Hands up if you’re quick to discard the avocado pip and peel after you’ve demolished your avo on toast?
We’d be lying if we said we weren’t guilty of this, too.
But it turns out that avocado seed and peel can be used in all sorts of ways.
Food waste expert and Oddbox co-founder Emilie Vanpoperinghe has given her top tips so nothing goes to waste.
Regrow an avocado plant
You can regrow your avocado seed into a beautiful avocado plant. To do so, you will need three toothpicks, a glass of water and a window sill.
Pierce the avocado pit with the toothpicks so that you can hover it on the rim of the glass with the bottom root end submerged in the water. Place on a sunlit window sill.
You will see the roots and stem start to sprout in just a few weeks. When the stem grows to about 15cm, cut it back a little, and allow it to regrow again. Once it reaches 15cm again, that’s the time to plant it in nutrient-rich soil to grow into a fully fledged plant.
Blitz the pit into smoothies
The avocado pit is said to contain fatty acids, dietary fibre, as well as a small amount of protein while some tests show that it also contains antioxidants and can help to reduce blood pressure.
Make the most of it and put it into a smoothie: split the pit in two with a heavy knife, then place in your blender with the rest of your smoothie ingredients. Avocado pits are bitter so it’s best to pair its potent flavour with other strong flavours; try a coconut chocolate smoothie or a sweet mango and pear concoction.
Drink avocado tea
If smoothies aren’t your thing, make the most of your avocado pit by boiling it up into tea. It’s also said to aid digestion. Place the pit in a small pan of water, then bring it to a boil for 5 minutes until softened. Chop it finely, then add to your teapot and leave to infuse in boiling water for 5 minutes. Strain into your cup and enjoy with a little honey, if you like.
Make avocado powder
Dehydrate the avocado pits in a low oven for a couple of hours or leave on a sunlit window sill for a day or two. Once dried, blitz in a food processor or place in a bag and bash with a rolling pin, then blend. Use it in smoothies, to bake bread or on your salads. Read more here on how to use it.
Avocado skins into plant pots
Pack your avocado skins with compost and use them to plant seedlings. Their natural shape makes for perfectly sized, windowsill pots to grow other veggies and plants from seed.
Throw the peel into your bath
For luxuriously soft skin, throw your peels straight into your bath, then turn them inside out and rub all that leftover flesh full of gorgeous avocado oil, all over your skin. Avocado oil contains antioxidants and vitamins, including vitamins C and E which helps to moisturise our skin and improve elasticity – bonus!
About ODDBOX
ODDBOX fruit and veg boxes are available to buy at www.oddbox.co.uk with prices starting at £10.99 for a small veg box.
ODDBOX are London’s first and only food-waste-fighting fruit and veg box. The start-up works closely with farmers across the UK (& from abroad) to rescue fresh, seasonal surplus produce at risk of becoming food waste.
To date, the social enterprise has rescued over 5 million kg of fruit and veg from going to waste.
Delivery available in London, South and South East of England, please check website for exact postcodes.
