| How to Use Banana Peels Posted: 28 Jun 2020 05:00 PM PDT Whether you're trying to reduce waste or you just don't want to throw away a nutritious part of the banana, learn to use the peels. Banana peels are high in fiber, vitamin C and B, potassium, and magnesium, so they're great to add to your diet! If you don't feel like eating them, use them in your skincare routine or put them to work in your garden, where they add nutrients to the soil. [Edit]Consuming Banana Peels - Brew banana peel tea to help yourself fall asleep. Bananas are naturally high in melatonin, a hormone that regulates your sleep cycle. For a soothing drink before bed, put a banana peel into a saucepan and pour in enough water to cover it. Bring the water to a boil and simmer the peel for 10 minutes. Then, use tongs to remove the peel and pour the tea into a cup.[1]
- You can leave some of the fruit on the peel for a slightly sweet tea.
- Adjust the burner so the water bubbles gently as the tea brews.
- Lay banana peels under a roast to help it tenderize. If you're tired of meat drying out as it cooks, place it on banana peels in a roasting pan. Then, roast the meat until it's tender and flavorful. You can serve the soft banana peels with the roast or discard them.[2]
- Banana peels will steam as they roast, which adds moisture to the meat and prevents it from drying out.
- Blend a banana peel into a smoothie. To take advantage of all of the banana's nutrients, toss the peel into the blender with fruit. You can make any smoothie recipe you like, since the banana peel won't change the flavor. Place the lid on the blender and combine the ingredients until you don't see any bits of banana peel at the bottom of the blender.[3]
- Fry or bake the peels to add fiber to a meal. Although you can eat banana peels raw, heating them makes them easier for you to digest. Try chopping the peel into bite-sized pieces and adding them to your next stir fry. You could also add chopped banana peel to a sheet of vegetables and roast the mixture until everything's tender.[4]
- Pickle or candy banana peels to preserve them. For quick banana peel pickles, chop the peels into pieces and put them in a jar of pickle juice. Chill them for at least 2 days before eating them. If you'd like sweeter peels, put the chopped peels into a pot with simple syrup. Simmer the peels until they're tender and then arrange them on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Let them cool so they harden.[5]
- Break up the candied banana peels and store them in an airtight container.
- Store the pickled banana peels in the refrigerator.
- Make vinegar using banana peels. To make a lightly fruity vinegar that's great for salad dressing, put of banana peels in a large jar with 1/3 cup (67 g) of sugar and of vinegar. Fill the jar with water. Cover it and stir the mixture once a day for a week. Then, let the vinegar ferment for another week before straining out the peels.[6]
- Leave the vinegar to ferment for another 4 weeks so it develops more flavor.
[Edit]Applying Banana Peels to Your Skin - Try rubbing the peels on itchy skin. Rubbing the inside of the banana peel over itchy skin is a popular home remedy, especially for soothing poison ivy rashes. Gently rub the peel on your skin and repeat it as often as you need to throughout the day.[7]
- Rubbing banana peel might also relieve the itching from insect bites.
- Make a soothing face mask to brighten your skin. Rub the inside of the banana peel over the entire surface of your face. Keep rubbing until the peel turns brown. The peel gently exfoliates your skin and leaves a slight residue on your skin. Wait up to 30 minutes before rinsing the residue off and then moisturize your face as usual.[8]
- Apply banana peels directly to acne or blemishes. Although research is needed, you could rub the inside of a banana peel on acne spots or blemishes. Let the residue from the peel dry on your skin. Then, rinse it off after about 5 minutes.[9]
- Banana peels have antibacterial properties that could treat the acne.
- Place banana peels under your eyes to reduce puffiness. If you have tired, puffy eyes, cut the peel into 2 pieces that are about long. Lay the inside of each piece under your eyes and leave them for up to 5 minutes. Then, remove the peels and rinse your skin.[10]
- Chill the banana peels before putting them on your skin if you want a cooling effect.
