Home New Uses for Old Things at Home New Uses for Produce Their peels can heal. Their juice can soothe. Find out what else your fruits and veggies can do. By Real Simple Editors Real Simple Editors Facebook Instagram Twitter An article attributed to "Real Simple Editors" indicates a collaborative effort from our in-house team. Sometimes, several writers and editors have contributed to an article over the years. These collaborations allow us to provide you with the most accurate, up-to-date, and comprehensive information available.The REAL SIMPLE team strives to make life easier for you. They are experts in their fields who research, test and clearly explain the best recipes, strategies, trends and products. They have worked for some of the most prestigious brands in lifestyle journalism, including Apartment Therapy, Better Homes & Gardens, Food & Wine, the Food Network, Good Housekeeping, InStyle, Martha Stewart Living, O: The Oprah Magazine, Parents, POPSUGAR, Rachel Ray Every Day, and Vogue. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on April 1, 2019 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Getty Images Get inspired by these new uses for apples, lemons, tomatoes, and more. 01 of 28 Newspaper as Refrigerator Odor Absorber Photos: Erica McCartney; Styling: Linden Elstran Absorb odors in the refrigerator's vegetable drawer with a lining of newspaper. 02 of 28 Drink Holder as Fruit Protector John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran Rough commute? Slide a drink cooler over an apple to keep it from bruising in your lunch tote. 03 of 28 Banana Peel as Rose Fertilizer Beatriz Da Costa Just flatten a banana peel and bury it under one inch of soil at the base of a rosebush. The peel's potassium feeds the plant and helps it resist disease. Consider it a nutritional boost for you and your buds. 04 of 28 Bubble Wrap as Produce Protection Kate Sears Use bubble wrap to save fruit and vegetables from bumps and bruises. Cut a piece to fit into the bottom of the refrigerator drawer as a pillow for your produce. Say goodbye to squished squashes or mushy mangoes. 05 of 28 Bundt Pan as Corn Holder Aya Brackett Cut corn from the cob without the mess. Place an ear in the center of a Bundt pan. As you slide the knife down, the corn will fall right into the pan. 06 of 28 Citrus Peels as Bowls Yunhee Kim Serve sorbet in a memorable way. After juicing (or eating) grapefruit, orange, lemon, or lime halves, scoop out and freeze the peels. Cut a small slice off the bottom to create a level surface (without creating a hole), then fill with ice cream. 07 of 28 Citrus Peel as Firestarter Aya Brackett Kick-start a fire with citrus peels. Leave orange or lemon peels on the counter for several days to dry out. Then use the pretty pieces as kindling in your fire pit or bonfire for a fragrant flame starter. 08 of 28 Egg Slicer as Mushroom Chopper Tria Giovan Cut mushrooms into neat slivers, all without a cutting board to clean. 09 of 28 Egg Slicer as Strawberry Dicer Dana Gallagher Give this classic tool a permanent spot on your kitchen counter and―presto!―you'll have perfect slivers of your favorite summer foods. 10 of 28 Apple as Tomato Ripener Thayer Allyson Gowdy To ripen tomatoes in half the time, place them in a bowl with an apple or two and cover it with plastic wrap. 11 of 28 Citrus Peel as Coffee Mug Cleaner Lucas Allen Remove coffee or tea stains from a mug by rubbing them with a lightly salted citrus peel. 12 of 28 Citrus Peel as Garbage Disposal Deodorizer James Baigrie Keep your disposal smelling fresh by dropping a few peels down the drain and flipping the switch. 13 of 28 Citrus Peel as Brown Sugar Softener Tria Giovan Avoid rock-hard brown sugar and preserve the moisture by dropping a three inch-long orange peel into the bag. 14 of 28 Ginger Root as Burn Soother Beth Galton Soothe blisters and burns by applying fresh ginger juice directly to the sore spots. 15 of 28 Lemon as Laundry Brightener Antonis Achilleos Skip the bleach—add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of lemon juice to the wash cycle to brighter up those fading whites. 16 of 28 Lemon as Sore Throat Soother Charles Maraia Relieve a sore throat. Cut a lemon in half. Skewer one half over a medium flame on a gas stove or an electric burner set on high and roast until the peel turns golden brown. Let cool slightly, then mix the juice with 1 teaspoon of honey. Swallow the mixture. 17 of 28 Lemon as Hair Lightener Antonis Achilleos For subtle highlights in blond hair, simmer two sliced lemons in water for one hour (add more water if needed). Strain, then pour into a spray bottle. 18 of 28 Lemon as Grater Cleaner James Baigrie After shredding soft cheese or other sticky foods, go over both sides of the grater with the pulp side of a cut lemon to get rid of any residue. 19 of 28 Lemon as Browning Preventer James Baigrie Stop apples and pears from browning by squeezing a little lemon juice over them. 20 of 28 Lemon as Table Decoration Maura McEvoy Decorate on the cheap. Fill a glass bowl with lemons for a sunny centerpiece. Or display a row of them along a windowsill. 21 of 28 Lemon as Toothpick Collector Annie Schlechter Collect used toothpicks at a party so you don't end up with them all over your tables, seats, and floors. (Stick one in the lemon ahead of time to give guests the hint.) 22 of 28 Onion as Basement Deodorizer James Baigrie Clear the air in a dank basement. Cut an onion in half, place it on a plate, and leave it out overnight. Once the initial salad-bar aroma dissipates, you'll have a fresh (non-oniony) atmosphere. 23 of 28 Oranges as Mini Snowman Annie Schlechter Build snowmen without bundling up. For a holiday party, give each child three oranges, some toothpicks, a sturdy plate, and store-bought frosting. Stick the large orange to the center of the plate with a dollop of frosting. Poke a few toothpicks halfway into the top of the fruit and spear a smaller orange on top. Repeat with the third orange, and layer on frosting, a vanilla wafer, and peppermints to make a hat. Use candy-cane pieces for arms and a nose, cloves for the eyes, and red licorice for a scarf. 24 of 28 Salt as Salad Wash Antonis Achilleos Clean dirt from leafy vegetables by washing them in a bath of salt water. 25 of 28 Lemon as Cutting Board Cleaner Rick Lew To remove tough food stains from light wood and plastic cutting boards, slice a lemon in half, squeeze onto the soiled surface, rub, and let sit for 20 minutes before rinsing. The best part? You'll have a house that smells like a lemon grove rather than chemicals. 26 of 28 Lettuce Leaf as Taco Liner Monica Buck Keep taco fillings contained, even if the shell breaks. Line an empty taco shell with a lettuce leaf, then pile on all the meat, cheese, and pico de gallo your heart desires. 27 of 28 Toothbrush as Corn Cleaner James Baigrie Use a clean toothbrush to remove stray threads of silk from freshly shucked ears of corn. The bristles will lift them away quickly and efficiently. 28 of 28 Citrus Peel Hacks Was this page helpful? 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