The abundance of tasty, juicy fruits leads us to pick up more than we can possibly consume before they become overripe. It's even worse when you notice spots of mushiness in the fruits that you bought just two days back, isn't it? Did you know that as fruits ripen, their sugar levels increase? So, carve out the very inedible parts of the fruit and then use the remainder to whip up something delectable. Before tossing them away in the bin, stop and see how you can bring the ripened fruit to good use. If this has got you thinking, we have some very interesting ways to use these fruits without letting them go to waste.
1. Toss them in smoothies
Smoothies make for a great standby for using up overripe fruits. If the fruits are a little squishy, but still flavourful, just toss them in a blender and make a nice smoothie. While these fruits may not feel good when you eat them by themselves, adding a little milk and some nuts could definitely perk up the flavour and save you the guilt of throwing away something you bought just a few days back. Bananas, which typically ripe quickly anyway, are a great fruit to use in breakfast smoothies.
Smoothies make for a great standby for using up overripe fruits2. Make a jam
If you are planning to make yourself some jam, overripe fruits are your go-to ingredients You wouldn't need any extra sugar to make your jam sweet, considering these fruits will have all the sweetness you need for your jam. Use fruits like strawberries, peaches, blueberries and even oranges for this purpose and enjoy some homemade jam for breakfas!
3. Bake away
Baking is a great way to use up any overripe fruit; all you need to do is to toss them in cakes, muffins or even teatime cakes. What better than an overripe banana tossed in a bread dough or cake batter? Moreover, you can also use up peaches and strawberries too. So what's all the waiting for? Just bake away!
Baking is a great way to use up any overripe fruit; all you need to do is to toss them in cakes4. Blend them into a mixed fruit juice
Make fresh fruit juices with the help of these ripened fruits is another alternative and you need no extra ingredients to do this! Party at home tonight? Instead of throwing away the overripe fruit in a bid to clean the kitchen, use the fresh juice for your mocktails and cocktails. Do not add any sugar if you or your guests are watching their weight.
5. Prepare yummy sauces for pancakes and sundaes
How about making a chunky sauce for pancakes and sundaes to add that extra flavour? Bet you wouldn't regret it. So, give those syrupy ripe fruits a chop or mash them up for an instant syrup/sauce you would love to add to your desserts.
How about making a chunky sauce for pancakes and sundaes to add that extra flavour?
While you can use them in the above-mentioned ways, you can also benefit by preparing face masks to slough off dead skin cells and help you glow! All you would need to do is to peel them and mash them in the blender and give a good massage to your face and skin before washing it off with tap water.
If the fruits are unrecognizably mushy and have lost their flavour, where you cannot recycle or consume, just turn it into compost. Use this in your kitchen garden or potted plants and reduce wastage! Go ahead and think of creative ways to use these fruits and avoid food wastage as much as possible.