What To Do With All Of Your Leftover Apple Cores

Who doesn't love a crisp, delicious apple? They are a refreshing, healthy, and a tasty snack, but once all the good stuff has been eaten, the core usually gets tossed into the trash, where it simply fills up landfills and contributes to the growing food waste problem. But what if that didn't have to happen? It turns out, there are several ways to recycle those apple cores and turn them into something useful, delicious, and good for the environment.

If you save those apples cores and peels, you can turn them into jams later. To try out this recipe: Boil the cores until they are mushy, strain the mixture, add 1/2 cup sugar and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, then cook on high heat until the jam reaches a gel-like consistency to get the best results. The end product is a delicious jam that can be used for everything from a topping on toast and yogurt to a glaze on meat, vegetables, or muffins.

Apple cores can be reused in a number of different ways

But that's not all you can do with leftover apple scraps. The core can also be used as a handy way to freshen up the scent of your home. By simply simmering them for a while in a pot of water — and adding any other nice scents you like, such as cinnamon or nutmeg — you can make a sweet, pleasing potpourri or room spray that will make your home smell like autumn. And if you are willing to put in a little work by removing the apple seeds, there are even more ways to recycle the core. 

Once the seeds — which do contain cyanide and can be toxic in large doses — are completely removed, the cores can be diced and put into a bird feeder, blended into smoothies, or even pureed with honey to make a skin rejuvenating face mask. And if you don't feel up to doing a lot of prep work, they can always be put in the compost bin for an earth-friendly way to dispose of the cores. So, the next time you finish chomping down on a sweet, crunchy apple, don't be so quick to just toss the apple core in the nearest trash can. There are a number of ways these scraps can be recycled into delicious and useful new items that both you and the planet will love.