Are you planning to make fries for lunch or for dinner? So a piece of advice: don’t throw the potato peelings in the trash! We suspect that this is a systematic reflex and that you are certainly not in the habit of keeping these bulky peels. But, as long as you are a fan of recycling, you will be delighted with the multiple uses of this food waste. If you knew how useful these peels are in the kitchen, in the garden and even as a beauty product, you won’t be able to do without them!
What a shame to get rid of them, when you know that potato peelings are rich in fiber, iron, calcium and potassium. Obviously, they must serve a good purpose. Well, you would be surprised at all the amazing uses of these barks. Even their cooking water can work wonders. Dive into this article quickly: you won’t believe everything you’ll learn!
Leave the potato peelings in water for 48 hours
The potato is one of the most consumed foods in the world. As its taste is unique and recognizable among thousands, it is commonly found in the pantry of all homes. Frying, steaming, mashed or in soup, its culinary variations are unlimited. But usually, after washing and cleaning it well, we automatically get rid of its peelings. And that’s wrong: from now on, you have to think twice before wasting these peels. Far from being ordinary garbage, potato peels are full of minerals (iron, zinc, magnesium and calcium) which will delight your plants.
You didn’t realize it, but these peelings are very useful for your vegetable garden in the garden or for your indoor flower pots. Their strength: they promote the growth of plants. Thus, the skin of potatoes turns out to be an excellent fertilizer to boost their growth. Simply gather all the potato peels and add them to the compost to enrich the substrate for your plants. Bury them at the base of the plants. As a bonus, they act as a natural weedkiller and fight against garden pests.
Another effective tip: Watering is the most common way to use potato skins to feed flowers. Put the peels in a liter of water and let them soak for 48 hours. Then, filter the water and water your flowers indoors. The latter will benefit from all their nutrients. But be careful, in decoction or infusion, it is only advisable to water it once a month.
What else can you do with potato peelings?
- Making Chips : Why buy industrial chips when you can make them at home? Yes, this probably surprises you, but you can use these peels to make delicious, delicious and crispy chips. Make sure to wash them thoroughly and clean them first. Boil the pieces in the pan for a few minutes. Then put the peels in ice water and drain them using a disposable napkin or clean cloth. Then in a large salad bowl, soak them in olive oil, grated cheese and spices (garlic powder, paprika, pepper and salt). You can then choose to cook them in an oven preheated to 200°C or directly in an oil bath. A real treat on the plate!
- Clean Utensils : You didn’t know it, but potato peelings have amazing cleaning properties. You can use them to remove encrustations in the kitchen. Boil them and use them, for example, to shine steel dishes, pans and plates.
- Make Stainless Steel Shine : You can also use it to clean and give shine to your stainless steel objects. The method is very simple: just rub your pieces with the inside of the bark. And it really works, the shine is there!
- Purify the Frying Oil : To avoid waste, there is no need to throw away your frying oil when it gives off an unpleasant scent. You can deodorize it using potato peels. All you have to do is heat the oil in the pan for 5 minutes and add some peels. Once the oil is well filtered with the strainer, you will notice that it is clean and free of any bad odors. Ready to use again!
- Soothe Burns : Another unexpected tip, but very practical. To relieve a small accidental burn, the thick skin of a potato is very effective. Use it as a bandage that you can fix with a piece of adhesive tape. Very quickly, the pain will become nothing more than a bad memory.
- Against Sunburn : Likewise, these barks greatly relieve nasty sunburns in summer. And this is thanks to the starch contained in the skin of the potatoes. Apply the inside of the peel to areas of the body that reveal redness. By repeating the operation several times, the skin will soon be soothed and relieved.
- Treating Acne and Skin Imperfections : This is another most surprising use. To reduce all these unsightly little pimples, all you have to do is apply the peelings to the skin. Leave to act for 5 minutes. If you carry out this method regularly in the evening before sleeping, you will reduce the secretion of sebum, responsible for oily and acne-prone skin.
- Reduce Dark Circles and Bags Under the Eyes : Usually, it is the cucumber slices that work their magic on this part of the face. It turns out that potato peelings also have a say in this matter. To reduce dark circles, simply place two peels under the eyes and leave to act for several minutes. You can establish this ritual regularly, especially after a few very festive evenings. The next day, your eyes will be fresh and available!
- Stimulating Hair Growth : This is another unusual tip that will leave you speechless. Why not alternate your oil baths with this natural method to take full advantage of the benefits of these peelings and accelerate the growth of your hair? The technique is easy to perform: clean the peelings well and mix them in a blender to extract the juice. Very rich in nutrients, this liquid will help nourish and strengthen the hair fiber to boost length growth. Apply it directly to the entire hair like a mask and massage the scalp well. Leave it on for around twenty minutes before the usual rinse. If you do this treatment regularly, your hair will grow faster!
The benefits of Potato Peelings
- Potato peel is an excellent source of potassium: it provides enough energy to stimulate metabolism. It is also rich in iron which helps support the proper functioning of erythrocytes, red blood cells.
- Potato skins are a natural source of flavonoids that have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, thereby protecting the body from all kinds of infections.
- Thanks to their mineral content (potassium, magnesium and calcium), these peelings also contribute to maintaining normal heart function by naturally controlling blood pressure.
