16 Creative Ways to Use Leftover Strawberry Stems
Wondering what to do with leftover strawberry stems instead of throwing them away? These edible strawberry tops can be used in tea, smoothies, compost, infused vinegar, lemonade, simple syrup, homemade jelly, and even dog treats. If you love reducing kitchen waste and getting the most from fresh produce, these creative strawberry stem uses will surprise you.
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.
What to do with Leftover Strawberry Stems
Quick Answer
Leftover strawberry stems can be used to make tea, smoothies, simple syrup, infused vinegar, lemonade, jelly, flavored water, compost, homemade dog treats, strawberry powder, and more.
I read a Facebook post asking for suggestions on what to do with leftover strawberry stems. Strawberries are one of America’s favorite fruits, so we tend to have lots of strawberry tops that usually end up in the trash.
The variety of answers surprised me. There were so many creative ideas! I decided to write an article about it so everyone could benefit from this group’s wisdom.
While fresh strawberries are available year-round, peak strawberry season runs from mid-April through May.
Can You Eat Strawberry Stems?
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, including the leafy greens and stem, is edible and generally considered safe to eat when washed thoroughly.
Strawberry stems are fibrous and nutritious. Who knew these kitchen scraps had 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 contains tannins that help with digestive issues or an upset stomach.
The green tops of strawberries are a rich source of antioxidants that may help support a healthy immune system. You want to make sure you don’t eat moldy strawberry tops.
Many people are surprised to learn that strawberry tops aren’t the only edible scraps worth saving. Broccoli stems are another nutritious ingredient that gets tossed, even though they can be used in dozens of recipes.
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.
16 Creative Ways to Use Leftover Strawberry Stems
1. Feed Strawberry Tops to Pets
Instead of tossing strawberry tops in the trash, save them as a simple treat for backyard chickens, guinea pigs, turtles, rabbits, pigs, and goats.
Strawberry tops can be a fun way to reduce kitchen waste while giving animals a fresh snack they enjoy, especially during the summer months when strawberries are plentiful.
2. Make Simple Syrup
If you have a lot of strawberry greens leftover from making strawberry jam, making a variety of simple syrups might be the perfect way to use them up. You can also make them as gifts for your friends.
Simple syrup is a wonderful way to infuse flavor into cocktails, drinks, and recipes. I found this recipe for Strawberry Stem Simple Syrup. Strawberry tops syrup is used to sweeten cold beverages. Liquid sweetener is easier to blend into drinks than sugar.
3. Add to Smoothies
Freeze your strawberry stems in ice cube trays, then 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 delicious mixed with dried fruits, edible flowers, and fresh mint. If you have extra herbs left over, here are even more creative ways to use fresh mint leaves.
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 with the other fruit and herbs for at least an hour before drinking.
6. Use for Compost
Adding strawberry stems to your compost pile is an easy way to reduce kitchen waste while creating rich, healthy compost for your garden.
Strawberry tops break down quickly and add valuable organic matter that helps improve soil structure, retain moisture, and feed beneficial microbes that keep your garden thriving.
Stems of strawberries make a great addition to worm bins because they break down quickly and provide worms with a moist, nutrient-rich food source that helps create healthy vermicompost for the garden.
If you’re trying to reduce even more kitchen waste, you’ll also find plenty of creative ways to use leftover potato peels instead of throwing them away.
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 also used in homemade beauty products.
9. Strawberry Stem Infused Liquor
Give your favorite spirits a subtle strawberry twist by infusing them with leftover strawberry tops.
Simply place the strawberry scraps in a glass Mason jar, cover them with rum, vodka, or gin, and let the mixture steep for about two weeks. Once strained, the strawberry-infused alcohol adds a fresh, fruity flavor to cocktails, spritzers, and summer drinks.
If you enjoy making drinks with fresh herbs and fruit, you’ll also love growing your own Cocktail Garden filled with garnish-friendly plants.
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
Growing strawberries from strawberry stems is a simple and satisfying way to use kitchen scraps in the garden. If the tops still have seeds attached, you can dry them slightly and plant them in the moist soil to encourage new strawberry plants to grow over time.
