If you’re looking for ideas on reducing kitchen waste, What to with Leftover Strawberry Stems will help you find creative ways to use these nutritious scraps from this popular summer fruit.
For more ideas on what to do with leftover ingredients, What to do with Leftover Orange Peels and How to Save Money with Leftover Ingredients will help you on your journey.
I read a post on Facebook that wanted suggestions on what to do with leftover strawberry stems. Since a fresh strawberry is a favorite fruit among Americans, we tend to have lots of strawberry tops that usually end up in the trash can.
The variety of answers surprised me – there were so many different ideas! I decided to write an article about it, so that everyone would benefit from this group’s wisdom.
Although fresh strawberries are available all year now, prime strawberry season is mid-April through May.
There are also wild strawberries that people like to forage. They tend to be smaller berries than conventionally grown strawberries.
Can You Eat Strawberry Leaves?
Some people consume the whole berry, leaves and all. But most of us remove the strawberry tops, not knowing what to do with the stems.
The answer is yes. The top of the strawberry that has the leafy greens and stem is edible and can be eaten. There are no harmful side effects associated with eating the top of a strawberry, so it is safe to consume.
Strawberry stems are fibrous foods and nutritious as well. Who knew these kitchen scraps have health benefits? The good news is they have vitamin C, vitamin K, iron, and calcium, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. The green stem also contain tannins that help with digestive issues or an upset stomach.
The green tops of strawberries are a rich source of antioxidants and will help your immune system.
You want to make sure you don’t eat moldy strawberry tops.
Buy Organic Strawberries
Strawberries are part of the dirty dozen fruits sprayed with the most pesticides. Buying organic strawberries or unsprayed strawberries will help keep more pesticide residue out of our bodies.
Creating a Cozy Life Group
Since you found this article on What to do with Leftover Strawberry Stems, I’m guessing you love all things cozy living. I created a Facebook group called Creating a Cozy Life with over 119,000 like-minded souls.
It’s a group where we share recipes, pictures of things that leave you in awe, and ideas on how to make your life just a little bit more snug. Join here to be part of the virtual cozy cottage.
Here are the Number of Ways to Use Leftover Strawberry Stems:
1. Feed Strawberry Tops to Chickens, Guinea Pigs, Turtles, Rabbits, Pigs & Goats
You can either feed the strawberry green tops as an occasional treat to your animals or turn them into ice cubes and share them on a hot summer day for a sweet treat.
2. Make Simple Syrup
If you have tons of strawberry greens leftover from making strawberry jam, making a variety of simple syrups might be the perfect ways to use them up. You can make them as gifts for your friends.
Simple syrup is a wonderful way to infuse flavor into co*cktails, drinks, and recipes. I found this recipe for Strawberry Stem Simple Syrup on the Keeping It Simple Blog. You can find the recipe here.
Strawberry syrup is used to sweeten cold beverages. Liquid sweetener is easier to blend into drinks than sugar.
3. Add Strawberry Stems to Smoothies
Freeze your strawberry stems into ice cube trays and fill them with water. Every time you make smoothies, add a few strawberry stem cubes.
4. Dry and Use for Tea Blends
Using dried strawberry tops to make my tea blends is a thrifty way to add delicate fruit flavor to my herbal teas.
I use my dehydrator to dry my strawberry tops, but you can also dry them in the oven at a low temperature. Air-drying strawberry stems on a mesh screen will also work.
Strawberry leaf tea is fun to mix with other dried fruits, edible flowers, and herbs like fresh mint.
5. Infused Water
Spas know the secret to getting their guests to drink more water is by making flavored water.
Strawberry stem tops go well with sliced cucumber, oranges, mint, lime, and basil. Try different combinations until you find the one you love.
Let the strawberry tops infuse the water for at least an hour before drinking.
6. Use for Compost
Add strawberry stems to your compost bin.
7. Feed Strawberry Tops to Deer
One of the group’s members likes to make little picnics for the deer that visit his property. He adds the strawberry stems to the pile.
8. Make into Strawberry Stem Powder
Take your dehydrated strawberry stems and add them to a food processor or blender. Grind until they reach the consistency of a fine powder.
You can use strawberry stem powder to add flavor to cupcakes, muffins, and cakes. Strawberry stem powder is used in homemade beauty products.
What to Do With Strawberry Tops
9. Strawberry Stem Infused Liquor
Add a touch of strawberry flavor to your favorite spirits like rum, vodka, or gin.
Cover the strawberry tops in a glass Mason jar with your favorite alcohol and let it sit for two weeks. Strain the strawberry scrap from the alcohol and mix your favorite co*cktails.
10. Add Strawberry Tops to Dog Treats
The next time you make homemade dog treats, add your strawberry stems to the batter for a nutritional boost to your dog’s diet.
11. Grow More Strawberries
One of the contributors to the group said she lays her strawberry tops in a shallow cardboard box and lightly covers it with soil. Keep the box out of direct sunlight and keep it moist.
Pretty soon, you will have more strawberry plants!
12. Make Strawberry Stem Vinegar
I love the idea of making fruit scrap vinegar. Here’s a video from Mary’s Nest on making Strawberry Stem vinegar. One of my favorite ways to use strawberry vinegar is dressing salads and make sauces.
White wine vinegar, red wine vinegar, white vinegar, and balsamic vinegar go well with strawberry tops.
13. Add to a Simmer Pot
The scent of strawberries will lace the air when you add them to your favorite simmer pot combination. I especially like the combination of strawberries and basil.
14. Add Leftover Strawberry Tops to Salads
Throwing your strawberry stems in the next salad you make for yourself is a great way to add nutrition and flavor. You can also add them to my amazing strawberry salad dressing – you’re going to love this recipe.
15. Strawberry Leaves Jelly
One of the group’s members uses the strawberry tops to make a light-colored jelly.
16. Strawberry Stem Lemonade or Iced Tea
In the next pitcher of homemade lemonade you make, add the strawberry stems for a sweet addition. I like to add lemon juice and the strawberry green leaves to my pitcher or iced tea.
If you’re looking for a great strawberry stem remover, you’ll love this one on Amazon.
You’ve reached the end of What to do with Leftover Strawberry Leaves. I hope you enjoyed it!
Let me know what your favorite ways to use strawberry scraps. Who knew they are one of the those antioxidant-rich foods that has so many different uses?
Don’t forget to join the Creating a Cozy Life group. You’re not going to believe how amazing it is!
I created a pin for you to add to your Pinterest board below.
You can connect with me here on PINTEREST. If you used any of these ideas, be sure to to connect with me on INSTAGRAM.
Thanks for stopping by. I’m so happy you found us.
More Leftover Ingredients You’ll Love
- What to do with Leftover Pesto
- How to use Leftover Potato Peels
- How to Make Egg Muffins Using Leftover Ingredients
- What to Eat with Tzatziki Sauce
- 35 Ways How to Make Canned Refried Beans Taste Better
- The Best Kitchen Hacks You’ll Love!
- What to do with Leftover Broccoli Stems
- What to do with Mint Leaves
