10 Best Banana Peel Recipes to Reduce Waste (2024)

These banana peel recipes are delicious and ideal if you’re looking for ways to reduce food waste.

There’s a good chance you clicked on this round-up purely out of curiosity. But now you’re here, you might want to bookmark the page.

10 Best Banana Peel Recipes to Reduce Waste (1)

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After all, why would you waste something that’s loaded with nutrients and flavor when you can make something tasty instead?

There are plenty of banana peel recipes throughout Southeast Asia, India, and South America, and I’ve rounded up my faves.

They’re healthy, versatile, and budget-friendly. Oh, and they even make a fantastic alternative to meat.

1. Banana Peel Bacon

Bacon’s expensive, so this is a great way to curb your cravings and save money.

I’ll be honest, it doesn’t taste exactly like bacon, but it’ll hold you over. And it’s pretty tasty in its own right.

Are you vegetarian or vegan? Then this is a fantastic way to add some extra nutrients to your breakfast.

The key to this recipe is the delicious marinade. It has nine salty, smoky, sweet, and flavorful ingredients to trick your tongue.

The peels have to sit in the marinade for at least two hours.

When you’re ready to cook, simply fry them with a bit of oil. You’ll want to flip them a few times to guarantee a crispy texture.

2. Vegan Carnitas

Shake up your Taco Tuesday with these delicious vegan carnitas.

They’re fresh and spicy, with a mild sweetness that will make your taste buds Samba.

The process is easy, but it is a little time-consuming. It’s worth it, though, because you’ve never experienced carnitas quite like these.

The peels are sauteed in soy sauce and orange juice with onion, jalapeños, and garlic.

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They’re seasoned with black pepper, oregano, cumin, and lime. Trust me, they’re fantastic!

3. Banana Peel Thoran

Thoran is a hot-vegetable stir-fry dish from Kerala in India. It’s typically made with a mix of veggies, beans, and seasonings available in the region.

There are several variations, including this delicious banana peel Thoran.

The recipe is a boldly flavored dish that perfectly accompanies rice and curry.You’ll experience a variety of flavors and textures with every bite.

There’s coconut, multiple kinds of chiles, ginger, alliums, mustard seeds, cumin, pepper, and curry. Delish.

4. Banana Peel Vegan Pulled Pork Sandwich

This recipe is from South America, and like most South American dishes, it’s super flavorful.

Does it taste exactly like the pulled pork you’re used to? Unfortunately, no. But it’s pretty darn great.

Simply season shredded banana peels with some spicy and savory seasonings before sauteing.

Then mix it all up with your favorite barbecue sauce and fry until it’s tender and meat-like.

Serve it on a bun with coleslaw for a fantastic meal!

5. Lindsay Jean Hard’s Banana Peel Cake With Brown Sugar Frosting

The next time you snack on a banana, save the peel for dessert! This delicious cake is soft, moist, and lightly banana-flavored.

The lightness is balanced with a rich brown sugar frosting, so it’s still very indulgent.

Consider adding fresh bananas and toasted pecans between the layers if you want something even more flavorful and fabulous.

6. Banana Peel Curry

I love curries for the cozy feelings they elicit and their bold flavors. This one is super tasty, and the texture is fantastic.

Featuring turmeric, curry paste, cumin, chiles, onion, and ginger, it’s brimming with spice and warmth.

And where most curries are soft (some might even say mushy), this one has a great crunch from walnuts.Yum!

7. Banana Tea

Banana peel tea might be your new best friend if you struggle to fall asleep.

Bananas are loaded with magnesium, which is known for stress relief and melatonin regulation.

There are two ways to make banana tea: use a whole banana or just the peels. The whole banana method makes the tea sweeter, of course.

Save and dry banana peels, or use fresh every day. Either way, you’ll just boil the banana peel with cinnamon, water, and vanilla.

Drink it warm, and then get cozy because you’re sure to fall asleep soon.

8. Banana Peel Shanghai

This delicious dish is a fun twist on Lumpiang Shanghai or Filipino spring rolls. It’s also a great way to sneak in some extra nutrition.

These lumpias are filled with the usual suspects, including carrots, onions, garlic, egg, and oyster sauce.

But instead of meat, they’re stuffed with a softened and seasoned banana peel.

They’re savory, crunchy, and tasty as heck!

9. Banana-Skin Chutney

Tantalize your taste buds with this spicy, delectable banana-skin chutney.

It features many of the same flavors you’ll find in a curry or Thoran. Plus, some additional sweetness.

This chutney is made with banana peels, bananas, onion, jalapeños, brown sugar, and orange juice.

It’s seasoned with star anise, mustard, coriander, turmeric, and clove, making it sweet, spicy, and super yummy.

It’s delicious on chicken or pork with rice. I promise you’ll love it!

10. B.L.T

Trust me when I say that this is not your average B.L.T. It’s vegan-friendly, but even non-vegans will ask for seconds.

