Here's a jaw-dropping stat: It's estimated that a family of four wastes around $1600 per year on unused produce. After spending all that time choosing fruit with painstaking care at the grocery store or farmers' market, there's no reason to ever let even one piece go to waste. Why? Because fruit that's softening or on the verge of rotting is not a lost cause. In fact, it's in the perfect state for some unexpected deliciousness. We're here with 15 ideas that will convince you to never throw out rotting fruit again.
1. Nuke ‘em.
The fastest way to use fruits that are about to go bad is to cut them up into a glass bowl, add cinnamon and microwave. "Two bananas and three pears take about five minutes in the microwave—and will taste like the inside of a pie and smell delicious," says dietitian Millie Shedorick. "You can also core and put a whole apple with cinnamon and a splash of water in the microwave for baked apples."2. Cube it.
Want to make your fruit last and last? "Throw it in a blender or juicer, and freeze in ice cube trays or in small plastic storage bags," says dietitan Roseanne Rust. "These 'fruit cubes' can then be used for cocktails, smoothies, mixed into porridge or to flavour sparkling water." Feel free to blend up fruits individually, or mix several types together for a "fruit punch cube."
3. Tenderise meat.
Extra ripe, green kiwifruit is excellent for tenderising meats and can add a lovely tang to your grilled meats. "Kiwifruit contains a natural enzyme called actinidin that helps break down protein, and can cut your marinade time in half," says dietitian Rebecca Scritchfield. Make your own marinade with two mashed green kiwis, two tablespoons olive oil, one teaspoon apple cider vinegar and a dash of salt and pepper.
4. Make pancakes.
Give your pancakes a burst of fruity flavour by mixing in bananas or berries in place of added sugar. Then go easy on the maple syrup.
5. Get your chocolate fix.
Don’t waste that avocado—use it to make a chocolate dip instead. Mash and mix it with a (melted) bar of dark chocolate and, voila! You have a sweet and nutritious chocolate spread. "Make it even healthier by drizzling it on top of a grapefruit or dipping fruit segments in it," suggests dietitian Tracy Lockwood. "It's a treat packed with vitamin E and K!"
6. Bake bread.
Yes, making banana bread when the yellow peels start to turn brown is practically common knowledge, but did you know you can do the same thing with peaches, mangoes, kiwis and other fruit? "You can even blend the overripe fruits into a compote and use the same trusty banana bread recipes you know and love—but with a new, flavourful twist," says personal trainer and nutritionist Amanda L. Dale.
7. Make better-for-you brownies.
Overripe fruit can be a stand-in for oil and eggs in recipes like brownies and muffins. "It will add a bit more sweetness and density," says Dale. "But, it provides the nutrient value and unique taste you'll love."
8. Prep “sun” dried tomatoes.
When your tomatoes start to get wrinkly in the fridge, transfer them to a baking tray and heat on low for about 12 hours to turn them into oil-free "sun-dried" tomatoes. "Store in an airtight container and sprinkle on salads and tuck into sandwiches for up to a month," says Dale.
9. Mix a marinade.
You may not think of fruit and meat together, but when it's overripe, the syrupy sweetness can actually reduce well into a marinade. "Use it whenever the recipe calls for jam or compote,” suggests dietitian Natalie Rizzo. Grapes, pineapple and kiwi work especially well. For a last-minute marinade, combine two mashed kiwis, two tablespoons olive oil, one teaspoon apple cider vinegar and a dash of salt and pepper.
10. Jazz up a salad.
Leftover cut-up fruit, such as melons, pineapple or berries, can be tossed atop a salad, giving it a burst of colour and flavour. Before that produce goes bad, you'll get the benefits of its fibre in your last-minute lunch.
11. Roast ‘em.
If you have a pear that's gone soft or grapes that are a bit wrinkly, throw them in the oven. "Roasting fruit brings out its natural sweetness and is a great addition to a savoury grain bowl," says Rizzo. "Mix roasted pears with a heartier crunchier veggie like Brussels sprouts and you will have a sweet and savoury dish."
12. Stir up a cocktail.
Say cheers to those overripe fruits! Dietitian Rebecca Lewis says to puree them and then strain the juice to give your cocktails a punch of flavour. “Citrus peels can be infused into both vinegars and/or alcohol for some sweetness, too,” she says.
13. Beat into eggs.
When your bananas become brown and really aromatic, dietitian Danielle Cushing recommends mashing them up and scrambling them into eggs or egg whites for some extra texture and flavour in your omelet.
14. Make a batch of cookies.
When bananas are on their way out, they actually taste the sweetest—and they become perfect for these Choc chip, banana and oat mini muffins.
15. Blend a smoothie.
"I use berries that are going bad in smoothies," says Rizzo. "Since the texture of the fruit doesn't matter in a smoothie and ripe fruit is usually very sweet, it's perfect for smoothies.
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