You are making big mistake by throwing onions, garlic skin away

You are making a big mistake by throwing onions and garlic skin away


The latest culinary trend is called “root-to-stem” cooking, where no part of the vegetable goes to waste. Most of us have been doing that for years, in fact, in your grandmother’s day, it would be unthinkable to toss any part of a vegetable–everything was used.  But what about the peels of onions and garlic, which we usually toss in the trash? Can you really utilize those? Yes, you can!

Onions and garlic are possibly the most widely used vegetables in all world cuisines. But most of us throw away their outer skins and peels. That papery covering may seem like just throw-away packaging, but you’ll be surprised to learn they are actually nutrient dense and have a several household uses as well.


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 rich source of flavonoids, particularly quercetin, a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.

Peeling garlic removes the phenylpropanoid antioxidants which protects the heart and helps to fight the aging process along with helping to boost immunity and lower cholesterol.

Some Uses of Onion Skins and Garlic skins are:

Relieve muscle cramps:
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.

Cure leg cramp:
This is one of the best and easy home remedies to cure leg cramps. All you need to do is to boil the onion skins in water for 10-20 minutes, making an infusion. Drain the skins from the water and drink it as tea before bed. You will see the difference between 4-5 days.

Induce sleep:
As a natural sleep aid, 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 (or use a tea ball) and enjoy.

Alleviate itchy skin:
Onion and garlic skins’ anti-fungal properties make them effective at relieving itchy skin problems, including athlete’s foot. Apply onion-infused water to your skin for relief.

Prevent mosquitoes bite:
Put onions skins in a bowl, add water to cover it and leave it in the corner of your room and mosquitoes will not come near.


Good for Fever and Colds:
It is recommended to use onion peel tea to protect against fever, colds, cough, sore throat, allergies, etc. because the mixture of onion tea helps in the treatment of these problems easily. Using a simple piece of onion peel on the forehead protects against the side effects of the fever.

Stops Nose bleeding:
The inhalation of a small piece of onion husks stops the bleeding of the nose and even slow the bleeding.

Can improve digestive functions:
Onion peel helps in improving the digestive system and if you have digestive problems the onion is a perfect remedy because it increases the secretion of digestive juices.
You can protect yourself from osteoporosis and arteriosclerosis from regularity to daily consumption.

Good for Diabetes:
The onion increases insulin in the body and is therefore a natural cure for diabetes by controlling blood sugar.

Alleviates tooth ache:
You can use onion tea to get rid of toothache.

Treats insects bite:
You can use onion tea to treat wound healing and insect bites very effectively.

Kills intestinal worms:
When you consume onion tea you can kill the worms in the intestine and in this case protects against stomach cramps, vomiting and nausea and thus expels the parasites.

Anti-inflammatory:
The onion tea works as a powerful anti-inflammatory agent and thus reduces the inflammation that occurs in different parts of the body.

Alleviates skin irritations:
If you have any skin disease, you can rub the skin with onion peel. This can help you get rid of any irritation. Especially when rubbing gently on the affected area and then washing the skin with mild soap.

Add nutrients to compost:
Garlic and onion skins are great way to add nutrients to your compost pile.

Hair dye:
Onion skins also make a great hair dye, turning it a beautiful 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.


Note that you should be sure to use organic onion peel because other types contain pesticides that harm your health and also if you are pregnant or breastfeeding do not try to use these methods because it can result in irritation of the skin.

Can’t use them now? Freeze them! Simply store skins in a plastic bag or freezer-safe container and freeze them for later use.