What To Do With Leftover Apple Peels? (Quick Ideas)

what to do with leftover apple peels

It’s always a little sad when you finish up a delicious apple, only to realize that you’re left with a pile of peels.

What should you do with them?

Don’t worry, I’ve got some quick ideas for what to do with those leftover apple peels.

Read on for my suggestions and start putting those leftovers to good use.

Donate them to a local farmer or community garden

This is a great option if you have a farmers market or community garden nearby.

Many farmers are happy to take food scraps off your hands, and they’ll put them to good use as compost.

This is a great way to reduce your waste and support your local community at the same time.

Make apple peel chips

If you’re looking for a tasty snack, apple peel chips are a great option.

They’re easy to make and they taste great.

Simply slice the peels thin, toss them with a little oil and salt, and bake them in a low oven until they’re nice and crispy.

Feed them to your chickens, ducks, or other backyard farm animals

If you have backyard chickens or ducks, they’ll love to munch on your apple peels.

You can also feed them to goats, pigs, rabbits, and other farm animals.

Just make sure that you chop the peels up into small pieces so that they don’t choke on them.

Add them to your compost pile or bin

Composting is a great way to reduce your food waste, and it’s easy to do at home.

Simply add your apple peels (and other fruit and vegetable scraps) to your compost pile or bin.

Over time, they’ll break down and turn into nutrient-rich compost that you can use in your garden.

Make apple peel tea

Apple peel tea is a delicious and healthy way to use up those peels.

Just add a few slices of apple peel to a cup of boiling water and let it steep for 5-10 minutes.

You can add a little honey or sugar if you like, or enjoy it plain.

Use them in a homemade cleaning solution

If you’re looking for a natural way to clean your home, apple peels are a great option.

Just add a few slices of apple peel to a jar of white vinegar and let it sit for a few weeks.

The vinegar will take on the scent of the apple peels, and you can use it as a natural cleaning solution throughout your home.

Dry and then grind them into powder to use as a natural food coloring

This is a great option if you’re looking for a natural way to add color to your food.

Simply dry the apple peels (you can do this in a dehydrator or in a low oven) and then grind them into a powder using a coffee grinder or food processor.

This powder can then be used as a natural food coloring in cakes, cookies, and other baked goods.

Use them as kindling for a fire

Last but not least, apple peels make great kindling for a fire.

If you have a wood-burning fireplace or stove, simply add a few slices of apple peel to your fire starter material and you’ll be good to go.

How do I use apple peels in my garden?

One way to use apple peels in the garden is to compost them.

This will provide nutrients for plants and help improve soil health.

Another way to use apple peels is to place them around plants that are susceptible to pests.

The scent of the apples will help deter pests from eating the plants.

Finally, you can also use apple peels as mulch.

This will help keep moisture in the soil and prevent weeds from growing (source).

How do you store apple peels?

The easiest way to store apple peels is to put them in a plastic bag and keep them in the fridge.

You can also freeze them if you want to keep them for longer.

If you’re going to use them for cooking, you can just leave them out on the counter.

Just make sure to wash them before using.

Can you ferment apple peels?

Yes, you can ferment apple peels.

To do so, simply place the peels in a jar or other container and cover them with water.

Then, add a bit of sugar and stir to combine.

Leave the mixture to sit at room temperature for a few days, then refrigerate.

The fermentation process will create carbon dioxide, so be sure to open the container periodically to release the gas.

After a week or so, your fermented apple peels will be ready to enjoy.

Do birds eat apple peels?

Yes, some birds eat apple peels.

The ones that typically do are cedar waxwings, bluebirds, robins, and thrushes.

These birds usually eat the peels of ripe apples that have fallen to the ground.

The apple peels provide these birds with essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals.

How do you make apple peel powder?

There are a few different ways that you can make apple peel powder, but the most common method is to dry and then grind the peels.

You can do this by spreading the peels out on a baking sheet and letting them air dry for a few days, or you can put them in a dehydrator.

Once they are dried, place them in a food processor or blender and pulse until they are turned into a fine powder.

Apple peel powder can be used in a variety of recipes, or you can simply take it as a dietary supplement.

How do you dry apple peels for potpourri?

what to do with leftover apple peels

The best way to dry apple peels for potpourri is to place them on a baking sheet and bake them in a low oven until they are dried out.

You can also dehydrate them in a food dehydrator.

Once they are dried, you can store them in an airtight container until you are ready to use them (source).

Can you make alcohol from apple peels?

The short answer is yes, you can.

However, the process is somewhat complicated and may not be worth the effort for most people.

To make alcohol from apple peels, you need to extract the sugar from the peel first.

This can be done by boiling the peels in water and then adding yeast to the mixture.

The yeast will eat the sugar and convert it into alcohol.

You can then distill the alcohol to get a higher concentration of it.

The final product will be somewhat similar to apple cider, but with higher alcohol content.

If you are looking to make something like vodka or whiskey, you will need to distill it further.

Overall, making alcohol from apple peels is possible, but it is a relatively complicated process.

Unless you are specifically looking for apple-flavored alcohol, it is probably not worth the effort.

There are many easier ways to make alcohol that will be just as good (if not better) (source).

Are apple peels good for plants?

Yes, apple peels are good for plants.

They provide nutrients that are essential for plant growth, such as nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus.

Apple peels also help to aerate the soil and improve drainage.

Additionally, they can act as a natural pest repellent.

How do you preserve apple peels?

Some people like to eat apple peels, but if you want to preserve them, you can put them in a container with sugar and water.

The sugar will help the apple peels last longer.

You can also dry apple peels and store them in an airtight container.

Will squirrels eat apple peels?

Yes, squirrels will often eat apple peels.

While they are not as nutritional as the flesh of the apple, the peels can still provide some sustenance.

In addition, many squirrels enjoy the taste of apple peels.

If you have a squirrel problem in your yard and are looking for a natural way to deter them, you could try putting out apple peels.

Conclusion

Hopefully, these ideas have inspired you to put those apple peels to good use.

If you have any other suggestions, please share them with me.

And if you’re looking for more ideas on what to do with food scraps, check out my other posts.

Thanks for reading.

Tamara Pierce

Tamara Pierce is a food writer at Elapasony, passionate about exploring diverse cuisines and sharing recipes and food experiences. From trendy restaurants to local hotspots, she's always on the lookout for new and exciting flavors.

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