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What can you do with pulp from juicer?

Introduction

If you own a juicer, you know that it separates the juice from the pulp of fruits and vegetables. While you drink the nutritious juice, you’re often left with piles of wet pulp. Before you throw it in the trash, know that there are many uses for juicer pulp. With a little creativity, you can reduce waste and get extra mileage from your produce.

Uses for Juicer Pulp

Here are some of the top ways to use up juicer pulp:

Baking

One of the most common uses for juicer pulp is in baking. The pulp adds moisture and natural sweetness to muffins, breads, pancakes and more. For example, you can add carrot pulp to muffins or zucchini pulp to zucchini bread. Be sure to squeeze out any excess liquid from the pulp before adding it to batters.

Broths & Stocks

Veggie pulp adds color, nutrients and flavor when added to broths and stocks. Put pulp in a mesh bag or cheesecloth and simmer in your broth for 30-60 minutes. Vegetable and fruit skins will infuse the liquid with extra flavor.

Compost

Composting is an easy, no-waste option for using up pulp. Fruit and vegetable pulp contains nutrients that are excellent for compost. The pulp also provides moisture and organic materials. Simply mix pulp into your existing compost pile or system.

Frozen for Later

If you can’t use up pulp right away, freeze it for later. Spread the pulp out on a sheet pan and freeze. Once frozen, transfer to freezer bags. Then pull out and thaw pulp whenever you want to use it. Frozen pulp is great for smoothies, baking and more.

Fruit Leathers & Energy Bars

Pulp purees make great bases for homemade fruit leathers and energy bars. Blend or process the pulp until smooth. Spread on dehydrator sheets for fruit leathers. Or mix with oats, nuts and honey for bars.

Add to Smoothies

For extra nutrition and thickness, add juicer pulp to your smoothies. The pulp provides fiber that is lost when you only drink the juice. A tablespoon or two of pulp will make smoothies more filling.

Soup Thickeners

Juicer pulp is an ideal natural thickener for soups, gravies and stews. Blend or process the pulp and mix it into simmering liquid. Start with a small amount, adding more until you achieve the desired consistency.

Vegetable Scrambles & Fritters

For a delicious veggie dish, sauté pulp with eggs or make into fritters. Add spices and herbs to scrambled pulp or bind with eggs and flour for fritters. Zucchini, carrot and beet pulp work especially well.

Livestock & Pet Food

Both livestock and household pets enjoy juicer pulp as part of their diet. Pulp provides nutrients, fiber and moisture. You can mix small amounts into their regular food. For larger livestock, pulp can be composted and used as part of bedding material.

Garden Fertilizer

In the garden, juicer pulp makes an excellent fertilizer for plants. The pulp is rich in nutrients that plants thrive on. Work pulp into the soil around plants. Or make ‘juice pulp tea’ by soaking pulp in water and using the liquid to water plants.

Tips for Using Up Juicer Pulp

To make the most of your juicer pulp, keep these handy tips in mind:

  • – Store pulp in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days until you’re ready to use.
  • – Freeze pulp in portioned bags or containers to pull out as needed.
  • – Dehydrate pulp and process into a powder to add to smoothies, baked goods etc.
  • – Mix pulp into ground meat for extra moisture and nutrition.
  • – Add beet pulp to chocolate cakes, muffins or brownies for color and nutrition.
  • – Excess pulp can be bagged up and given to farmer’s markets or urban farms for compost.

Nutrition in Juicer Pulp

Juice pulp contains valuable fiber, vitamins, minerals and plant compounds. Here is a comparison of the nutrition you get in juicer pulp vs. juice:

Fiber

Food Total Fiber
1 Cup Carrot Juice 0.6 grams
Pulp from 1 Cup Carrot Juice 3.8 grams

Juice pulp contains significantly more fiber than the filtered juice. Fiber supports digestive health, balances blood sugar and lowers cholesterol.

Vitamins & Minerals

Nutrient 1 Cup Carrot Juice Pulp from 1 Cup Carrot Juice
Vitamin C 10% DV 16% DV
Vitamin K 5% DV 28% DV
Potassium 12% DV 15% DV
Magnesium 3% DV 5% DV

Pulp contains more vitamin K, magnesium and additional vitamins and minerals compared to filtered juice.

Plant Compounds

The skin and seeds of fruits and vegetables contain protective plant compounds. For example, carrot pulp provides carotenoid antioxidants like beta carotene. Apple peel contains the flavonoid quercetin. These plant compounds give pulp added health benefits.

Possible Drawbacks of Juicer Pulp

While using up juicer pulp has many benefits, there are a couple drawbacks to note:

Short Shelf Life

Fresh pulp needs to be used within 2-3 days. Otherwise it will start to ferment and spoil. Make sure to use pulp soon after making juice.

Extra Calories

Pulp contains extra fiber and plant nutrition compared to juice alone. But it also means extra calories if you consume a lot of pulp. Those watching their calorie intake may want to limit added pulp.

Flavor and Texture

Some people dislike the flavor and fibrous texture of produce pulp. You may want to blend or process it smooth before adding to recipes. Start with small amounts mixed into foods to adjust to the extra fiber.

Conclusion

With a little creativity, juicer pulp can be used in many nutritious ways instead of being wasted. Add it to baked goods, smoothies, soups and more. Or use for compost, pet food or give back to farmers. Consider the extra fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants an added bonus from your juicing habit. With these pulp uses and recipes, you can get the most out of your fresh produce.