The Many Uses of Banana and their Peels

[Guest guest]

Here are many uses for Banana and their Peels.

Banana peels will decompose, as most plant materials will, in a compost

pile. However, decomposition is faster if peels are cut into fine pieces.

Banana peels are also beneficial to rose bushes as a source of potassium and

can be buried directly into the soil around the plants (not more than three

skins per rose bush per week).

 

 

http://www.rd.com/advice-and-know-how/extraordinary-uses-for-bananas/article2374\

8.html

 

Make a face mask

 

Who needs Botox when you have bananas? That's right: You can use a banana as

an all-natural face mask that moisturizes your skin and leaves it looking

and feeling softer. Mash up a medium-sized ripe banana into a smooth paste,

then gently apply it to your face and neck. Let it set for 10-20 minutes,

then rinse it off with cold water. Another popular mask recipe calls for 1/4

cup plain yogurt, 2 tablespoons honey, and 1 medium banana.

 

 

Eat a frozen " banana-sicle "

 

As a summer treat for friends and family, peel and cut four ripe bananas in

half (across the middle). Stick a wooden ice-cream stick into the flat end

of each piece. Place them all on a piece of wax paper, and then put it in

the freezer. A few hours later, serve them up as simply yummy frozen

banana-sicles. If you want to go all-out, quickly dip your frozen bananas in

6 ounces (170 grams) melted butterscotch or chocolate morsels (chopped nuts

or shredded coconut are optional), then refreeze.

 

 

 

Polish silverware and leather shoes

 

It may sound a bit like a lark, but using a banana peel is actually a great

way to put the shine back into your silverware and leather shoes. First,

remove any of the leftover stringy material from the inside of the peel,

then just start rubbing the inside of the peel on your shoes or silver. When

you're done, buff up the object with a paper towel or soft cloth. You might

even want to use this technique to restore your leather furniture. Test it

on a small section first before you take on the whole chair.

 

 

Brighten up houseplants

 

Are the leaves on your houseplants looking dingy or dusty? Don't bother

misting them with water -- that just spreads the dirt around. Rather, wipe

down each leaf with the inside of a banana peel. It'll remove all the gunk

on the surface and replace it with a lustrous shine.

 

 

Deter aphids

 

Are aphids attacking your rosebushes or other plants? Bury dried or cut-up

banana peels an inch or two deep around the base of the aphid-prone plants,

and soon the little suckers will pack up and leave. Don't use whole peels or

the bananas themselves, though; they tend to be viewed as tasty treats by

raccoons, squirrels, gophers, rabbits, and other animals, who will just dig

them up.

 

 

Use as fertilizer or mulch

 

Banana peels, like the fruit itself, are rich in potassium -- an important

nutrient for both you and your garden. Dry out banana peels on screens

during the winter months. In early spring, grind them up in a food processor

or blender and use it as a mulch to give new plants and seedlings a healthy

start. Many cultivars of roses and other plants, like staghorn ferns, also

benefit from the nutrients found in banana peels; simply cut up some peels

and use them as plant food around your established plants.

 

 

Add to compost pile

 

With their high content of potassium and phosphorus, whole bananas and peels

are welcome additions to any compost pile -- particularly in so-called

compost tea recipes. The fruit breaks down especially fast in hot

temperatures. But don't forget to remove any glued-on tags from the peels,

and be sure to bury bananas deep within your pile -- otherwise they may

simply turn out to be a meal for a four-legged visitor.

 

 

Attract butterflies and birds

 

Bring more butterflies and various bird species to your backyard by putting

out overripe bananas (as well as other fruits such as mangos, oranges, and

papayas) on a raised platform. Punch a few holes in the bananas to make the

fruit more accessible to the butterflies. Some enthusiasts swear by adding a

drop of Gatorade to further mush things up. The fruit is also likely to

attract more bees and wasps as well, so make sure that the plat-form is well

above head level and not centrally located. Moreover, you'll probably want

to clear it off before sunset, to discourage visits from raccoons and other

nocturnal creatures.

 

Enjoy,

Judy

[Guest guest]

Wow, I will never look at my over-ripe bananas the same again.  Thanks for

sharing!