[Edit]Using Peels in Your Yard - Create a cheap banana peel fertilizer to add nutrients to your plants. Put a banana peel in a large jar and fill it with of water. Cover the jar loosely and leave it at room temperature for 2 days. Then, take the peel out. You can now pour a little of the fertilizer into the soil around your plants or put it in a spray bottle and spritz the base of the plants.[11]
- Since indoor houseplants may be more sensitive to changes in their soil, monitor your plants closely if you use the fertilizer on them. Stop using it if your plants begin wilting or losing leaves.
- Make rich compost for your garden using banana peels. Although you can simply toss the banana peels on your compost pile, it can take several months for them to break down. To speed things up, chop the peels into pieces, keeping in mind that the smaller the pieces, the faster they'll break down. Then, mix the pieces into your compost pile.[12]
- Chopping the peels before you compost them also prevents pests from digging through your pile.
- Dry the peels and grind them into feed for animals. If you keep chickens, pigs, rabbits, or livestock, cheaply supplement their food with banana peels. To make them easier for the animals to digest, dehydrate the peels until they're brittle. Then, grind them until they're fine and mix them into your animals' regular feed.[13]
- Some animals, such as pigs and cattle, might prefer eating sliced green banana peels so try a few different ways of preparing the peels.
- Bury chopped banana peels to deter pests from your plants. Chop the peels into pieces that are about in size. Then, bury them below the soil. Green aphids, which also attract ants, are repelled by the peels, so they'll leave your garden alone.[14]
- Don't bury whole banana peels since rodents will come and dig them up.
- If you're eating the peel, consider buying organic bananas since these haven't been sprayed with pesticides.
- Although rubbing your teeth with banana peels to whiten them is a popular home remedy, there's no evidence that this actually works.
- Avoid rubbing the peels over houseplant leaves since dusting with banana peels can attract fruit flies.
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Melt Beeswax Posted: 28 Jun 2020 09:00 AM PDT Beeswax is a wonderful material to work with, but it can be dangerous when it's hot. Melt it down slowly using low heat for the best results. With a few simple materials, you can easily prepare a double boiler, a crock pot water bath, or a solar oven to slowly to evenly warm up your beeswax. Make sure you're constantly monitoring the melting beeswax so that it doesn't scorch. Remember to never allow it to reach its flash point of , which is when its will ignite. If you melt your beeswax with a "low and slow" mindset, you'll end up with a lovely golden liquid that you can pour out into molds or turn into any sort of project you desire. [Edit]Melting in a Double Boiler - Find a large stock pot and a smaller metal bowl that will fit inside. If you already have a double boiler, you'll use the 2 pots it comes with. If not, pick out a large stock pot for the base. Then, find a metal saucepan or bowl that fits comfortably inside your stock pot. Find one that can rest on the lip of the stock pot so that it doesn't touch the bottom. Try a wide metal bowl or a smaller saucepan with a long handle. If you use a saucepan, rest the handle on the lip of the stock pot while the pan portion floats in the water.[1]
- Only use a metal bowl for the smaller piece; don't use plastic or glass, which might melt or shatter.
- You won't be putting any wax inside the stock pot, so it's okay to use a pot you prepare food in. However, you will be placing the beeswax directly into the smaller saucepan or bowl, so choose an old one that you won't be using for food preparation.
- If you're using a tall metal pitcher or another bowl that does touch the bottom of the stock pot, place a metal cookie cutter at the bottom and set the smaller bowl on top of this. The cookie cutter will elevate the bowl off of the heat source.
- Line the bottom of the large stock pot with water. Depending on which type of bowl you're nesting inside the larger pot, you may need more or less water. Fill the bottom of your stock pot with enough tap water so that it's at least deep.[2]
- If you're floating a small saucepan inside the larger pot, fill the stock pot so it's about ¾ full.
- If you're using a metal bowl that rests on the lip of the stock pot, stick with about of water.
- For a purpose-built double boiler, check the user manual for instructions on how much water to use.
- Heat the water on the stove until it boils. Set the large stock pot filled with water on a stovetop burner and adjust the heat to "high." Keep it there and wait for it to reach a rolling boil.[3]
- Make sure your stock pot sits sturdily on the burner. Hot wax is dangerous, so you'll want to prevent it from accidentally getting knocked over.
