Diverting food scraps from the garbage can and the landfill is becoming more important to communities around the world. In many places, it’s the law. As I transitioned my food scraps to the compost bin, I noticed that they were piling up fast. I looked for ways to REUSE or REPURPOSE some of my most common kitchen trimmings. Below are five of the easiest methods I’ve found for repurposing food scraps. I hope you’ll give it a try too!
What food scraps can I repurpose?
- Fruit trimmings
- Vegetable trimmings
- Meat trimmings and Bones
alternative uses for food scraps:
- Reuse food scraps in other recipes
- Blend food scraps into your smoothies
- Use food scraps to make household cleaners
- Use food scraps to make air fresheners
- Propagate food scraps to produce more food
1. fREEZE FRUIT & GREENS TRIMMINGS FOR LATER USE IN SMOOTHIES
Store trimmings in a designated container in your fridge or freezer to be blended up in smoothies. This method will add flavor and nutrients to your smoothie.
FOOD SCRAP FRUIT SMOOTHIE RECIPE
- 1 cup of your favorite milk, including non-dairy milk of choice
- Any fruit scraps including apples, bananas, pears, strawberries, or oranges (not including the peel.)
- Leafy green vegetable scraps including spinach, kale, etc.
- Flavorings, such as vanilla, lemon zest, cacao powder, cinnamon, or almond extract
In a high-speed blender, blend all ingredients until smooth.
2. FREEZE VEGETABLE TRIMMINGS FOR LATER USE IN SOUPS aND STEWS
Trimmings from vegetables can be saved directly to a special bin in your refrigerator or freezer and can be added to soups, stews, crockpot meals, and even dog food recipes.
Food Scrap Broth Recipe
- Meat scraps
- Vegetable scraps
- Water (filtered)
- 2-3 cloves of garlic (if desired)
- Salt & pepper to taste (if desired)
- Place frozen or refrigerated meat and vegetable scraps into a large stockpot. Cover with water. (More water makes a diluted broth. Less water makes a more concentrated broth.)
- Cover and cook on low heat for 1 to 3 hours or until the broth appears to have some color.
- Strain the broth from the bones and vegetables using a fine mesh strainer.
- Eat/Add to Other Recipes: Eat the strained broth or use it to make your other favorite soups.
- Make Dog food: I also like to make dog food with the over-cooked meat and veggies. Mash them up and put them into ice cube trays. Add one block to your pet’s daily pet food.
3. USE CITRUS PEELS FOR AIR FRESHENERS AND CLEANERS
This is an easy way to make your home smell good. This is especially helpful when bad cooking odors are lingering.
Homemade Air Freshener
- Citrus scraps
- 1 tsp Vanilla
- Cinnamon stick or other spices,
- Water
Fill a pot with water. Add vanilla, a cinnamon stick, or other spices and citrus peels and scraps. Bring to a boil and simmer for twenty minutes or until your senses are pleased.
Also, fill citrus peels in a bowl or cup and let them air dry. They will mildly scent the air and then you can toss them into your pot whenever you’re ready to make your homemade air freshener (above).
Natural Spray Cleaner
- 2 to 3 cups leftover Lemon and/or other citrus peels
- 2 Cups Vinegar
Fill a wide-mouth jar with all ingredients. Let it sit for 4 weeks shaking occasionally. Strain out the peels and toss them into your compost bin or green waste. Pour the remaining lemon/vinegar mixture into a spray bottle. Enjoy.
4. REGROW YOUR VEGETABLES sCRAPS
Many vegetables can be regrown by cutting the stock off at the bottom and soaking them in water indoors. Once some roots grow, you can plant them outside in the garden. Change the water daily or every other day to prevent bacteria growth. You can also plant the scraps directly in well-draining soil, just make sure to keep it moist.
Watch the video above for detailed information where she discusses ten vegetable and herb scraps that you can regrow for leafy greens and seeds.
The vegetables that she re-grows in this video are:
- onions
- Carrots
- Celery
- Lettuce
- Bok Choy
- Spring onions
- Leek
- Onions
- Beet top
- Potatoes and Sweet Potatoes
5. DON’T THROW AWAY YOUR OVER-RIPE BANANAS – DO THIS INSTEAD
If your bananas have gotten too ripe to eat, don’t toss them out!
Frozen Banana Ice Cubes
- Over-ripe Bananas
- Ice cube tray
Smash bananas up in a bowl and press them into ice cube trays. Once frozen, move the banana cubes to a closed container in your freezer.
Depending on the size of your ice cube trays and bananas, approximately 3 ice cubes equals about one mashed banana. Look for ice cube trays made from silicone for easy release. If you find one with a lid, you won’t have to transfer the cubes to another air-free container.
Add the banana cubes to make ice-cold smoothies. You can even thaw them out for use in a banana bread recipe.
DID YOU KNOW?
In the states of California and Vermont, it is illegal to throw food scraps into the trash bin?
To find out about Wasted Food Programs and Resources across the United States, click on this link to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) Website.
Happy repurposing!
