Can you repurpose pulp from juicer stock?

Introduction

Making fresh juice at home is a great way to get more fruits and vegetables into your diet. However, it also produces a large amount of pulp as a byproduct. While some juicers incorporate pulp back into the juice, most separate it out into a separate container. This leaves many home juicers wondering – what can you do with all that pulp? Luckily, there are many creative ways to use up juicer pulp rather than sending it straight to the compost bin.

What is Juicer Pulp?

Juicer pulp is simply the fibrous material left over after juicing fruits, vegetables, leafy greens, and herbs. It contains the skins, seeds, stems, and other fibrous parts that are separated from the liquid juice during the juicing process. The amount and texture of pulp will vary based on the type of produce used. For example, citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruit will generate a wetter pulp, while pulp from carrots, beets, and celery will be much drier.

Nutritional Value

While juicer pulp lacks the liquid nutrients found in juice, it still contains valuable fiber and micronutrients. Based on a study published in the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, pulp retains around 40-50% of the antioxidants, vitamin C, and carotenoids from the original produce.¹ The main nutrients found in juicer pulp include:

• Dietary fiber
• Antioxidants like vitamin C, polyphenols, carotenoids
• Small amounts of micronutrients like potassium, magnesium, and calcium
• Trace amounts of plant-based protein

Therefore, you shouldn’t let those nutrients go to waste by composting all the pulp. Keep reading to learn creative ways to repurpose juicer pulp into nutritious foods and drinks.

Tips for Collecting and Storing Pulp

Proper storage is key to taking advantage of juicer pulp. Here are some tips:

• Line the pulp container or bowl with a perforated plastic bag to make pulp removal easier.
• Transfer pulp to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
• Freeze pulp inportioned zip-top bags for longer storage. It will keep for 6-8 months.
• Press or squeeze out excess moisture from wet pulp to extend storage time.

Recipes for Using Juicer Pulp

From smoothies to baked goods, there are endless ways to reuse juicer pulp in place of other fiber-rich ingredients. Here are some of the most popular recipes:

Smoothies

Adding a handful of juicer pulp to your morning smoothie is an easy way to sneak in extra fiber and nutrients. Apple, pear, and citrus pulp provide additional sweetness, while greens and veggies boost nutrition.

Muffins and Bread

For baking, substitute in about 1 cup of dried pulp for an equal amount of flour. Apple, pear, and carrot pulp work especially well in muffins, quick breads, and banana bread.

Energy or Protein Bars

Mix dried pulp with sticky binders like nut butter, honey, eggs, or mashed banana to create chewy bars. Fold in nuts, seeds, oats, coconut, or chocolate chips for extra flavor and texture.

Pancakes and Waffles

For a fiber boost in the morning, add up to 1 cup of fresh or dried pulp to your favorite pancake or waffle batter. Apple, pear, and carrot pulp make great additions.

Oatmeal

Stir fresh, moist pulp right into your morning oatmeal along with milk, yogurt, or applesauce to amp up the fiber content. Citrus, apple, and pear pulp work nicely.

Granola

Mix pulp into your regular granola recipe for an added dose of fiber and nutrients. Bake the granola with the pulp as you normally would.

Energy Bites

Bind together dried pulp, oats, nut butter, and any other add-ins to make portable, high-fiber energy bites. Roll into balls and coat in coconut, chocolate chips, etc.

Veggie Burgers

For a vegetarian/vegan burger, combine dried veggie pulp with cooked beans, grains, eggs, or other binders. Form into patties and bake or sauté until crispy.

Dehydrated Pulp Chips

Spread fresh pulp thinly onto a baking sheet and dehydrate in an oven or dehydrator until crispy. Season the dried chips with spices to make a healthy snack.

Compost

When in doubt, put that pulp to use in your compost bin or garden soil! Fruit and vegetable pulp makes a great addition to boost nutrition for plants.

Savory Juicer Pulp Recipes

While fruit pulp is often favored for sweets, you can also get creative with repurposing veggie and herb pulp into savory dishes like:

Pulp Crackers

Make your own homemade crackers by mixing dried veggie/herb pulp with flax eggs, spices, and any other savory additions. Roll out thin and cut into crackers.

Falafel

Add dried pulp to your falafel mix along with chickpeas and seasoning. Form into patties and bake or fry. The pulp helps hold the falafel together.

Veggie Scramble

Throw fresh veggie pulp right into your morning scrambled eggs for extra fiber and nutrition. Potatoes, peppers, and spinach work great.

Meatballs or Meatloaf

For a lighter, healthier version, substitute dried veggie pulp for half the meat. Season and bake as usual for fiber-rich meatballs or meatloaf.

Broth or Stock

Simmer veggie scraps and pulp with water to extract flavor and nutrients. Strain and use as a simple vegetable broth or stock.

Soups and Chili

Puree fresh or thawed frozen veggie pulp and add it straight to soups and chilis as a thickening agent. It also amps up the fiber content.

Casseroles

Stir dried veggie pulp right into casserole dishes like lasagna, mac and cheese, or pot pies to add extra vegetable nutrition.

Compost

As mentioned above, veggie and herb pulp also make excellent additions to your compost pile to feed beneficial microbes.

Tips for Cooking with Pulp

Here are a few handy tips for incorporating juicer pulp into recipes:

• If using fresh pulp, make sure to account for any extra moisture in the recipe.
• Dried pulp has a long shelf life but requires soaking in water before using in recipes.
• Play around with pulp combinations. Most veggies and fruits complement each other nicely.
• Smoothies and baked goods allow you to hide pulp easily.
• Start by substituting just 1/4 to 1/2 cup pulp to test taste and texture.
• To dry pulp quickly, spread on a baking sheet and bake at 170°F for 1-2 hrs, mixing occasionally.

Is Juicer Pulp Safe for All Diets?

Most pulp is safe for many diets, but evaluate any ingredients you are sensitive or allergic to:

Diet	Pulp Precautions
Gluten-free	Avoid pulp from wheatgrass, barley grass, and gluten grains.
Nut-free	Do not use pulp from almond milk or other nut milks.
Soy-free	Avoid pulp from soy milk or soy-based ingredients.
Low-FODMAP	Onion, garlic, apple, and mango pulp may be high in FODMAPs.
Low-potassium	Higher-potassium produce may increase potassium levels.

When in doubt, check the ingredients that went into the juice to evaluate possible allergens or dietary restrictions.

Should You Incorporate Pulp into Juice?

This depends on your personal preference:

• Pros: Adds fiber and nutrients, provides thicker texture
• Cons: Mutes flavor, changes mouthfeel, harder to drink

Some juicers like masticating and twin gear models allow you to blend the pulp back into juice. For centrifugal models, you can stir some pulp back into finished juice until reaching desired consistency.

When making juice for kids or those sensitive to texture, filtering out pulp can make drinking easier. But for most adults, incorporating at least some pulp boosts the overall nutritional value.

Conclusion

Don’t let all that juicer pulp go to waste! With a little creativity, you can transform fiber-rich pulp into delicious smoothies, baked goods, snacks, and more. Repurposing pulp stretches your grocery dollars while also reducing food waste. Proper storage keeps pulp fresh for using in recipes. Even if you can’t use it all, pulp makes a great contribution to gardens and compost.

So next time you finish whipping up some fresh juice, take a moment to consider how that pulp might be put to use. Your body and the planet will thank you!