Fruits and vegetables generally put on an almost dizzying show of versatility. Most can be boiled, sautéed, roasted or simply bitten into raw (although, we’d advise against taking after a certain former prime minister who thought biting into a raw onion was a good idea). But it’s when we extend the use of fruits and vegetables beyond the realm of the edible that things really start to get creative, and the full wonder of the earth’s natural gifts is put on display.
Here, we delve into the some of the strange ways to use fruits and vegetables outside of the kitchen. Be warned – you may never look at potatoes the same way again.
1. Use carrots to make vodka
Posed with the question of what to do with leftover carrots that weren’t good enough for the supermarkets, Queensland farmers Alice Gorman and Gen Windley did what any good, waste-averse Australian would do: they turned them into alcohol.
And so began the story of carrot vodka, a new spirit that might just qualify as a vegetable intake – there’s more than 20 per cent carrot in each bottle.
What do you make with carrot vodka, you ask? Carrot Bloody Marys, obviously.
2. Use bananas to make vinegar
Banana peels can have an exciting after life, provided they’re put to use rather than thrown in the compost. Quite aside from polishing shoes and shining the leaves of house plants, banana peels can be repurposed into vinegar. Banana vinegar is sweet, sour and bitter all at once, and can be used as a topping for salads, to flavor water or tea, or in any other recipe that calls for vinegar. It’s even been associated with weight loss.
3. Use potato peels as hair dye
Looking for that potato-coloured sheen that they just don’t bottle anymore? If in doubt, go straight to the source! Potato peels are a natural alternative to box dye for anyone wanting a change – the starch works to darken hair over time. Simply boil 5-6 large potato peels, salvage the cooking water and work it through your hair after a normal shampoo cycle. For best results, throw the peels in the oven while you’re in the shower for a post shampoo snack. Click here for a recipe.
4. Use potatoes as rust removers
What CAN’T potatoes do? Even the deepest-set rust on the bottom of that time worn saucepan is no match for half a raw potato caked with an abrasive substance like baking soda or salt. Just try it. Trust us.
5. Use lemons as chrome/stainless steel polishers
We’ve all heard the lemon-as-hair-brightener hack, courtesy of our mums, but lemons work well as chrome brighteners too. Simply juice half a lemon (you know what to do with the juice) and rub the juiced peel over chrome faucets, pots and pans, or anything else around the house that needs a good shine.
6. Use orange peel as teeth whitener
Everyone knows that orange juice and toothpaste don’t mix, so it’s a surprise to discover that orange peels and teeth are a match made in heaven. Orange peels contain a natural ingredient called d-limonene that works as a solvent to reduce stains on teeth – and they’re a lot easier to come by than expensive whitening solutions peddled by dentists and doctors. You can rub orange peels gently over the teeth, or you can use dried orange peels and dried bay leaves to create a powder.
A 2010 study conducted by The American Journal of Dentistry revealed that d-limonene was effective in reducing stains left on teeth enamel from smoking, so we know this isn’t an old wives tale. However, dentists warn against the dangers of too much citric acid – orange juice can break down teeth enamel, so proceed with caution.
7. Use peach skin as a facial exfoliator
This one’s almost a no brainer – peaches are packed with vitamin C, a proven antioxidant that works wonders on skin tone and shields the skin from harmful pollutants. Plus, the fuzz of peach skin acts as a natural exfoliant. No need for nasty microbeads here!
There are countless recipes online for using peaches and peach skin to make cleansers or exfoliators; mix peach with honey, yogurt, egg white, and even pineapple for a DIY facial.
8. Use pomegranate rinds as clothing dye
Pomegranates are high tannin fruits, which make them perfect for dying carpets and clothes – particularly those derived from natural fibers like cotton, wool or silk. If the pomegranate is ripe and used without a mordant (a substance that combines with dye to fix it in material, like salt, the resulting colours will be pale yellows. Adding a mordant creates golden hues, while adding in iron will give you mossy greens, greys and blacks. Find a recipe for pomegranate clothes dye here.
9. Cabbage leaves to relieve bodily pain and swelling
Who needs ice packs when there’s a head of cabbage lying around? Quite aside from cabbage’s irrefutable importance as coleslaw’s base ingredient, its leaves are said to contain powerful anti-inflammatory compounds and act as a diuretic. This technique is proving popular with many online bloggers (exhibit A) even though it isn't yet touted as scientific.
10. Use rhubarb leaves as insecticide
While it’s delicious in crumbles and other grandparent-approved desserts, rhubarb is masking a dirty little secret – its leaves, containing oxalic acid, are highly poisonous, and can trigger heart failure in humans if ingested. But what makes rhubarb leaves highly unsuitable as a garnish on grandma’s crumble makes them ideal for use as a natural pesticide. The toxin present in the leaves breaks down quickly, kills unwanted creepy crawlies but doesn’t affect the welcome presence of bees. Follow this recipe to make a rhubarb leaf spray to protect your plants.
11. Use various hollowed out vegetables to make a whole damn orchestra
Need we say more?
Love your fruit and veg? Brand-new Food Safari Earth airs 8pm Thursdays on SBS then on SBS On Demand. For recipes and more visit the program site right here. #FoodSafari