It takes patience, but turning leftover strawberry stems into fresh berry plants is a fun, frugal gardening project that feels a little magical. Here’s a video to show you how to do it!
Gardeners also love finding creative ways to use banana peels around strawberry plants because they’re another kitchen scrap that doesn’t have to go to waste.
12. Make Strawberry Stem Vinegar
I love the idea of making fruit scrap vinegar. Here’s a video from Wills Mountain Homestead on making Strawberry Stem vinegar. One of my favorite ways to use strawberry tops vinegar is dressing salads and making 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 fill 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 creamy strawberry salad dressing. You’re going to love this recipe if you like strawberries.
15. Strawberry Leaves Jelly
Strawberry stems can be simmered in water to create a lightly flavored strawberry juice that works beautifully for homemade jelly. Instead of wasting the tops, strain the liquid and turn it into a delicate strawberry jelly with a subtle fruity flavor that tastes wonderful on toast, biscuits, or stirred into yogurt.
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 of iced tea.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you freeze strawberry stems?
Yes. Freeze them in a freezer-safe bag until you’re ready to use them in smoothies, tea, infused water, or homemade syrup.
Are strawberry stems healthy?
Yes. Strawberry stems and leaves contain fiber, antioxidants, vitamin C, and small amounts of minerals, making them a nutritious part of the fruit.
Do strawberry stems taste bitter?
They have a mild grassy flavor with subtle strawberry notes and become much milder when infused into tea, syrup, or vinegar.
What is the best way to store strawberry stems?
Store them in the refrigerator for a few days or freeze them for longer storage until you’re ready to use them.
Can you compost strawberry tops?
Absolutely. Strawberry stems decompose quickly and are an excellent addition to your compost piles or worm bins.
Can dogs eat strawberry stems?
Most dogs can eat small amounts of fresh strawberry stems, but they should always be washed thoroughly and given in moderation.
The next time you hull fresh strawberries, don’t throw those tops away. From homemade tea and infused vinegar to compost and smoothies, there are dozens of creative ways to use every part of the berry. It’s an easy way to reduce food waste, save money, and discover new kitchen ideas from something most people throw in the trash.
If you’re looking for a great strawberry stem remover, you’ll love this one on Amazon.
Let me know what your favorite way to use strawberry scraps. Who knew leftover strawberry stems were one of those antioxidant-rich kitchen scraps with so many creative uses?
If you found these strawberry stem ideas helpful, save the pin below to your Pinterest board so you’ll always have these zero-waste ideas close at hand.
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I recently heard that orange/tangerine rinds are okay to chew & eat, and rinds contain more vitamin C than the fruit itself. The label on bag
of tangerines says fruit is colored and rind coated with RESIN.
Please comment and add my name to your e-mail list.
Do you have recipe for homemade tea(s)?
Hello Marlena!
Yes, orange rinds are wonderful you – just make sure you buy organic. Here’s my article on what to do with leftover orange peels: https://montanahappy.com/what-to-do-with-orange-peels/
I have a cold remedy tea: https://montanahappy.com/cold-remedy-tea/
Apple tea latte: https://montanahappy.com/yummy-cinnamon-apple-tea-latte/
and Bedtime tea: https://montanahappy.com/bedtime-tea-recipe/
Thai Coconut Tea:https://montanahappy.com/thai-coconut-tea/
Thanks for writing in!
Kelly
I love the iinformation on using the strawberry scraps to make vinegar
Thank you Dawn! I appreciate you letting me know. – Kelly
I love the idea of making a “picnic” for deer in my yard with the strawberry tops. What else would be good to add to the deer treat?
My deer love apples and bananas the best. Third place is carrots! – I have very spoiled deer. My neighbors feed the deer dried corn.
This was a great article, at least three ideas I haven’t thought of! Since the strawberries we just picked are not organic I think I’ll still toss the leaves but will rinse the caps and use them!
You’re very welcome! I’m so glad you liked the article. I appreciate you letting me know. – Kelly