How To Use Overripe Fruit (Stop Food Waste)

Oh, the crushing disappointment of realising those apples in the bowl are a little too far gone: they've lost their crunch, they've taken on a floury constitution, and that bite really didn't do much for sating your apple craving.

We've all been there!

But before you go to throw them into the compost bin, consider these waste-defying options that will turn your overripe fruit into a culinary creation (of the good sort!).

Juices and smoothies.

It doesn't matter what the fruit is, transforming it into a nutritional beverage is a great way to forget about its newly-acquired unappealing texture. In fact, overripe fruit has a much stronger flavour, allowing it to pack more of a punch in a juice or smoothie!

Baking delights.

Overripe bananas scream to be flaunted in a banana loaf; overripe berries are the perfect addition to muffins, and past-their-prime apples and pears are delightful in a fruit crumble, fruit pie, streusel, cake - the list goes on!

Freeze them.

If you've got room (that is, if you've managed to make your way through summer's frozen bounty!), chopping and freezing overripe fruit for a future date when you have more time/ energy/ inspiration is a great option! Frozen fruit are a quick and easy add-in to the aforementioned smoothies and juices too!

No room in the freezer?

No room in the freezer? Never fear! Go old school, combining apples/ pears/ peaches with spices, sugar and vinegar to create your own chutney - a great condiment to serve alongside a BBQ (seeing as we're approaching that season!).

Fruit leather.

Fruit leather is a great lunchbox addition, and is the perfect way to use up overripe fruits: for firm fruits like apples, pears, persimmons, plums, etc. Boil them for 15 minutes, until soft, before puréeing. Berries and bananas can skip straight to the purée step. If you have a dehydrator, fabulous! Load them in and push play! If not, spread on a baking tray and dehydrate in the oven set to a low temperature.

Puréeing.

If dehydrating sounds like too much, puréeing the fruit as above, blending it with coconut cream, pouring it into moulds, popping it in the freezer, waiting, then pulling it out for a delicious real-fruit ice block is a sure way to please the family!