 

-Jess

 

--- On Fri, 7/18/08, wwjd <jtwigg wrote:

 

wwjd <jtwigg

The Many Uses of Banana and their Peels

Undisclosed-Recipient

Friday, July 18, 2008, 8:54 AM

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are many uses for Banana and their Peels.

Banana peels will decompose, as most plant materials will, in a compost

pile. However, decomposition is faster if peels are cut into fine pieces.

Banana peels are also beneficial to rose bushes as a source of potassium and

can be buried directly into the soil around the plants (not more than three

skins per rose bush per week).

 

http://www.rd. com/advice- and-know- how/extraordinar y-uses-for-

bananas/article2 3748.html

 

Make a face mask

 

Who needs Botox when you have bananas? That's right: You can use a banana as

an all-natural face mask that moisturizes your skin and leaves it looking

and feeling softer. Mash up a medium-sized ripe banana into a smooth paste,

then gently apply it to your face and neck. Let it set for 10-20 minutes,

then rinse it off with cold water. Another popular mask recipe calls for 1/4

cup plain yogurt, 2 tablespoons honey, and 1 medium banana.

 

Eat a frozen " banana-sicle "

 

As a summer treat for friends and family, peel and cut four ripe bananas in

half (across the middle). Stick a wooden ice-cream stick into the flat end

of each piece. Place them all on a piece of wax paper, and then put it in

the freezer. A few hours later, serve them up as simply yummy frozen

banana-sicles. If you want to go all-out, quickly dip your frozen bananas in

6 ounces (170 grams) melted butterscotch or chocolate morsels (chopped nuts

or shredded coconut are optional), then refreeze.

 

Polish silverware and leather shoes

 

It may sound a bit like a lark, but using a banana peel is actually a great

way to put the shine back into your silverware and leather shoes. First,

remove any of the leftover stringy material from the inside of the peel,

then just start rubbing the inside of the peel on your shoes or silver. When

you're done, buff up the object with a paper towel or soft cloth. You might

even want to use this technique to restore your leather furniture. Test it

on a small section first before you take on the whole chair.

 

Brighten up houseplants

 

Are the leaves on your houseplants looking dingy or dusty? Don't bother

misting them with water -- that just spreads the dirt around. Rather, wipe

down each leaf with the inside of a banana peel. It'll remove all the gunk

on the surface and replace it with a lustrous shine.

 

Deter aphids

 

Are aphids attacking your rosebushes or other plants? Bury dried or cut-up

banana peels an inch or two deep around the base of the aphid-prone plants,

and soon the little suckers will pack up and leave. Don't use whole peels or

the bananas themselves, though; they tend to be viewed as tasty treats by

raccoons, squirrels, gophers, rabbits, and other animals, who will just dig

them up.

 

Use as fertilizer or mulch

 

Banana peels, like the fruit itself, are rich in potassium -- an important

nutrient for both you and your garden. Dry out banana peels on screens

during the winter months. In early spring, grind them up in a food processor

or blender and use it as a mulch to give new plants and seedlings a healthy

start. Many cultivars of roses and other plants, like staghorn ferns, also

benefit from the nutrients found in banana peels; simply cut up some peels

and use them as plant food around your established plants.

 

Add to compost pile

 

With their high content of potassium and phosphorus, whole bananas and peels

are welcome additions to any compost pile -- particularly in so-called

compost tea recipes. The fruit breaks down especially fast in hot

temperatures. But don't forget to remove any glued-on tags from the peels,

and be sure to bury bananas deep within your pile -- otherwise they may

simply turn out to be a meal for a four-legged visitor.

 

Attract butterflies and birds

 

Bring more butterflies and various bird species to your backyard by putting

out overripe bananas (as well as other fruits such as mangos, oranges, and

papayas) on a raised platform. Punch a few holes in the bananas to make the

fruit more accessible to the butterflies. Some enthusiasts swear by adding a

drop of Gatorade to further mush things up. The fruit is also likely to

attract more bees and wasps as well, so make sure that the plat-form is well

above head level and not centrally located. Moreover, you'll probably want

to clear it off before sunset, to discourage visits from raccoons and other

nocturnal creatures.

 

Enjoy,

Judy