- Since water boils at , using a double boiler will make it difficult for the wax to exceed this temperature and reach its flash point.
- Place solid pieces of beeswax into the smaller bowl. To speed up the melting process, cut or break the wax into smaller chunks. Aim for cubes or slivers around wide. Then, set these into your small metal bowl or saucepan.[4]
- Smaller pieces of wax melt faster than larger blocks.
- Nest the smaller bowl inside the stock pot after reducing the heat. Reduce the burner's heat to "medium" or "medium-high" to keep the water going at a steady simmer.[5] Then, place the top half of your double-boiler into the bottom half. If you're using a smaller bowl or saucepan, make sure its bottom touches the water but not the bottom of the stock pot; you don't want to expose the beeswax to the heat source.
- Never expose beeswax directly to the heat source. Doing so can cause the wax to melt unevenly and may scorch the wax or cause a fire.
- Allow the solid beeswax to melt slowly over the simmering water. Constantly monitor the beeswax as it melts. After about 2 to 3 minutes, you'll start to notice the wax beginning to melt. You may have to wait anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour for the wax to completely melt.[6] Keep an eye on the water level, too. If it begins to evaporate away, pour more water into the stockpot periodically. Don't let the double boiler to become completely dry at any point during the process.
- You don't need to stir the pieces of wax; the melted liquid will quickly solidify upon contact with a colder utensil.
- Feel free to use a thermometer to monitor the temperature of your beeswax as it melts. It should melt around . Don't allow it to exceed as it will get discolored and lose its aroma past this point.
- Never leave the beeswax unattended as it melts.
- Pour the melted wax into a mold as soon as it completely liquifies. Prepare your molds or other project materials so that they're ready to use as soon as the wax has melted. Once every piece of solid beeswax melts away, remove it from the heat and immediately pour it into the molds.[7]
- Use care when handling the hot wax. Wear oven gloves to protect your hands from the hot steam and any splashes of wax.
- If you're pouring the hot wax into glass, make sure it is heat resistant so it doesn't crack.
[Edit]Using a Crock Pot Water Bath - Pour of water into the basin of your crock pot. If you have a wide, shallow crock pot, try about of water, or add or more for a narrow, tall crock pot. Start with enough water so that it won't all evaporate while you're melting the beeswax. You can use tap water, or, to speed up the process, heat the water in a kettle first.
- It's also possible to melt the beeswax directly in the basin of the crock pot without creating a water bath, since the temperature can remain low. If you choose to do this, make sure that the crock pot basin is made from a nonstick material or line it with aluminum foil.
- Using the water bath is generally preferred, since it protects the wax from direct heat and makes pouring the liquid wax much easier.[8]
- Place a small metal bowl inside the crock pot. Choose an old metal bowl that you won't be using for food preparation. Select a bowl that's tall enough so that water won't seep in, but not so tall that you can't close the lid of the crock pot. Make sure the bowl sits directly on the bottom of the crock pot's basin; it doesn't need to be elevated.
- If you're making candles, you may be able to use your candle containers for this. Just make sure you're using metal or heat-resistant glass.[9]
- Set pieces of the solid beeswax into the small bowl. Since beeswax melts slowly in a crock pot water bath, use smaller pieces to help speed up the melting process. Break larger pieces of wax into small chunks of about wide, then set these into the small bowl. each.[10]
- Cover the crock pot and allow the wax to melt completely. Turn on the crock pot and set it to the "low" temperature option. Put the cover on to seal the steamy water and heat inside the crock pot. While the beeswax melts, check on its progress every 10 to 15 minutes to make sure it doesn't reach too high a heat. Depending on how much wax you're melting, plan to wait at least 1 hour for it to fully liquify.[11]
- If you'd like, try monitoring the temperature of the beeswax using a thermometer. It will melt around , but you shouldn't let it get past .
- Get your project materials ready while the wax melts down.
- Pour the melted beeswax into molds once it's melted down. Keep an eye on the beeswax as it gets close to being completely liquified. As soon as it reaches this point, you can take the lid off of the crockpot and pour out the wax into candle molds or whatever else you're using for your project.[12] Make sure to use oven gloves as you handle the hot bowl to protect your hands from the steam and splashes of hot wax.
