The Nutritional and Health Benefits of Banana Peels

SadaNews - Every time we throw banana peels in the trash, we may unknowingly discard a nutritional and health treasure.

Recent scientific research has revealed that this neglected part of the fruit can be transformed into a delicious and nutritious ingredient in baked goods, providing additional nutritional benefits and the ability to preserve them for a longer period.

A study conducted in 2022 found that banana peels, when boiled, dried, and ground into flour, can be baked into products with a taste that is at least as wonderful as those made from wheat, and sometimes even better.

Delicious Flavors

Scientists have also proven that it is beneficial for health. When testing the taste of the products that were subjected to the experiment, consumers reported that they were pleased with the flavors just as they were with traditional peel-free cookies.

As an added benefit, these products remained shelf-stable for three months at room temperature.

Although the study published in the ACS Food Science & Technology journal focused solely on adding banana peels to baked cookies, the results suggest that banana peel flour could also be used in bread, cakes, and pasta.

For example, a recent study on banana peel cake found that the yellow peel of the fruit provides a natural color to the baked product in addition to a nutritional boost.

Meanwhile, a 2016 study found that replacing up to 10% of wheat flour with banana peel flour could enrich bread with higher levels of protein, carbohydrates, and fats, according to the "Science Alert" website.

Reducing Food Waste

It is noted that consuming the peel of this fruit is not just a healthy option; it also helps reduce food waste. The peel constitutes about 40% of the weight of a banana and is often discarded even though it is full of nutrients.

While it is true that banana peels are not beneficial when raw, they can taste great when prepared in the right way.

They may also help extend the shelf life of some products due to their antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.

The same applies to the peels of other fruits such as mango peels, which have been found to enhance the antioxidant properties of cakes and improve their flavor.