The 5 Best Ways To Use Up Excess Fruits In The Summer
May 16, 2024
One of the best parts about the summer is the abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables. In fact, it can be an overabundance. If you grow your own, you likely have trees heaving with fruit that you can’t give away fast enough. Going to farmers’ markets can also lead to having too much fruit. The excitement of seeing fresh, local produce makes us buy more than we can eat in time.
This extra fruit, whether from your garden or the market, can end up being wasted if you don’t know how to handle it. Learning how to save and use extra fruits is important. This way, you can enjoy your garden’s produce or market finds without rushing to eat them all at once. In this article, we will go over some of the best ways to use up those excess summer fruits so none of it gets wasted.
1 – Canning and jamming
Canning fruits and making homemade jams are excellent ways to preserve excess produce. The basics of canning involve preparing the fruit, cooking it with sugar, and sealing it in jars. This process helps fruits last for months, allowing you to enjoy the taste of summer even in the middle of winter.
For homemade jams, start with fresh, ripe fruits. Classic recipes include strawberry jam, peach preserves, and blueberry jelly. You can also get creative by mixing different fruits or adding spices like cinnamon or ginger for unique flavors. Jams and jellies make great gifts and are perfect for spreading on toast, adding to yogurt, or using as a topping for desserts. With a little effort, you can transform your excess fruit into delicious, long-lasting treats.
2 – Drying and dehydrating
Drying and dehydrating fruits are great ways to keep your extra produce from going to waste. You can use an oven or a dehydrator to remove the moisture from fruits, making them last much longer.
Using a dehydrator is easy and quick. Arrange the fruit slices on the dehydrator trays, set the right temperature, and let the machine do the work. Dehydrators usually have settings for different types of fruits to ensure they dry properly.
Dried fruits are healthy and convenient. They keep most of their nutrients and make great portable snacks. You can use them in baking, adding them to muffins, cookies, and bread for extra flavor. Dried fruits are also good in cereals, yogurt, and trail mixes.
3 – Make fruit-based desserts
Using extra fruits in desserts is a tasty way to enjoy your summer produce. Pies, cobblers, and tarts are great for showing off the sweetness of fresh fruits. Desserts are also much easier to give away than a big basket of fruit that people may not want. Nobody refuses a home-baked pie, however.
Cobblers are another good option. They have a biscuit-like topping that goes well with juicy fruits. To make a cobbler, put your chosen fruits in a baking dish, sprinkle with sugar, and cover with biscuit dough.
Tarts are fancy but easy to make. Use a pre-made or homemade tart crust, fill it with sweetened fruit, and bake. You can also make no-bake tarts using a graham cracker crust and chilled fruit filling.
4 – Fruit leather
Making homemade fruit leather is a fun and simple way to use extra fruits. It’s a healthy snack that both kids and adults love.
To make fruit leather, first puree your fruits. You can use one type of fruit or mix different kinds. If the fruit is too sour, add a little honey or sugar to sweeten it. Spread the puree evenly on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Dry the fruit puree in an oven set to the lowest temperature for 6 to 8 hours.
When the fruit leather is dry and not sticky, let it cool. Peel it off the parchment paper and cut it into strips. Roll up the strips in parchment paper to keep them from sticking together.
5 – Ice creams and sorbets
Homemade ice cream and sorbet are great ways to use extra fruits and make cool treats for hot days. You can create delicious fruit-based ice creams with simple recipes. Try classic flavors like strawberry, peach, and blueberry, or go tropical with mango or pineapple ice cream.
Sorbet is a lighter option that’s dairy-free. Made from pureed fruits, sugar, and water, sorbet is smooth and refreshing. Popular flavors like lemon, raspberry, and watermelon provide a bright, tangy taste that’s perfect for cooling down.