Can the skin of lychee be used for anything?
We recently saw and picked up some lychee from the grocery store.
It appears that the skin is inedible, but my girlfriend is wondering if it could be used for anything. Should the lychee skin just be tossed, or can it be used in some way?
Best Answer
The rind is inedible: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lychee
I've had a lot to do with Asian culture, both in and out of the realm of the culinary arts, and have never seen or heard of lychee rind used for anything. There are some fruits like lime, lemon, grapefruit, etc., wherein the rind can be used for other purposes, or even eaten. However, in this case, I think the most you could do to make use of it is to compost it and use it as nourishment for a garden. -- Which would certainly help feed your plants. :)
Another idea that is that sometimes things are put on the plate purely for decoration. The peel could be cut into decorative shapes and put on the plate with the peeled lychees, if you have guests over. You just need to make sure they know the peel is not edible. I've never tried this before, so I cannot attest to how well they work for this purpose, but it's an idea more relevant to cooking/presentation.
Pictures about "Can the skin of lychee be used for anything?"
What do you do with lychee peels?
Simply peel and eat Lychees can be pitted and added to fruit salads or used in sweet and sour dishes and salads. They make a tasty accompaniment to pork and duck.Can I eat lychee skin?
Lychee needs to be peeled and the husk and stone discarded. The seed is slightly poisonous, and only the white flesh is edible. Be gentle because it is a delicate fruit, and work over a bowl to capture any juice. There's no need to wash lychee before or after peeling.What part of lychee is poisonous?
Hypoglycin A is a naturally-occurring amino acid found in the unripened litchi that causes severe vomiting (Jamaican vomiting sickness), while MCPG is a poisonous compound found in litchi seeds that cause a sudden drop in blood sugar, vomiting, altered mental status with lethargy, unconsciousness, coma and death.Why we should not eat lychee?
And when kids eat plenty of lychees on an empty stomach, it rapidly decreases their blood sugar levels, leaving them exposed to the adverse effects of the fruit. This, in turn, can lead to a wide range of health issues, including excessive fatigue, dizziness, memory loss, drowsiness, and even death.Thai Foods | How to peel and remove seed lychee
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Plato Terentev, Andrea Piacquadio, Andrea Piacquadio, Andrea Piacquadio