What to do with scraps after juicing?

Introduction

Juicing fruits and vegetables is a great way to get an extra boost of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants into your diet. However, it also results in a pile of pulp, peels, and other food scraps. While some people simply throw these leftovers into the compost or garbage, there are actually many uses for juicing scraps that allow you to reduce waste and get even more out of your produce. In this article, we’ll explore the top ideas for repurposing the solid parts left over after making homemade juices and smoothies.

Compost the Scraps

Composting is one of the easiest and most eco-friendly ways to make use of juicing leftovers. Fruit and vegetable scraps are excellent “green” materials that can help balance out the carbon-rich “brown” materials like dried leaves and twigs in your compost bin.

Certain juicing scraps break down quickly, providing nitrogen and moisture to help your compost along. Citrus peels, carrot and beet pulp, and apple cores will all compost rapidly. Composting transforms food waste into nourishing compost that can be added back to soil in gardens.

Here are some tips for composting juicing scraps:

• Chop or shred large pieces like melon rinds to help them decompose faster
• Mix in dry brown materials like fallen leaves or sawdust to provide carbon
• Bury fruit and vegetable scraps under existing compost to discourage pests
• Stir and aerate the compost pile weekly to speed up the process

With proper conditions and maintenance, composting juicing leftovers can produce finished compost in as little as 2-3 months.

Make Vegetable Broth

Simmering vegetable scraps makes a flavorful, mineral-rich broth perfect for soups, grains, and more. Broths extract nutrients like magnesium, potassium, iron, and zinc from the peels, stems, and leaves of vegetables.

To make veggie broth, place juicing scraps like carrot tops, onion skins, garlic ends, and herb stems into a pot. Add water, vinegar, and seasonings of your choice. Simmer for 1-2 hours, then strain out the solids. Refrigerate the broth for up to a week or freeze for several months.

Some good vegetables and aromatics to use include:

• Carrot tops and ends
• Onion skins and ends
• Garlic skins and ends
• Celery leaves and ends
• Herb stems like parsley and cilantro
• Pepper cores and seeds
• Tomato skins and cores

This is a “scrap” broth, so the vegetables don’t have to bepicture perfect. Reusing leftovers reduces waste and results in an earthy, nourishing broth.

Make Juice Pulp Snacks

The pulp leftover after juicing still contains plenty of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. This slightly drier pulp can be put to use in a number of recipes.

Some ideas for reusing fruit and vegetable pulp include:

• Energy bars or balls – Mix pulp with nuts, oats, honey or other binders. Form into bars or balls and dehydrate if desired.
• Pulp crackers – Mix pulp with almond flour, herbs and oil. Spread on a baking sheet and bake into crunchy crackers.
• Breakfast “porridge” – Cook the pulp with milk or non-dairy milk plus spices like cinnamon until thickened.
• Fruit leather – Spread pulp puree on a baking sheet. Dry into a chewy fruit leather.
• Smoothies – Blend some leftover pulp back into your next smoothie for extra fiber.

Getting creative with the scraps can reduce food waste while adding nutrition and fiber to your diet.

Feed Animals

Chickens, pigs, and other livestock gobble up vegetable and fruit scraps greedily. This mutually beneficial practice redirects food waste as animal feed instead of overburdening landfills.

Fruit and veggie trimmings provide essential nutrients, minerals, and hydration to farm animals. Chickens will enjoy corn cobs, melon rinds, pea pods, and leafy greens. Pigs relish vegetable peelings and food prep rejects like bruised apples. Even juicy citrus peels offer animals fiber and vitamin C.

Be sure to check for any ingredients toxic to the animals before feeding them scraps. For example, onions, avocados, and chocolate are poisonous hazards for chickens. Monitor your animals and remove any uneaten scraps so they don’t rot and attract pests. Feeding juicing leftovers is a great way to supplement feed costs and reduce waste via livestock.

Make DIY Cleaning Products

Citrus peels, apple cores, and other juicing leftovers can be transformed into non-toxic cleaners for the home. Reusing scraps helps cut down on plastic waste from cleaning product bottles as well.

To make a citrus-scented all-purpose cleaner, simmer lemon, lime, orange or grapefruit rinds in water. Once cooled, transfer the citrusy water to a spray bottle. The acidity in the citrus will help disinfect surfaces.

Used lemon halves work great as eco-friendly scouring scrubs. Rub cut sides of lemons onto sinks, counters, or appliances to remove grime and polish surfaces. The acidic lemon juice cuts through grease and brightens materials.

For smelly garbage disposals or drains, grind up citrus peels, fruit pulp, or vegetable scraps to freshen up pipes and dislodge odors. This natural deodorizer beats harmful chemical drain cleaners.

Give peels and other leftovers new life fighting grime around your home. Small amounts of juicing scraps can make plenty of cleaning product.

Make Beauty Products

That pulverized pulp and citrus peels also have uses for beauty and self-care. Reusing scraps creates wallet-friendly and natural skin care products.

Hydrating face or body scrubs come together quickly using juicing leftovers. Mix grated citrus peel, soft fruit pulp or soft vegetable ends with a binder like honey, plain yogurt or oil. Gently scrub skin to provide natural exfoliation and sweet aromas.

You can also infuse peel, fruit scraps or herb bits into oils or hair products. Citrus peels infuse wonderfully into olive or coconut oil for an ultra-moisturizing salve. Soften tough heels or give yourself an at-home facial using the oil. Steep herb stems, black tea bags, and fruit peels in apple cider vinegar for a nourishing hair rinse.

Juice pulp wraps soothe dry skin as well. Apply a paste of slightly damp pulp directly to the face or body and allow it to work before rinsing off. The natural enzymes and acids gently loosen dead skin cells and rejuvenate.

Don’t let those leftovers go to waste when they could become a pampering face scrub or infused oil for your skin and hair care routine.

Conclusion

While it may seem juicing leaves you stuck with a pile of scraps destined for the garbage, there are actually many uses for the byproducts. Clever repurposing of fruit and vegetable leftovers allows you to reduce waste, save money, and make the most of your fresh produce. From composting peels to transforming pulp into energy bites to crafting DIY cleaners, the possibilities are truly endless. Next time you unplug the juicer or blender, take a moment to consider how you can give the remains new life. Your scraps will thank you.

Juicing Leftover	Creative Uses
Fruit and vegetable peels, pulp, and trimmings	Compost, vegetable broth, juice pulp snacks
Citrus peels	DIY cleaners, infused oils
Herb stems	Seasoning for broths, infused vinegars
Wilted leafy greens	Chicken or rabbit feed
Overripe or bruised fruit	Smoothies, fruit leather