Using Banana Peel as an Ingredient Leads to Something Truly Amazing

Each time you peel a banana and discard the skin, you’re wasting a delicious and nutritious snack. A recent study revealed that if banana peels are blanched, dried, and ground into flour, they can be used to make baked goods that are just as tasty, if not tastier, than those made with wheat.

Unless you’re a regular reader of vegan cooking blogs or a fan of Nigella Lawson, you probably haven’t thought about cooking with banana peels. However, not only is it safe, but scientists have shown it’s also beneficial for your health.

In taste tests, consumers found the flavors of banana peel-enhanced baked goods just as satisfying as those of traditional sugar cookies.

A Powerful Source of Minerals and Cancer-Fighting Nutrients

Moreover, banana peels add a substantial boost of minerals and cancer-fighting nutrients. For example, sugar cookies enriched with banana peel flour in the study had significantly higher levels of fiber, magnesium, potassium, and antioxidants.

On the downside, using too much banana peel flour resulted in cookies that were somewhat brown and hard, likely due to the extra fiber. However, batches made with flour containing 7.5 percent banana peel achieved a much more desirable texture.

Additionally, the products had a good shelf life, staying fresh for three months at room temperature.

Potential Benefits of Banana Peel Flour in Various Baked Goods

While this study focused on cookies, the results suggest that banana peel flour could be beneficial in other baked goods like bread, cakes, and pasta. For instance, a study last year found that using banana peel in cake provided a natural yellow color and a nutritional boost.

Not a fan of baking? Nigella Lawson has incorporated banana peels into curry, and vegan bloggers have recently brought attention to banana peel bacon and pulled peel ‘pork’.

Eating the skin of this fruit isn’t just healthy; it also helps reduce food waste. Approximately 40 percent of a banana’s weight is in its peel, and this nutrient-rich part is often discarded.

While raw banana peels may seem unappealing, they can taste quite good when prepared properly. Additionally, they may help extend the shelf life of certain products due to their antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.

This concept applies to other fruit peels as well. For example, mango skin has been shown to enhance a cake’s antioxidant content and improve its flavor.

So, the next time you peel a banana, consider keeping the skin. Your body might thank you later.

Read the original article on Science Alert

Read more: From Fruit Waste To Water-purifying Material