Cooking Tips: 6 Ways To Repurpose Over-Ripened Fruits (Recipe Ideas Inside)

What happens when you buy that delicious looking shiny apple and forget to eat it on the right day? Fruits go from perfectly delectable to being too soft or just the wrong colour in a blink of an eye. What if we say you don’t need to toss those fruits away! Instead, you can use them to make some yummy recipes at home. Here are some ways to turn your over-ripened fruits into treats that are not just delicious but load you up with nutrients too.

Here’re 6 Ways To Repurpose Over-Ripened Fruits:

1. Bake Cakes:

Most of us love baking; and what better way to unwind during the evening than having a slice of a warm and fluffy fruit cake. Use your over-ripe fruits and make pies, cakes, and bread. After all, an apple pie is not just delectable but also brings with it the goodness of apples! While baking, you can control the ingredients, make your dessert as healthy as possible, and guess what? You don’t need to add extra sugar as fruits are naturally sweet.

Also Read: Love Fruit Cakes? Make This Easy Malai Mango Cake In Just 30 Minutes

2. Make Snacks:

We all love snacking, even better if it is nutritious and yummy. Dehydrated fruits make a great snacking option and do not take up much space in your kitchen rack. If you have fruits like apples, peaches, apricots, grapes and plums, you can dehydrate them in oven and store them for months. De-seed your fruits, slice them, place them on parchment paper in a baking tray and bake for 3-6 hours under 93 Degree Celsius. While baking, be careful about the baking duration each type of fruit requires. For instance, strawberries take up to 2 hours, while apples take about 8.

Also Read: 13 Best Easy Snack Recipes

3. Prepare Jam:

The classic breakfast combination – of toast and jam is loved by many. Instead of opting for a store-bought Jam that may come in with artificial colouring, preservatives, and high sugar content, you can make your jam at home. This jam can last on your shelf for months. To make a jam, add sugar/honey into your chopped fruits and let them cook till you reach the right consistency. Relish some fresh fruit jams on bread, desserts, or even gift a jar full of love to your close ones.

Also Read: Make Sugar-Free, Preservative-Free Jam At Home With The Summer Fruit – Mausambi 

4. Make Smoothies:

If you are someone who lives by the clock and have no spare time at all, smoothies are a great way to kick-start your day. They are quick and easy to make. Further, smoothies keep you full for a long time, thereby helping you curb your munching habits. Blend overripe fruits with nuts, fresh greens, and milk and make your power-packed drink of the day. You can also add a frozen banana for a thicker and creamier smoothie.

5. Fruity Popsicles:

Most of us relish an ice-cold lolly on a hot summer day. Imagine using the fruits in your kitchen to make flavourful popsicles at home? All you have to do is juice your fruits, strain out the solids, add some fruit chunks, pour the mix in moulds and freeze them. A couple of hours later, you have fresh and tasty ice candies ready.

Also Read: History Of Popsicles: The Sweet Accident That Gave Us Our Beloved And Vibrant Treat

6. Fruity Yogurt:

Fruity yogurt is one of the quickest and most delicious ways to combine fruits and yogurt. You can make a healthy yoghurt recipe to enhance your experience by simply adding chopped fruits. To add a crunch, try some nuts and make it much healthier!

Also Read: 5 Ways To Use Greek Yogurt To Make Healthy Swaps In Your Diet

So, what is your pick for repurposing this week’s overripe fruits lying in your fridge?

Author Bio: Shriya Naheta Wadhwa is the founder at Zama Organics.

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