- If you want to keep it liquified for a little while longer, remove the lid and switch the crock pot to its "warm" setting.
[Edit]Making a Solar Oven - Line a styrofoam cooler with aluminum foil. Cover the sides and bottom of a small styrofoam cooler with aluminum foil. Make sure the shiny side faces toward the inside of the cooler so it reflects as much sunlight as possible. This will become your solar oven.[13]
- Opt for a styrofoam cooler rather than a plastic one. The styrofoam will help insulate the solar oven to keep the heat inside.
- Place the solid pieces of beeswax in a metal or glass bowl. Break large blocks of wax down into smaller pieces so that they'll melt down more quickly. Then, set them into a bowl that will fit comfortably inside your solar oven.[14]
- You can either place the wax directly into an old bowl that you don't need for food preparation, or put it in a newer bowl that's lined with a protective layer of aluminum foil.
- Insert the bowl into your solar oven and cover it with a sheet of glass. Set the bowl down on the base of the solar oven so it's level. Make sure it's secure so that it doesn't tip over and spill any hot wax. Then set a thin sheet of glass or clear acrylic over the top of the styrofoam cooler. Make sure it's large enough to create a complete seal over the solar oven.[15]
- Try repurposing a sheet of glass from an old picture frame for this project.
- Set the solar oven in the sun and allow the beeswax to melt. Make sure it's a warm, sunny day; cloud cover and cooler temperatures won't work very well. While high-tech solar ovens can heat up in sunny but cold climates, plan to use your homemade solar oven on a cloudless day when it's at least outside. Find a spot outside that will receive direct sunlight for most of the day, and place your covered solar oven there. Check on the progress of your melting wax every 20 to 30 minutes, and reposition it, if needed, to keep it away from shade or moisture.
- Start this process earlier in the day to take advantage of direct midday sun. Don't wait until the late afternoon or evening.
- By the end of the day, you should have a bowl of melted wax.[16]
- If you are using this process in a cooler season, find an indoor spot that receives direct sunlight.
- Avoid leaving the wax completely unattended; it may heat up quite quickly.
- Consider monitoring the temperature with a thermometer. The wax should melt around . Avoid letting it exceed .
- Remove the melted wax from its solar oven and pour it into molds. Wearing oven gloves to protect your hands from the heat and melted wax, lift off the glass or acrylic cover from your solar oven. Set this aside and carefully take out the bowl containing your liquified beeswax. Immediately pour the wax into molds or use it however your project requires.[17]
- Make sure you prepare your project materials as the wax melts so they're ready to go once all of the wax has melted.
- Beeswax will melt around . Around it will begin to lose its lovely aroma and upwards of it'll get discolored.[18]
[Edit]Warnings - Never leave the beeswax unattended as you're melting it. Once the wax reaches its flash point, the vapors it produces become extremely flammable and it will catch on fire.[19]
- Keep a fire extinguisher nearby while you're working. Wax fires can get very dangerous very quickly, and a fire extinguisher will ensure your safety. Be aware that the melted wax will splatter everywhere if you end up extinguishing it.