You’ll start by making banana peel bacon, which is easy enough. Use the recipe above or try this one with notes of maple, smoked paprika, and garlic.

Then stack it into favorite bread with plenty of mayo, plus lettuce and juicy tomatoes.

10 Best Banana Peel Recipes to Reduce Waste (2)

10 Best Ways to Use Banana Peels (+ Recipe Collection)

These banana peel recipes are delicious and ideal if you’re looking for ways to reduce food waste. Plus, they’ll help you get creative in the kitchen.

Instructions

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  • Prep a delicious banana peel recipe in 30 minutes or less!
10 Best Banana Peel Recipes to Reduce Waste (3)

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10 Best Banana Peel Recipes to Reduce Waste (2024)

FAQs

What are the best uses for banana peels that go beyond composting? ›

Banana peels have a multitude of uses beyond composting. They can be used for skincare, hair care, dental health, household chores, and even as an ingredient in cooking. Banana peels are rich in fiber, protein, antioxidants, and essential nutrients.

What are cooked banana peels good for? ›

GI tract health: Banana peels can help with digestive issues like constipation and diarrhea. May help reduce the risk of cancer: Banana peels provide polyphenols, carotenoids and other antioxidants that can help fight free radicals that may lead to cancer.

How to prepare banana peels for eating? ›

Place a medium pan over medium/high heat and let it get hot. Then add banana peels and cook on both sides for 2-3 minutes until they get a little charred. Remove from heat and enjoy it like bacon!

Which plants like banana peels? ›

If you're unsure which plants to use banana water on, think “tomatoes, peppers, roses, orchids, succulents, staghorn ferns, air plants and banana trees,” says Stephenson. She says that banana peel water is useful to prevent blossom end rot in tomatoes, which is when the bottom of the tomato starts to turn brown.

How long does it take for a banana peel to decompose in compost? ›

Banana peels: The peels of bananas take up to 2 years to biodegrade.

How many banana peels are waste? ›

Most of the waste produced from banana consumption comes from the peel, which makes up 30% to 40% of the weight, resulting in approximately 3.5 million tons of banana peel waste per year.

What do bananas repel? ›

One possibility could be a chemical called 3-octanol found in bananas and is said to be a natural insect repellent, while another could be bananas' high levels of potassium, which increase our bodies' production of lactic acid; the less lactic acid, the less attractive we are to bugs.

Why are people boiling banana peels? ›

In conclusion, banana peel tea is a unique and possibly healthy beverage made from the peels of ripe bananas. The tea is rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, which can potentially provide a range of health benefits, including improved digestion, reduced inflammation, and a lower risk of certain diseases.

Can you make anything with banana peels? ›

Eating the cooked peel along with the banana's flesh is common in many Asian recipes, and as we peeled away the information, we found lots of other fantastic ways to use banana peels, from fertilizing tomato plants to making banana vinegar, as well as tips on helping bananas stay fresh and using overripe bananas.

What does soaking banana peels do? ›

Banana peels contain lots of nutrients, including potassium, phosphorus, magnesium and calcium—all of which are needed for good plant growth. Soaking the banana peels allows the nutrients to leech into the water, and once it hits the soil, the roots grab all those sweet, sweet minerals.

Can I eat banana peels raw? ›

Is It Safe to Eat Raw Banana Peels? While it is safe to eat banana peels, it's important to wash them thoroughly first. According to the Environmental Working Group, bananas are grown in a pesticide-intensive environment. This means that chemical residues may be left on the peel when you buy your bananas from a store.

What does rubbing a banana peel do? ›

Bananas may have some skin benefits – Bananas do contain beneficial antioxidants like vitamin C, B vitamins, magnesium, and potassium. And the inside of the peel contains lutein, which may hydrate, brighten, and soothe skin. So rubbing it on your face probably provides some nourishment.

What does banana peel do to the body? ›

Banana peels are packed with polyphenols, carotenoids, and other antioxidants that fight cancer-causing free radicals in your body. Eating more banana peels, especially green, unripe peels, can increase your antioxidant levels and help reduce your risk of cancer.

Are dried banana peels good for plants? ›

Banana peels contain: calcium, which promotes root growth helps add oxygen to your soil. magnesium, which assists with photosynthesis. sulphur, which helps plants develop strong roots and repel pests.

What are banana peels used for in the environment? ›

Banana peels can also be used as a feedstock for bioethanol production, contributing to the waste-to-wealth approach and promoting the use of renewable fuels. Additionally, banana peels can be utilized to remove mercury from contaminated water, serving as an efficient and low-cost adsorbent for wastewater treatment.

Do birds eat banana peels? ›

Parrots like feasting on banana peels. Unlike humans, parrots love the rubbery texture of banana peels. Banana peels from organic origin can be safe for consumption if you are sure they do not contain pesticides.

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