Can you do anything with juice pulp?
Making fresh juice at home can produce a lot of pulp as a byproduct. While some people don’t mind having a pulpy juice, others prefer a smoother texture and strain out the pulp. This leaves many wondering – can you do anything with all that leftover juice pulp?
Introduction
The good news is that juice pulp is highly versatile and there are lots of ways to use it up. Juice pulp is nutritious, flavorful and can add fiber, texture and nutrients to many foods and recipes. Getting creative with leftover pulp cuts down on food waste and allows you to get the most out of your fresh produce.
In this article, we’ll explore all the different things you can do with juice pulp and provide recipes as examples. From adding it to smoothies and baked goods to using it in broths and garden compost, you’ll find plenty of ways to put that pulp to work.
Nutritional Benefits of Juice Pulp
Before getting into the specific uses for juice pulp, let’s look at why it’s worth saving in the first place. Juice pulp contains a lot of fiber, vitamins, minerals and plant compounds.
Fiber is essential for digestive health, heart health, stabilizing blood sugar levels and promoting weight loss. The juicing process extracts the liquid content but leaves behind much of the beneficial fiber. This makes repurposing the leftover pulp important for getting as many nutrients as possible from your fresh produce.
Pulp also contains antioxidants, like vitamin C and polyphenols, as well as small amounts of vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients. The exact nutritional profile will depend on the original vegetable or fruit used.
Overall, juice pulp makes an extremely nutritious addition to many foods. Using it up captures those nutrients for your own benefit rather than sending them down the drain.
Smoothies
One of the easiest ways to use up juice pulp is by adding it to smoothies. The pulp increases the thickness, fiber content and nutrients.
Try mixing in a few tablespoons of juice pulp with your favorite smoothie ingredients like milk or yogurt, frozen fruit and greens. Citrus pulp like orange or grapefruit works particularly well in fruit-based smoothies.
You can also use pulp to create a base for green smoothies. Simply blend up some kale, spinach or other greens with pulp and liquid until smooth. Then add in frozen fruit, milk, nut butter or anything else you like.
Green Juice Pulp Smoothie
This nutrient-dense smoothie uses up leftover pulp from making a green vegetable juice.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup green juice pulp (from juicing kale, spinach, cucumber, celery, etc.)
- 1 frozen banana
- 1 cup milk of choice or water
- 1 tablespoon almond or peanut butter
- 1/2 cup frozen mango chunks
- 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup (optional)
Instructions:
- Combine all ingredients in a blender.
- Blend until smooth and creamy.
- Pour into glasses and enjoy!
Oatmeal and Overnight Oats
Pulp can add nutrition and texture when mixed into oatmeal or overnight oats. Try using about 1/4 cup of pulp per serving.
Stir some pulp into your oats while cooking on the stovetop. For overnight oats, simply mix the pulp into the oat and liquid mixture before refrigerating.
Citrus pulp pairs particularly nicely with oats, adding a bright flavor. Apple or pear pulp also make an excellent addition.
Overnight Oats with Apple Juice Pulp
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup old fashioned oats
- 1/2 cup milk of choice
- 2 tablespoons apple juice pulp
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup
- Pinch of salt
Instructions:
- Combine all ingredients in a container and mix well.
- Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight.
- Enjoy cold or heat briefly in the microwave if desired.
Baked Goods
For a nutritious boost, add juice pulp to muffins, breads, cookies and bars. The pulp increases fiber content and adds beneficial nutrients.
Try substituting out about 1/4 to 1/2 of the flour in a recipe for juice pulp. Citrus pulp, carrot pulp and apple pulp work particularly well in sweet baked goods.
You can also fold some pulp into batters and doughs like muffins, quick breads, scones and cookies. This adds texture, moisture and fresh fruit flavor.
Juice Pulp Banana Bread
This moist banana bread uses up leftover citrus pulp.
Ingredients:
- 1 3/4 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup juice pulp
- 3 very ripe bananas, mashed
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1/3 cup melted butter or oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt.
- In another bowl, mix together the mashed banana, sugar, egg, melted butter and vanilla.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir just until combined. Fold in the juice pulp.
- Pour batter into a greased loaf pan.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Allow to cool completely before slicing.
Broths and Soups
Juice pulp adds flavor and nutrients when included in broths and blended soups. Try using veggie pulp like carrot, celery, onion, beet and tomato.
For broths, simply add a few handfuls of pulp to the pot when simmering vegetable scraps and seasonings. Strain out the solids before using the broth.
