Guide

No more waste: what you can do with banana peels

25/6/2024

Translation: Elicia Payne

From whitening teeth to repelling insects to polishing silver – banana peels are true all-rounders. With these life hacks for the kitchen, bathroom and garden, you’ll learn to appreciate fruit waste.

Stop! Don’t throw it away! Before you dispose of your next banana peel, read this article. You’ll be blown away by the things this «waste» can be good for. Here are lots of creative ways to put banana peels to good use:

1. Simply eat the banana peel too

Did you know that you don’t even have to go to the trouble of peeling a banana? That’s because banana peels are edible. They mainly consist of carbohydrates (around 60%), fibre (30%), water and small amounts of protein and fat. They also contain many valuable minerals such as potassium and manganese. On their own they’re tough and bitter though, not exactly the most enjoyable. But there are various ways to turn them into something edible. If you do this, use organic bananas to avoid any harmful substances in the peel.

Smoothies: You can quickly and easily blend the (ripe) banana and peel into your smoothie. To do this, wash it thoroughly, cut off the ends and slice the rest. Mix with 200 millilitres of milk (plant-based substitutes work too) or yoghurt and a pinch of cinnamon and you’re done.

Cooking and baking: Boiling or baking the peel also reduces the bitter taste. It go well in curries, stews or as an ingredient in baked goods, such as classic banana bread.

Pickling: Banana peels, like vegetables, can also be pickled to make them last longer, turn softer and less bitter. This allows you to use the nutrients in the banana peel and avoid food waste at the same time.

Drying and pulverising: Another method for longer shelf life and greater enjoyment is to dry the banana peels and then grind them into powder. Then you can pop them in your smoothies, tea or baked goods.

Make vinegar: Organic banana peels are suitable for making vinegar. Here you can find a recipe for a sweet banana peel vinegar (page in German) .

2. Moisturising face mask

Due to their natural composition and the nutrients they contain, banana peels are often advertised as a natural skin care product. The high amount of carbohydrates and fibres in banana peels are supposed to contribute to the hydration of your skin and act as a natural moisturiser. To make use of these properties , you can gently rub the inside of the peel over the skin. Or you can process them into a mask by pureeing the peel and mixing it with other natural ingredients such as honey or yoghurt. It’s important to note that although there are many personal testimonials about this, there’s still no scientific proof it works.

3. Healing wounds with banana peel instead of plasters

In some places, banana peels are used instead of plasters to treat open wounds. The peels are placed over the affected areas like a protective film and have an antibacterial and disinfecting effect. Researchers at Jacobs University Bremen (article in German) got to the bottom of this phenomenon and were able to confirm the healing abilities of the Musa acuminata banana species due to their potential anti-inflammatory properties. And the minerals it contains may also support skin health. So it’s possible that banana peels could also work as a remedy for insect bites.

If you don’t have a plaster to hand, a banana peel can also help.
Source: Rivage/Unsplash

4. Natural fertiliser and compost

Banana peels are also ideal for fertilising because of their high potassium content. They can be fresh or dried. All you have to do is cut them into small pieces and work them into the root area of your plants horizontally. Alternatively, you can also put the cut-up peelings on the compost heap, where they’ll slowly release their nutrients during the rotting process and help improve the soil.

For indoor plants, you can make a liquid fertiliser from banana peels. Simply boil the crushed peel in water, leave to infuse overnight and then strain. Dilute the brew with water in a ratio of 1:5 and use for watering. You can also use the insides of the peels to wipe the leaves of your houseplants. This gives them a new shine and protects them from dust.

5. Shoe polish, leather and silver care

If none of the tricks above have taken your fancy, you might be interested in using the peels to clean your shoes? The inside of peels contains natural oils and waxes that can give leather a shine. You can use it to polish up your leather shoes, for example. Rub the inside of the banana peel over the shoes and then wipe with a soft cloth to remove any excess residue. Of course this isn’t just for leather shoes, but is also suitable for other leather items.

There have even been reports that banana peels can be used to clean silver. Banana peels contain substances that can help to remove tarnish. The process is similar to polishing leather. Rub the inside of the peel onto the silver and then rinse it with water before polishing it with a soft cloth. Although there’s no scientific proof, there are many traditions using banana peels like this as a home hack. It’s worth a shot.

6. Greenfly deterrent, tooth whitener, meat tenderiser

Speaking of traditions, banana peels are said to have other properties, but no studies have been carried out on these yet. Still, I think they’re worth sharing:

Greenfly deterrent: Allegedly the smell of rotting banana peel deters greenflies. If you bury a few pieces of peel on infested plants, this should drive away the little plant sap suckers. It just depends whether you prefer the smell over the greenflies.

Tooth whitener:*Another use for banana peels found all over the internet, even if well-founded sources are lacking. The minerals contained in banana peels – especially potassium, magnesium and manganese – can reduce tooth discoloration. To try this out, you should rub the inside of the peels against your teeth and see a whitening effect after a few weeks. Well, is that true?

Meat tenderiser: Last but not least, there are reports that banana peels are supposed to make fried meat more tender when roasting. Simply add a banana peel to the meat in the pan. Although the explanation for the alleged effect is logical, it has not yet been scientifically verified. Apparently, the banana peel not only releases moisture, but also contains enzymes that break down proteins in the meat and can therefore make it more tender.

Some banana peel hacks and their effects may not have been under scientific scrutiny. Nevertheless, there are certainly some sensible alternatives to simply chucking the yellow skins in the bin. Why don’t you try out a few of them and tell us about your experiences in the comments.

Header image: Bigc Studio/Shutterstock

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Anna Sandner

Senior Editor

Anna.Sandner@galaxus.de

Science editor and biologist. I love animals and am fascinated by plants, their abilities and everything you can do with them. That's why my favourite place is always outside - somewhere in nature, preferably in my wild garden.

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