Bananas are one of the most popular fruits around the world. They are tasty, nutritious, and convenient to eat. Many people enjoy drinking banana juice as a refreshing and healthy beverage. But when making banana juice at home, a question arises – should you put the banana peel in the juicer or not? In this article, we will examine if banana peels can be juiced and whether they should be included when making banana juice.
Can You Juice Banana Peels?
The short answer is yes, you can juice banana peels. While banana peels are not as soft or pulpy as the interior fruit, most juicers are powerful enough to extract liquid from the tougher peel. However, the resulting juice will be quite different from typical banana juice.
Banana peels contain significantly more fiber than the interior fruit. As a result, juice containing banana peels will be much thicker and pulpier. The flavor will also be quite strong and bitter compared to the sweetness of banana flesh juice. So while it is technically possible to juice banana peels, the juice will have a very different nutritional profile and taste.
Nutrients in Banana Peels
Banana peels contain a wide array of vitamins, minerals, and plant compounds. Here are some of the top nutrients found in banana peels:
- Dietary fiber – Banana peels contain even more fiber than the interior fruit. Juicing peels provides a major fiber boost.
- Vitamin B6 – Banana peels contain vitamin B6, which supports nerve and immune health.
- Vitamin C – Peels provide vitamin C, an antioxidant that promotes collagen production.
- Magnesium – Peels are high in magnesium, which aids bone and muscle health.
- Manganese – This essential mineral supports metabolism and brain function.
- Polyphenols – Banana peels contain polyphenols and other antioxidants that may help prevent disease.
In some parts of the world, banana peels are cooked and eaten as a vegetable due to their dense nutrition. Juicing peels can help extract many of these nutrients into an easy-to-consume beverage.
Potential Benefits of Juicing Banana Peels
There are some potential upsides to including banana peels when making fresh juice:
- More fiber – Juicing just the banana flesh eliminates most of the fruit’s fiber. Adding peels to your juice significantly boosts the fiber content.
- Added nutrition – With all their vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, peels can provide a nutritional boost.
- Reduced waste – Juicing peels makes use of what would normally be discarded.
- Lower glycemic index – The extra fiber from the peels may help reduce the juice’s effect on blood sugar levels.
For those looking to increase fiber intake or reduce food waste, juicing banana peels along with the fruit can be beneficial.
Downsides to Juicing Banana Peels
However, there are also some drawbacks to consider when juicing banana peels:
- Unpleasant flavor – Banana peel juice will have a much more bitter, astringent taste compared to flesh-only juice.
- Mouthfeel – The juice will be much pulpy and fibrous, which some find unappealing.
- Digestive issues – Too much banana peel fiber can cause bloating, gas, and constipation in some people.
- Pesticide residue – Peels may harbor higher pesticide residue compared to the fruit interior.
- Juicer wear – Peels may wear down juicer parts faster due to their toughness.
People who dislike strong flavors or pulp and those with sensitive digestive systems may want to avoid juicing banana peels.
How to Juice Banana Peels
If you want to give banana peel juicing a try, here are some tips:
- Start with ripe, yellow bananas. Greener peels are even tougher to juice.
- Scrub peels thoroughly to remove dirt, chemicals, etc. Consider using organic.
- Cut peels into smaller pieces to make juicing easier.
- Use a powerful juicer – centrifugal or twin gear juicers work best.
- Mix with sweeter juice like oranges or apples to mellow the flavor.
- Start with a small portion of peel compared to the fruit flesh.
- Drink immediately – banana peel juice oxidizes quickly.
Always monitor how your body reacts when trying banana peel juice for the first time. Adjust peel-to-flesh ratios if needed.
What Kind of Juicer Works Best?
Due to their tough, fibrous texture, banana peels require a more powerful juicer to effectively break down and extract liquid. Here are suitable juicer options:
| Juicer Type | Why It Works |
|---|---|
| Centrifugal juicers | Very fast spinning blades pulverize peels. |
| Masticating juicers | Slow crushing and grinding can process peels. |
| Twin gear juicers | Dual gears are powerful for hard fruits/veg. |
In general, look for a juicer with metal parts, at least 1 HP motor, and wide feeding chute. Avoid citrus press juicers without spinning mechanisms.
Recipes with Banana Peel Juice
Here are a few recipe ideas for using banana peel juice:
- Green Monkey Juice – Banana flesh and peel juice with kale, spinach, coconut water, ginger, and lime.
- Wake Up Smoothie – blended banana peel juice with peanut butter, oats, honey, and almond milk.
- Banana Boost Juice – carrot, banana flesh and peel, orange, and beet juice blend.
- Tropical Colada – banana peel juice, pineapple, coconut water, ice, and lime juice.
When creating your own recipes, start with just a small portion of banana peel to test the flavor strength. Mix with sweeter ingredients to balance the bitterness.
Should You Juice Banana Peels?
Whether you want to juice banana peels comes down to personal preference. If you are looking to reduce food waste, increase fiber intake, or don’t mind strong flavors, including peels can provide nutrition. However, many people find the taste and texture off-putting. Start slowly and find banana peel-to-flesh ratios that work for you.
Banana peels are completely edible and make a interesting addition to fresh juices. With a powerful juicer and carefully crafted recipes, banana peel juice can be an intriguing way to reduce waste and add extra nutrients to your diet.
Conclusion
Banana peels can be juiced, but will produce a much different flavored and textured juice compared to banana flesh alone. Peels contain a range of vitamins, minerals, and fiber, but also have a very bitter taste. While juicing peels reduces waste and adds nutrition, some find the strong flavor unpalatable. Using a centrifugal or masticating juicer and mixing with sweet ingredients can improve the taste. People should begin slowly when adding banana peels to juices and monitor any digestive issues. Overall, juicing banana peels is an option for the adventurous juicer looking to reduce waste and boost nutrition.
