10 fab ways to use food scraps

If you hate waste, want to try and help the environment and save money – check out these awesome ways to reuse common food scraps.

1. Spring onion bottoms

Don’t throw away the bottoms of your spring onions, if you plant them in a pot or in your vegetable patch they will grow into fresh new spring onions.

2. Bread crusts

If your kids leave the crusts or you cut them off, don’t throw them away. Save them in a sealed bag or container in the fridge and then blend them into fresh breadcrumbs – yum!

3. Potato peel

You can use potato peel to get rid of warts. Rub the inside of the skin on the wart and then bury the potato, it’s an old gypsy tale that the wart then grows on the old potato. Weird but thousands of people swear it works.

4. Apple peels

Apple peels contain an acid that will remove stains and discoloration from your aluminum pots and pans. Fill your stained pot with water and apple peels, bring to a boil then simmer for about 30 minutes, rinse and polish with a dishcloth to reveal a shiny new pan.

5. Banana peel

Soothe skin irritations and insect bites by rubbing a banana peel on the area. The fruit acids, vitamins, and minerals will help soothe away pain and itching.

6. Red onion skins

The skins of red onions make an awesome natural dye. Place skins (more the better) in a pot of water and bring to a boil, then simmer for at least an hour. Next, drain the skins making sure you save the water as this is your dye. Soak your fabric or clothing for a few days for best results, for a tie-dye effect use elastic bands to create funky patterns.

7. Vegetable ends

Vegetable ends and tops make beautiful broth especially celery tops, onion and garlic skins, carrot peels. Reuse your food scraps by storing in a freezer-safe container until you have enough to cook them up for a delicious brew.

8. Lime rinds

The citric acid found in lemon and lime rinds make the perfect polish for your silver, they help break down the stains and polish up beautifully making all your silverware look new.

9. Papaya peel

The perfect foot rub, papaya skins are full of vitamin A and papain which helps break down inactive proteins and removes all of those dead skin cells. Rub the papaya skin and its pulp over your feet, not only will they be silky soft but they will smell great too!

10. Citrus peel

Infuse your extra virgin oil with citrus peel for a unique and delicious flavour, perfect on salads and when used with cooking.