Zero waste kitchen: What to do with apple peels

This is probably the easiest made and one of the yummiest teas we’ve ever tried – the apple peel tea! You only need some apple peels, a pinch of cinnamon and hot water. Prepare the tea in a mug with an infuser, like the SEEV tea mug. Put the peels inside the infuser, add cinnamon and pour over with hot water. After 5 to 10 minutes you have a delicious fruity apple tea! Find the whole recipe here.

Apple chips have a huge advantage compared to potato chips – they are low in calories, fat-free and therefore healthier than potato chips. For tasty, crispy apple chips you only need some apple peels, some lemon juice and spices of choice (e.g. cinnamon or thyme). Pre-heat the oven to 70 degrees Celsius. Mix the apple peels with some lemon juice and spices. Spread them on a baking sheet and bake them for 2 to 3 hours, occasionally letting the moisture out.

Tip: Apple chips are also great as a topping for cereals, bowls and salads!

Apple vinegar is a great way to make long-term use of apple peels. You only need some apple skins, a clean jar with at least 1 liter volume, a kitchen cloth and a rubber band.

That’s how you do it: Wash the apple peels in cold water, put them in the cleaned jar and pour cold water over them so that everything is covered. Cover with the cloth and place in a cool place. The mixture must not be sealed airtight, as vinegar needs oxygen to ferment. The water must be stirred daily to avoid mold. After 1-2 weeks, there should be white foam on the surface and the peels should have sunk to the bottom. The liquid should also already have a slight vinegar smell. Pour the vinegar through a new, clean kitchen towel into a clean jar and seal again with a kitchen towel and a rubber. Leave in a warm place for 3-4 weeks and do not move. After about 2 weeks, streaks will form in the jar. This is called vinegar mother. Pour through a fine sieve or cloth, fill into bottles and seal tightly.

Apple spritzer is one of the most popular soft drinks in Germany. It’s usually made by simply mixing apple juice with sparkling water. If you wanna try the healthier, homemade version, you only need some apple peels, some sugar and lemon juice as well as sparkling water. Mix the apple peels with the sugar and let them simmer in a pot with some water for about 30 to 45 minutes. Then run them through a sieve and add lemon juice to the liquid. Mix the juice with some sparkling water to taste and serve with mint and ice cubes. The SUND glass carafe is great for serving cold beverages of any kind.  

The fruit acid contained in the apple peel reacts with aluminium. This effect can be used to make aluminium pots shine. Simply boil the apple peel in the pot and then drain. Voila!

Did you find our ideas helpful? Find more zero waste tips on our blog – like reusing potato peels, coffee grounds or citrus peels!