A green-fingered home cook has claimed that Brits are missing out on a tasty treat by discarding their kitchen scraps.
Joseph Clark is encouraging others to follow his example and utilise over-ripe fruit in a way that can be preserved and savoured for months.
On his Instagram account @joesgarden.official, he shows how to transform old fruit into a “delicious and healthy snack for you and your family”.
He assures that his method of using over-ripe fruit will provide a delicious snack that can be stored for months.
As reports the Mirror, Joseph explained: “If you garden like me, you often end up with a glut of fruit, which simply doesn’t last very long. Making fruit leather like this is such a brilliant way to store it for many months, with no issues.”
He continued: “Simply blend any mixture of fruit (my favourite is one apple, one banana and a small bowl of strawberries) and spread over a non stick surface. I use a silicone mat, but you can use baking paper too. You want this layer to be about 2-4mm thick.”
Joseph then places the smoothed fruit mixture into the oven to dehydrate his creation. This process can take more than two hours on a low setting. He also prepares several batches at once, which can be dried and then stored in a jar to be enjoyed as a fruity strip.
He elaborated: “To dehydrate you can use your oven on its lowest setting, or even in some older ovens just the lamp will work to dry it out.
“If you have a log burner placing it on top will also work, or you can use a dehydrator. For me it usually takes about 2:30 hours on my ovens lowest setting and I make five batches at once.”
With the preparation is done, he removes the treat from the oven, slices it into strips, and tucks it away in a jar for a scrumptious snack whenever the mood strikes.
When it comes to other fruit hacks, Daily Basis Hacks claims one method could extend bananas’ freshness by up to six months.
By detaching individual bananas and wrapping the exposed stems tightly with cling film, experts say you can maintain their freshness for approximately a week when stored in the fridge.
To save them for up to six months, you should peel the banana completely, slice the flesh diagonally, and then seal the pieces inside a freezer bag before storing them in the freezer.
Once frozen, they’re versatile for an array of culinary delights, from morning smoothies to a plant-based ice cream substitute, and various tantalising desserts.