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Melting in a Double Boiler - Beeswax
- 1 large stock pot
- 1 small metal bowl or saucepan
- Thermometer (optional)
- Water
- Electric stove or hot plate
- Oven gloves
- Molds or other project materials
[Edit]Using a Crock Pot Water Bath - Beeswax
- Crock pot
- Small metal bowl
- Aluminum foil (optional)
- Water
- Thermometer (optional)
- Oven gloves
- Molds or other project materials
[Edit]Making a Solar Oven - Beeswax
- Styrofoam cooler
- Aluminum foil
- Small metal bowl
- Oven thermometer (optional)
- Sheet of glass or clear acrylic
- Oven gloves
- Molds or other project materials
[Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Improve Store Bought Muffin Mix Posted: 28 Jun 2020 01:00 AM PDT Store-bought box mixes make it easy to bake up a batch of muffins, but the flavor can sometimes be a little underwhelming. Luckily, there are lots of easy ways to upgrade your box muffin mix! For a blast of fruit flavor, stir your favorite fresh or frozen berries into the batter. If you want to add a little crunch or texture to your muffins, try stirring in chopped nuts or toasted coconut flakes. You can also play around with flavors by incorporating vanilla extract, cinnamon, pumpkin purée, and so much more! [Edit]Adding Fruit to the Batter - Incorporate fresh or frozen berries for a healthy burst of flavor. If you love the flavor of berries, consider adding fresh strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries to the batter. If you use strawberries, be sure to cut them into smaller pieces before adding them. You can also replace fake or dried fruit in the original mix with delicious fresh fruit.[1]
- For example, many blueberry muffin box mixes have fake blueberry bits or tiny dried berries in them. Pick out the original fruit bits from the powdered mix and replace them with a handful of frozen or fresh berries.
- Add berries to plain bran muffins or to fruit-flavored muffins.
- Upgrade the batter with a handful of diced fruits for a fresh taste. Fresh peaches, strawberries, apples, pears, and bananas are great options, but you can experiment with any of your favorite fresh fruits or use whatever is in season. Dice them into blueberry-sized pieces before you add the fruit to the batter.[2]
- Diced canned pineapple and sliced cherries can add a refreshing tropical flavor to your muffins.
- Oranges, grapefruits, and grapes might not be the best options because they don't mix well with batters or bake favorably.
- Diced fruit works best in plain muffin mixes or mixes that already have a fruity flavor.
- Toss a handful of dried fruit into the batter for a chewy texture. Dried cranberries, tart cherries, and sweet mango are an excellent addition and add a nice texture to any muffin. If you don't have anything else on hand, even a handful of plump raisins can elevate your muffin mix to the next level.[3]
- Try this with oat bran muffin mix or intensify the fruit flavor of classic blueberry muffins.
- Stir in banana or pumpkin purée to add flavor and density. If you like your muffins dense and hearty, a fruit purée is a great additive. Try adding 1 mashed banana or a spoonful of pumpkin purée to the batter and mixing it in thoroughly.[4]
- If you're feeling adventurous, you could also experiment with carrot or sweet potato purée!
- You can add a banana to almost any muffin mix that you want with good results. If you're adding pumpkin, it's probably best to start with plain muffin mix.
- Update a plain muffin mix with lemon zest for a bright citrus flavor. To create a classic lemon poppy seed muffin, zest 2 lemons and add the zest to the batter. Then, stir in 2 tablespoons (30 grams) of poppy seeds to create a satisfying crunch. Spoon or pour the batter into the muffin tins and bake the muffins according to the package instructions.[5]
- This works best for muffin mixes that don't already have a strong flavor, like a plain or bran muffin mix.
[Edit]Incorporating Ingredients to Change the Texture - Add a spoonful of chopped nuts to the batter for a crunchy texture. Chopped walnuts, pecans, and almonds are all great options for this. Not only will they contribute flavor and texture, but they will also add healthy fats to the mix. Simply stir the nuts into the batter and enjoy![6]
- For a little more crunch, sprinkle the top of unbaked muffins with a layer of nuts before popping them in the oven.
- For a sweeter treat, use candied nuts.[7]
- Chopped nuts are a great addition to any muffin flavor!
- Stir in a spoonful of hemp seeds, flax meal, or chia seeds for a healthy option. Hemp seeds and flax meal have a slightly nutty flavor and will provide a nice texture. Chia seeds are mostly flavorless but they can impart a hearty denseness and texture. Best of all, these additives are extremely healthy.[8]
- Chia seeds absorb a lot of liquid. If your batter feels a bit thick after you mix it up, add a splash of whatever liquid your recipe calls for.
- The nuttiness will work great with almost any muffin mix flavor you have on hand.
- Incorporate toasted coconut for a rich, flavorful texture. Stir a spoonful of the toasted coconut into the batter itself. Then, after you pour the batter into the muffin tin, sprinkle a little more of the toasted coconut on top of each muffin.[9]
- The extra on top will provide a satisfying crunch after you take the muffins out of the oven.
