10 uses and benefits of garlic and onion skin

Team Udayavani, Mar 26, 2020, 8:21 PM IST

Normally, people tend to throw out onion and garlic skins thinking they are of no use. But, if you grew up in an Indian household then you might remember your mom and grandmother saving the skin and using it for various purposes.

Although, it may seem like just throw-away packaging, you’ll be surprised to learn they are nutrient dense and have several uses.

The outer skins of onion and garlic provide an excellent source of vitamins A, C, E, and numerous antioxidants. The skins of onions are also a antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.

Uses of garlic and onion skins

• Mix in some onion skins when cooking rice to add extra vitamins. Make sure to let them steep as the rice cooks. Remove the skins after cooking.
• The skins on both vegetables are great for infusing flavor into soups, sauces and stocks.
• Boil onion skins for 10-20 minutes making an infusion. Drain the skins from the water and drink it as a tea before bed to help relieve muscle cramps.
• Do not remove the skins of your garlic when you roast them as it will keep the inner part soft from inside and at the same time adds the healthy nutrients.
• Brew up a cup of onion skin tea. Simply pour boiling water over several onion skins, cover and let soak for fifteen minutes. Strain the tea and enjoy. It is best to induce sleep.
• Garlic and onion skins are great way to add nutrients to your compost pile.
• It is said that, Onion skins also make a great hair dye, turning it golden brown. Simply add onion skins to a pot of water and boil for 30-60 minutes. Let cool overnight, then strain and pour over clean hair. Leave in for 30 minutes, then rinse.
• Onion and garlic skins anti-fungal properties make them effective at relieving itchy skin problems. Apply onion-infused water to your skin for relief.
• Boil onion peels in the water for ten minutes. Then gargle. This will help reduce the inflammation in throat with its anti-inflammatory properties.
• If you have dry and damaged hair, then treat it with onion peels. Mix onion skin in water and boil it for 10 minutes. Then wash your hair with a regular shampoo. Rinse hair with this liquid so that your hair becomes soft and smooth.