Alternative Uses for Bananas

Beauty

• The potassium-rich banana can be used for a variety of inexpensive, home beauty treatments. Place a peeled, ripe banana in a food processor with 2 tablespoons honey. Puree, and mix in one-quarter cup plain yogurt. Apply the soothing, cool mixture to the face and neck for 20 minutes and rinse off with cool water. Banana peels have also been used in folklore and traditional medicine as a cure for warts. Simply rub a fresh banana peel on the afflicted area daily.

Home

• Banana peels can be used as a gentle, natural polishing agent for housekeeping. Use a fresh banana peel to freshen the appearance of the leaves of house plants, simply running the peel across the plant to remove dust. Similarly, banana peels can remove grime from the surface of leather furniture or shoes. After removing excess dirt with the inside of a banana peel, remove any lingering traces of banana with a paper towel.

Garden

• Banana fruit and peels are a nutrient-rich addition to a home compost pile. Use pure banana peel as a particularly effective fertilizer. For the best results, chop the peels into approximately one-inch squares and dehydrate in a food dryer or by baking for three hours in a 200-degree oven. Use the dried peels as a fertilizer for flower and vegetable gardens. The peels can be stored for several months in a sealed plastic container or bag.

Food

• Over-ripened bananas are often directed toward banana bread, but they can be used as a main ingredient in other culinary delights. Place a popsicle stick in the end of the bananas and freeze in a plastic bag for at least six hours. The healthy treat is suitable for dieting adults and teething toddlers. The frozen bananas can be blended with other frozen berries and fruit in a food processor for an icy dairy and sugar-free treat.