Fruit And Vegetable Peels' 25 Surprising Uses (PHOTOS)

From The Daily Green's Jeff Yeager:

The Green Cheapskate brings you another in his ongoing but sporadic series Don't Throw That Away! Today's installment: A Rind Is a Terrible Thing to Waste.

"A rind is a terrible thing to waste." If you're a composting enthusiast like me, that's our mantra.

Nearly all fruit and vegetable skins can be added to the compost pile. But since I'm the Ultimate Green Cheapskate, I like to get even more mileage out of my rinds - at least before I deposit them in my compost pile.

Try out these creative uses for your peels next time you're thinking about heading out to the compost pile. (Warning: The skins of vegetables and fruits that are to be consumed or come in contact with food should be thoroughly washed first, even if organically grown.)

Jeff Yeager is the author of The Cheapskate Next Door and The Ultimate Cheapskate's Road Map to True Riches

Related: 50 Healthy Foods for Under $1 a Pound.

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Seedling pots

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Scooped-out avocado shells make perfect biodegradable "pots" to start seedlings in before you plant them in the garden.

See why avocado is on the list of The Clean 15 Foods Free of Pesticide Residue

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Scooped-out avocado shells make perfect biodegradable "pots" to start seedlings in before you plant them in the garden.

See why avocado is on the list of The Clean 15 Foods Free of Pesticide Residue

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Total comments: 35 | Post a Comment

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This Idea

Rank #2  |  Average: 4

Makes Me Hate Fruits and Veggies Scrappy Suggestion! (in a good way)

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Comments

[BlackYowe]

03:16 AM on 11/15/2010

I feed mine to my chickens and they are thrilled with them.

[MrJM]

07:31 PM on 11/14/2010

You can also entertain your friends and preserve the soles of your shoes by polishing them with the slippery side of a banana peel!

-- MrJM

[Susanne Freeborn]

02:36 AM on 11/13/2010

Picture #23 is a Tomatillo, which is not a houseplant. I am pretty sure it doesn't need a banana peel shine.

[mlaiuppa]

10:55 PM on 11/12/2010

My worms gotta eat too. Sorry, it's off to compost it goes.

[ScottnLaguna]

08:32 PM on 11/12/2010

Veggie is a horrible word and should not be allowed. Vegetable is much better.

[StephenJK]

02:01 AM on 11/13/2010

Agreed....but, I still use it sometimes.

[SchrodingersKatz]

08:20 PM on 11/12/2010

Hint: do not just "sprinkle Liquid Potpourri from the crafts store"...that stuff is a bunch of synthetic chemicals that are harmful to you and the environment.

[Lauri Ury Owen]

07:37 PM on 11/12/2010

I feed most peelings and unwanted parts of veggies and fruits to my dog. Whole foods are just as important for them as they are for us. He gets all of the carrot, yam, potato, apple, and pear peelings, and I chop and boil broccoli/cauliflower/spinach/kale stems and cabbage cores for him. You name it and he probably gets it -- just stay away from choking hazards and items that are toxic to dogs: http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+1659&aid=1030.

[StephenJK]

02:02 AM on 11/13/2010

Well, your dog is getting most of the nutrients in the produce. LOL

[Jerome Morrow]

06:37 PM on 11/12/2010

I'm suspicious of the potato/gray hair thing tho. I see people saying that works, but no pics or people that actually tried it themselves.

[anastasiabeaverhousen]

05:59 PM on 11/12/2010

Sprinkling generous amounts of black pepper is a great way to keep certain kinds of pests away from outdoor flower gardens/pots.

Moth balls are great, as well.........your garden will smell like an old woman's house, but still!!!!

[GraceNotes]

04:54 PM on 11/12/2010

I have always heard that cucumber peels will keep cockroaches away.

[Robco1]

04:24 PM on 11/12/2010

Dried orange peel is an excellent fire starter; burns when wet and it helps keep the bugs away too.

[EcoCatLady]

02:42 PM on 11/12/2010

Can't believe making stock for soups wasn't on this list... too obvious perhaps?

I'd echo the sentiments of some of the other commenters... I wouldn't recommend eating any peels that were conventionally grown because they're probably coated with pesticides and wax.

The potpourri idea sounds interesting, but I'd avoid adding additional "scents" to it unless you're sure they are natural and not synthetic. Most artificial fragrance is loaded with phthalates which are known endocrine disruptors.

[Vivian Alicia Evans]

02:04 PM on 11/12/2010

Great article. I knew a few of these tricks but not the majority. I will have to book mark this page and copy down the info. Thanks.

[WhereSheStops]

01:48 PM on 11/12/2010

Nifty! Need to bookmark this one!

[McGrupp10799]

01:26 PM on 11/12/2010

Is your Marijuana stash getting a little dry?

Orange Peels will Revitalize it!

Just add an orange peel to your stash for a day or two and it will be soft and fluffy once again!
Just don't keep it in too long, because if the peel starts to rott, so may your bud.

[freshofftheboat]

02:40 PM on 11/12/2010

Ha!

[Jerome Morrow]

06:38 PM on 11/12/2010

Man you guys love your weed. So weird...