Budget Stretching Ideas - Fruit

Getting the Most Out of Your Fruit

When stretching your budget, it helps to think outside the box and put items you might normally toss to use. Instead of throwing away your apple cores, lemon rinds, banana peels, and strawberry hulls, use them to make something new! Here are some items you can make with those peels, rinds, and cores. Be sure to wash the fruit well before using to remove any dirt or impurities. If you are using non-organic produce, you will need to remove the wax coating from the fruit before using the peels and rinds. Here is a post that explains why you should remove the wax coating and how to safely remove it.

Juice

Strawberry tops (or hulls), peach peels, and apple peels (and cores) can all be simmered in water to make a light juice. This can then be turned into syrup, used in smoothies, or enjoyed straight. Just add your clean scraps to a pot. Pour enough water over them just to cover. Bring to a boil then reduce immediately to a simmer. Let simmer for 20-30 minutes or until the juice is extracted.

Herbal Tea

The peels of lemons, oranges, peaches, and apples, as well as strawberry hulls can all be dried to make an herbal tea or to mix with other herbs for tea. Simply cut or grate into small pieces, dry the pieces in a dehydrator or in the oven on low heat until thoroughly dry. (If using citrus, do not use the white part of the peel.)

Candy

Candied orange and lemon peel is making a comeback. The Daring Gourmet has the recipe for making this old-time treat here.

Pickles

Have you ever heard of watermelon rind pickles? Here is a recipe from Southern Living that will help you use up more of your watermelon than ever before.

Chips 

Toss apple peels with cinnamon and a touch of sugar and dry in the oven at 300 degrees for 30 minutes to make a healthy snack.

Apple Cider Vinegar 

Apple peels and cores can be used to make apple cider vinegar. The Prairie Homestead has some great instructions on how to make your own apple cider vinegar from scraps. Click here for the recipe.

Infused Oils

Dried strawberry hulls, citrus zest, and dried apple peels can be infused in oils to make a culinary treat. These work well in salad dressing, on roasted vegetables, on meats, and more. Our Prepped Living website has instructions for DIY infused oils here.

Infused vinegar

Dried strawberry hulls, citrus zest, dried apple peels, and pineapple peel can all be used to make infused vinegar. Attainable Sustainable has a simple recipe for using fruit scraps to make flavored vinegars here. Use these vinegars in your salad dressings, marinades, or as a sprinkle on roasted or steamed vegetables.

Flavored Sugars

Citrus zest can be used to make a flavored sugar. Clean the fruit well and pat dry. Zest or grate the peel. (Do not use the inner white part of the peel.) Dry the fruit zest, add to sugar, and let sit for a week for the flavor to infuse. Use and enjoy!

Flavored Salts

Follow the instructions above for flavored sugar but use salt instead of the sugar.

Homemade Cleaner 

Make a homemade cleaner with citrus peels and vinegar. See our previous post on homemade cleaning products here.

Plant Fertilizer

Banana peels are rich in potassium. You can make a simple garden fertilizer by soaking chopped banana peels in water. Click here for instructions and advice on which plants this is best for. 

Animal Food

Feed the peels and cores to your chickens or pigs. 

• Here is a list of what is and is not safe for chickens: https://www.heritageacresmarket.com/what-chickens-can-and-cant-eat/
• Here is a list of what is and is not safe for pigs: https://organicfeeds.com/what-pigs-can-and-cant-eat/

Compost

Add to your compost pile to enrich your garden.

Washed peaches

What other ways do you use your fruit peels, rinds, and hulls? Share your budget stretchings ideas in the comments section below.