Unlock garlic's hidden potential: Eco‑friendly uses for peels
Garlic is an indispensable ingredient in many dishes. Before adding it to a meal or chopping it, you need to remove the peel. Most often, these peels end up in the bin, but my grandmother carefully collected them in a box. Her trick can work in almost every home.
10 October 2024 13:53
Our grandmothers practised zero waste in the kitchen long before the concept became fashionable. Mustard jars were turned into glasses, peels found their way onto the compost heap, and many a grandmother could whip up a delicious soup from vegetable scraps. Garlic peels often end up in the rubbish, but wasting their undiscovered potential is a shame. Here’s how you can use them in your kitchen.
How to use garlic peels?
At my grandmother’s, you wouldn’t find spoiling vegetables and fruits in the basket. Instead, garlic peels found their place there—a trick worth applying in your kitchen. The antioxidants in garlic peels slow down oxidative processes, translating into longer freshness for stored products. It’s a simple and effective way to reduce food waste while using what appears to be a useless by-product.
Garlic peels can also be helpful for houseplant lovers. Are you struggling with aphids, spider mites, or other pests on your plants? Gather a few peels, pour warm water over them, and leave them for 4–5 days. After this time, strain the infusion through a sieve. Pour the liquid into a spray bottle and apply it to the plants and the soil in the pots. Repeat this treatment several times a week. Garlic and onion peels contain sulphur compounds that repel insects. Regularly spraying plants with this natural remedy creates a protective barrier, shielding them from pests.
Garlic inhalations
Garlic is a well-known remedy for ailments—many of us have probably had the chance to drink milk with this addition. For autumn ailments, the peels themselves can also be effective. Simply heat a few garlic peels on a dry pan. By inhaling the aromatic vapours, you provide your body with natural support in fighting infections. It’s a natural way to boost immunity and clear the nasal passages.
