9 Ways Banana Peels Can Save You Money

We talk a lot about food waste. The statistics are shocking: The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates that between 30% and 40% of the food supply in the United States is wasted.

When you buy a bunch of bananas, you pay by the pound. If you eat the fruit and throw away the peel, you throw away about a third of your purchase by weight. That’s money going straight into the landfill.

While I’m not suggesting you start hoarding junk, there is a legitimate price for those yellow skins. They are full of potassium, enzymes and natural oils that can replace the products you currently buy in the store.

Here are some smart ways to squeeze every penny of value out of bananas.

1. Make your own plant fertilizer

If you are buying expensive plant food for your garden or house plants, stop. Banana peels are rich in potassium, which helps in root growth and water distribution in plants. They also contain phosphorus and calcium.

You can bury the peels directly in the ground next to your rosebushes or peppers. They will decompose and release nutrients directly to the roots.

For houseplants, steep the leaves in a pot of water for a few days to create a nutritious “tea,” then use that water on your plants. It’s an easy way to set up a full compost bin if you’re short on space.

2. Polish silver without chemicals

Silver polish smells bad and costs money. Banana peels contain natural fruit acids that can help remove impurities without strong smoke.

Take a piece of banana peel and mix it with a little water to make a paste. Apply this to your dirty silver with a soft cloth. Rinse and dry well.

This works well for light dirt, although you may still need heavy duty items for neglected antique plate.

3. Shine leather shoes

This sounds like an old wives’ tale, but the potassium and natural oils in the bark are just as effective as commercial shoe polish.

Remove any stringy pieces from the inside of the peel and rub the inner side of your leather shoe. It will leave a dull residue at first. Wipe that off with a soft cloth and iron it. The skin will absorb the oil and glow.

This is a great trick if you’re traveling and forget your polish kit.

4. Add the hard meat

Asian cuisine has used banana leaves and peels in cooking for centuries. The peel contains enzymes that can break down the protein fibers, making the meat very tasty.

If you’re cooking pot roast or tough meat, try adding a ripe banana peel to the frying pan. It helps keep the meat moist and tender as it cooks.

Just remember to remove the peel before serving.

5. Get rid of itches and bugs

The anti-inflammatory properties in banana peels are well documented in traditional medicine. If you get mosquito bites, rubbing the inside of the peel on the area can help reduce the itching and swelling.

Some people also swear by using peels to remove splinters. The theory is that the enzymes in the peel help soften the skin and draw the splinter to the surface.

Tape a piece of paper (white side down) over the splinter overnight. It’s definitely cheaper than a trip to urgent care if it works.

6. Trap insects in the garden

Although we usually want to get rid of bugs, sometimes you need to trap them. If you have a problem with fruit flies, you can use a banana peel as a decoy.

Place the chopped peel inside a plastic container. Drill small holes in the lid – big enough for the fly to fit in, but small enough to make escape difficult.

Fermentation will draw them in and keep them away from your fruit or vegetable garden.

7. Eat yourself (serious)

In the US, we consider a page a package. In many other parts of the world, it is considered food.

Banana peels are edible. They are full of fiber, vitamin B6 and vitamin C. You probably don’t want to eat them raw, as they can be bitter and hard. However, if you boil them for 10 minutes, blend them into a smoothie, or bake them, they are completely safe.

There’s even a recent trend of marinating the peels in soy sauce and spices to create vegan bacon.

It may sound strange, but if it lowers your grocery bill and increases your fiber intake, it’s worth a try.

8. Some fruits ripen quickly

Bananas release ethylene gas, a natural plant hormone that causes ripening. If you have a firm avocado or green tomato that you need to use for dinner, don’t leave it out on the counter to ripen.

Instead, put the unripe fruit in a paper bag with a ripe banana (or just the peels). The trapped ethylene gas will speed up the ripening process.

9. Fill the leaves of the houseplant

Dusty houseplants cannot photosynthesize efficiently, and look neglected. Instead of using a chemical leaf shine spray, which can clog the plant’s stomata, use the inside of a banana peel.

Gently wipe off the leaves of your fiddle leaf fig or rubber plant. The texture removes dust, and the oil leaves a healthy, natural gloss without harming the plant. It’s one of the many ways food can double as a cleaning product.