- Try adding toasted coconut to fruity muffin mixes, like raspberry or strawberry muffins. It also works great in sweeter muffins, like chocolate chip muffins.
- Toasted coconut goes great with other tropical additions like diced pineapple, dried mango, and cherries!
- Add a handful chocolate chips for a gooey, decadent muffin. If you don't have milk chocolate chips, try chopping up your favorite chocolate bar instead. The melted milk chocolate will add a burst of flavor and create a chewy, gooey texture that's hard to resist![10]
- You can also try sprinkling M&Ms on top of the muffins right before you pop them in the oven.
- Feel free to experiment with a variety of flavors. For example, try adding peanut butter chips, white chocolate chips, or dark chocolate chips to the batter.
- Use coconut or almond milk instead of water for moist muffins. Most box muffin mixes call for water to create the batter. If you want a richer flavor and moist texture, swap out the water for the same amount of something richer, like coconut, almond, or soy milk.[11]
- You can try this with any muffin mix flavor to add moisture.
- Whip up a streusel topping to create a sweet, crunchy topping. Stir together 1 tablespoon (15 grams) of butter, 2 tablespoons (30 grams) of flour, and 1 tablespoon (15 grams) brown sugar in a small bowl until the ingredients are fully incorporated. Aim for a gritty, sand-like consistency. Then, pour the prepared batter into the muffin tins and sprinkle the streusel on top before you pop the muffins in the oven.[12]
- A streusel topping is a great addition to any muffin flavor.
[Edit]Experimenting with Spices and Other Flavors - Upgrade any muffin recipe with cream cheese for a rich, decadent twist. Mix the muffin batter and spoon or pour it into the muffin tins. Then, remove the cream cheese from the fridge and dice it into piece while it's still cold. Add a spoonful of diced cream cheese on top of each muffin cup and bake the muffins according the the recipe instructions.[13]
- The cream cheese will sink into the batter while the muffins are baking.
- Add of vanilla extract to enhance the flavor. Vanilla extract imparts its own lovely flavor to the muffin batter, but it also enhances the flavor of the other ingredients. You can also try out other extract flavors, like almond and lemon, to create different flavor profiles.[14]
- For example, add of lemon extract and 1 teaspoon (4.2 grams) of poppy seeds to your batter to whip up a classic batch of lemon poppy seed muffins.
- Stir in cinnamon, nutmeg, or cocoa powder for rich, flavorful muffins. Use 1 teaspoon (4.2 grams) of your chosen spice. Cinnamon, nutmeg, and cocoa powder are delicious options, but they are hardly the only ones! Allspice and pumpkin pie spice are also excellent. Raid your spice cabinet to see what else you have and experiment until you find the perfect spice or spice blend.[15]
- For example, spice up banana muffins with cinnamon, ground ginger, and nutmeg. Toss in a handful of walnuts for good measure!
- Upgrade a basic muffin mix with cinnamon and vanilla.
- Enrich pumpkin muffins with pumpkin pie spice and chopped pecans.
- Use brown sugar instead of white sugar for a sweeter, richer flavor. If you're making muffins from scratch, cut the granulated white sugar from the recipe and use the same amount of brown sugar instead. Brown sugar is a little sweeter and imparts a rich, maple-like flavor to the muffins.[16]
- You can also sprinkle cinnamon and brown sugar on top of the muffins before popping them in the oven to add a little crunchy sweetness.
- Glaze the top of your muffins with cake frosting for an extra sweet treat. If you love rich baked goods, try topping just-baked muffins with your favorite canned cake frosting. For example, if you made chocolate muffins, spread a German chocolate frosting on top. Take lemon poppy seed muffins to the next level with a glaze of lemon icing. The possibilities are endless!
- If the recipe calls for water, use club soda or carbonated water instead. It will make the muffins lighter, and less dense.
[Edit]Warnings - Watch for allergy warnings on the package. Keep in mind that all packaged mixes have soy products (e.g. oil and protein) which may trigger a reaction from allergic people.
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
No comments:
Post a Comment