With soups, you can blend the pulp directly into the finished soup until smooth. This works well for creamy soups like potato, cauliflower or butternut squash.
Creamy Tomato Soup with Juice Pulp
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 celery stalk, diced
- 4 cups vegetable or chicken broth
- 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
- 1/4 cup tomato juice pulp
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions:
- Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
- Add the onion, garlic and celery. Cook for 5 minutes until softened.
- Add the broth, crushed tomatoes, juice pulp, tomato paste and seasonings.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Carefully transfer the soup to a blender. Blend until smooth and creamy.
- Return the soup to the pot, adjust seasonings and serve hot.
Sauces and Dressings
Pulp can lend flavor, texture, and nutrition to sauces and dressings.
For tomato-based sauces, mix some tomato pulp into simmering sauce recipes. Carrot, beet and bell pepper pulp also work well in pasta or pizza sauces.
With dressings and vinaigrettes, add a spoonful or two of juice pulp and blend or shake until fully incorporated. Citrus and apple pulp make great additions to salad dressings.
Creamy Orange Vinaigrette with Juice Pulp
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons orange juice
- 2 tablespoons orange pulp
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 small garlic clove, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon honey
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Place all ingredients into a jar or container with a tight fitting lid.
- Shake vigorously until well combined and emulsified.
- Alternatively, blend using an immersion blender or countertop blender.
- Taste and adjust seasoning as desired.
- Store refrigerated for up to 1 week.
Compost
Juice pulp can add valuable nutrients to garden and houseplant compost. As it breaks down, the pulp releases minerals and compounds that enrich soil health.
For outdoor compost piles, mix in a few handfuls of pulp along with other yard and food waste. Make sure to bury it under finished compost to deter any pests.
For indoor compost bins, add a spoonful or two of pulp when adding food scraps and dry materials. The pulp provides a healthy dose of carbon and greens.
Juice Pulp Compost Recipe
Here is a simple juice pulp compost recipe for using up a week’s worth of accumulated pulp.
Ingredients | Amount |
---|---|
Juice pulp | 2 cups |
Dry leaves or straw | 1 cup |
Food scraps | 2 cups |
Soil or finished compost | 1 cup |
Water | 1/2 cup |
Instructions:
- Layer the ingredients in a compost bin or outdoor compost pile.
- Mix and stir to incorporate.
- Water lightly until damp but not soaked.
- Allow to compost for several weeks to a few months until fully broken down.
Livestock Feed
Juice pulp can make a nutritious supplement to feeds for chickens, pigs and other livestock. Feed in moderation along with regular feed.
For chickens, mix a handful or two of damp pulp into their feed. Be sure to remove any citrus peels first.
For pigs, you can feed up to a bucket of pulp per day mixed with their regular slop. They’ll love the juicy treat!
Juice Pulp Chicken Feed
Here is a simple recipe for supplementing chicken feed with juice pulp.
Ingredients | Amount |
---|---|
Juice pulp | 2 cups |
Layer feed | 1 lb |
Water | 1/2 cup |
Instructions:
- Remove any citrus peels, rinds or large seeds from the juice pulp.
- Place the pulp in a large bowl and add water. Mix to moisten.
- Add the chicken feed and stir to fully incorporate.
- Feed to chickens immediately or store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Dog Treats
Some types of juice pulp can be turned into tasty, nutritious treats for your dog.
Carrot pulp makes great dehydrated chips your dog will love. Simply spread on dehydrator sheets in a thin layer and dehydrate 4-6 hours.
For a tasty frozen treat, blend together yogurt, peanut butter and fruit pulp like apple, mango or banana. Spoon into an ice cube tray or popsicle molds.
Apple Juice Pulp Dog Treats
Ingredients:
- 2 cups apple juice pulp
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons peanut butter
- 1/4 cup rolled oats
- 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a bowl, mix together the apple pulp, egg, peanut butter, oats and flour until a thick dough forms.
- Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead briefly. Roll dough to 1/4 inch thickness.
- Cut out treats using cookie cutters and place on the baking sheet. Bake 15 minutes.
- Turn treats over and bake 10 minutes more until lightly browned. Allow to cool before serving.
Conclusion
As you can see, juice pulp has a wide range of uses. From mixing into foods to enriching compost for your garden, there are so many ways to use up the leftover pulp from juicing fruits and vegetables.
Getting creative with repurposing juice pulp cuts down on food waste, adds beneficial nutrition to your diet and allows you to get the most out of your fresh produce. Hopefully these recipes and ideas have inspired you to start making use of all that juicing pulp!