable peels, lemon rind is perhaps the most useful. To find out more of its many benefits, take a look at our tips on how to use lemon peels.
