Most of us are guilty of wasting food at home. Statistics show that around 1/3 of the food that we buy is wasted. There are a few different reasons for this. One big one is that we shop without a plan. We buy whatever takes our fancy without thinking about whether or not we’ll have time to eat it or checking the dates to see if it will last long enough when we get home. Another is that we simply don’t use the things that we buy. We leave them sitting at home, and then when they start to turn, we throw them in the compost bin or worse, the trash.
Fruit is a big problem when it comes to waste. Fresh fruit doesn’t always last long once it’s home from the store, especially if you buy ripe fresh fruits. Within a few days they are starting to change color and soften. Bananas blacken within a few days, soft fruit like strawberries start to go squashy, and even harder fruits like apples don’t last for as long as we might like.
There are some things that you can do to reduce this waste, without having to avoid buying fruit. The easiest is probably buying tinned or frozen fruit instead of fresh. These don’t go off anywhere near as quickly and are just as good for you (as long as you avoid anything canned in syrup). If you do buy fresh fruit, make sure you are storing it correctly to maximize its lifespan. Then, when your fruit does start to soften or discolor, don’t just assume that it can’t be used. Unless your fruit has gone moldy or started to smell bad, it is usually still safe to use. Here are some things that you can make with leftover fruit.
Make a Pie
Fruit pie is so yummy. It’s one of those gorgeously comforting desserts that everyone loves. If you’ve got any apples, pears, and berries that are past their best, add them to a pie and learn how to make ree drummond’s pie crust for a fantastic family treat. You don’t need to make a full-size pie, especially if you only have smaller quantities of fruit to work with. You can free-form the crust and use those smaller quantities of leftover fruit to make rustic galettes. Serve with ice cream or custard for a super dessert.
Enjoy Banana Pancakes
Banana pancakes are a super healthy and filling breakfast, filled with protein to keep you going all morning. They are perfect before or after a morning workout, and best made with bananas that are starting to brown, as they’ll taste naturally sweet and be packed with banana flavor. They are also easier to mash! Mash two bananas with one egg, and add a handful of oats to thicken. Fry in a pan with a few sprays of cooking oil for a few minutes on each side until solid. Serve with berries for an extra treat.
There are many options for extra bananas. From your traditional banana bread to a non-traditional “ice cream”. You can make a simple cookie with mashed bananas, peanut butter (or almond or another alternative), and cocoa. These are often called detox cookies because they have no sugar, grains, or dairy. These are just some of the reasons we buy bananas and stash them in the freezer. Leftover fruit – on purpose? Absolutely!
Rehydrate with Fruit Infused Water
Soft fruit like blueberries and strawberries are perfect in water, and if anything, they will have more flavor if they are slightly passed their best. Add fruit to a water bottle, either with or without an infuser and sip the sweet, fruit-flavored water all day long. This is a great way to get your family to drink more water, too. Always a win! Melon, citrus fruits, cucumber, and peaches are other great options.
Make Your Own Jams and Jellies
Making your own jams and jellies is a fantastic way to use up leftover fruit. Try different flavor combinations, and even give jars away as gifts. I always thought I had to make jam in a large batch. This is not true! Besides your fruit and some pectin – and varying amounts of sugar, all you need are appropriate sized jars and a pot deep enough for water bath canning. Jam making does not require a pressure canner as you may think. For smaller quantities, like leftover berries, 4 oz ball jars
I hope this has sparked some ideas for you to use up leftover fruit. Before long, you will be buying extra and rescuing the less-than-best just to make some of the delicious goodies. If rescuing produce from waste is important to you, check out produce delivery boxes in your area. Misfits Market is our favorite in our area. The produce is rejected or extra but still quite good. Fresh, in-season, organic produce delivered to my door – and cheaper than the supermarket? With 6 children, my only question is how big of a box can I get? Use my referral code and you can save 25% on your first box – COOKWME-EP1SEU
