I always save the garlic skins: I’ll tell you my grandmother’s secret!

Saving garlic skins is a practice with numerous benefits, many of which have been passed down through generations. Your grandmother’s secret might be one of the following ingenious uses for garlic skins:

1. Nutrient-Rich Plant Fertilizer

Garlic skins are rich in nutrients such as potassium, phosphorus, and calcium. Here’s how you can use them to create a natural fertilizer:

Ingredients:

• Garlic skins
• Water

Preparation and Application:

1. Soak Skins: Place garlic skins in a container and cover them with water. Let them soak for 24-48 hours.
2. Strain: Strain the mixture, retaining the nutrient-rich water.
3. Water Plants: Use the garlic-infused water to water your plants. This provides them with essential nutrients and can help improve their growth and health.

2. Pest Repellent

Garlic has natural insect-repelling properties. Garlic skins can be used to deter pests from your garden.

Preparation and Application:

1. Scatter Skins: Scatter garlic skins around the base of your plants. The smell of garlic can help repel pests such as aphids, slugs, and other garden invaders.
2. Garlic Spray: Alternatively, make a garlic spray by boiling garlic skins in water for 20 minutes. Let the solution cool, strain, and pour it into a spray bottle. Spray the solution on your plants to deter pests.

3. Compost Additive

Garlic skins are an excellent addition to your compost pile. They break down and add valuable nutrients to your compost, enhancing the quality of your soil.

Preparation and Application:

1. Add to Compost: Collect garlic skins and add them to your compost pile. Ensure they are mixed well with other compost materials to promote even decomposition.
2. Enhance Compost: Regularly adding garlic skins can help create nutrient-rich compost, which improves soil fertility and plant health.

4. Flavor Enhancer in Cooking

Garlic skins can be used to enhance the flavor of various dishes, especially in broths and soups.

Preparation and Application:

1. Broths and Soups: Add garlic skins to broths, stocks, or soups while they simmer. They impart a mild garlic flavor to the liquid. Just remember to strain the skins out before serving.
2. Rice and Grains: Add garlic skins to the water when boiling rice or other grains for an extra flavor boost.

5. Homemade Garlic Powder

You can make homemade garlic powder using garlic skins for an extra burst of flavor.

Ingredients:

• Garlic skins

Preparation and Application:

1. Dry the Skins: Spread garlic skins on a baking sheet and dry them in a low-temperature oven (about 150°F or 65°C) until they are completely dry and brittle.
2. Grind: Once dried, grind the garlic skins into a fine powder using a spice grinder or a blender.
3. Store: Store the garlic powder in an airtight container and use it as a seasoning in your cooking.

Conclusion

Garlic skins are versatile and beneficial, offering numerous uses in gardening and cooking. By repurposing garlic skins as fertilizer, pest repellent, compost additive, flavor enhancer, or even homemade garlic powder, you can take advantage of their valuable properties and reduce waste. Embrace your grandmother’s secret and enjoy the myriad benefits that garlic skins can bring to your home and garden!