© Shutterstock Eggshells in a basketBreakfast, lunch or a delicious muffin, eggs are versatile and highly nutritious. But did you know that eggshells have great benefits?
Eggshells are often rich in calcium carbonate and other minerals, which can be the perfect boost for our gardening needs. In addition, recycled egg shells can be used in the kitchen and are a good way to reduce waste. Win victory!
So before you throw away those leftover eggshells, check out these 11 best eggshells to use in your home and garden.
Amazing ways to use eggshells in your home
Before reusing eggshells, make sure they are clean and free of bacteria. Wash the shell thoroughly inside and out to remove any debris or film stuck to it. It is then recommended to bake the cake on a baking sheet at 150 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes.
1. Boil egg shells in coffee.
It may sound scary to coffee lovers, but eggshells can improve the taste of your coffee. Eggshells are mostly alkaline and act as acid neutralizers. So when you drink a cup or tea with a bitter taste in the morning, the eggshell softens, making it less acidic and more pleasant to drink.
Before brewing, simply add crushed eggshells to ground coffee and it will remove the bitterness. In fact, grinding one eggshell is enough to make four cups of delicious coffee!
2. Add eggshell powder to your food
Eggshells are rich in calcium, so why not include them in your diet? In fact, a University of Florida study found that one eggshell contains 2.2 grams of calcium. An average adult needs only 1 gram of calcium per day, this is an excellent natural calcium supplement.
Make sure to use organic or free range eggshells. It does not contain the latent pathogens often found in factory farmed eggs.
The best way to eat eggshells is to grind them into a fine powder. You can then add 1/2 tablespoon of the powder to a variety of foods, such as soups, stews, pastries, or smoothies. Note that you may find slight changes in composition, but this should not affect the overall taste.
However, if you are not getting enough calcium in your diet or if you have any other nutritional problems, do not eat eggshells.
3. Use egg shells to clean dirty dishes.
If you don't feel like eating eggshells, you can always scrub yourself with them! Eggshells are a mild, abrasive cleaner that's perfect for cleaning dirty pots and pans.
Simply grind eggshells in a dirty pot and add dish soap and warm water to clean them. Washers are very fine dirt and should open and collect any stubborn dirt. Test on a small area of the pot first to avoid scratching or damaging the surface.
Or maybe you want to see the best way to clean and sanitize a stainless steel pan.
4. Remove dirt from coffee cups
Eggshells are great for removing coffee or tea stains from mugs and teapots. Just crush the egg shell and throw it on the colored object. Spray with water before leaving overnight. In the morning, before flushing the drain, add a little water and shake it.
As soon as the stains are gone, you can still use the egg shell again. You can use crushed eggshells on stained glass vases for a glossy finish.
5. Create mosaic crafts.
If you want to get creative or try these Pinterest projects, you can use eggshells to create mosaic crafts, artwork, or even Easter egg coloring.
In fact, eggshell can be an ideal material for mosaics because it can be easily folded into different sizes. You can paint the shell in different colors that can be used to decorate all kinds of accessories like picture frames, mirror frames, candle holders and more. A fun way to reuse eggshells, especially for kids - just be careful about the sharp edges.
6. Seedlings in eggs
If you want to grow seeds outdoors, you can always plant them in an eggshell instead of a pot. In fact, eggshells are the best choice for plants because they get all the nutrients they need to grow.
Simply fill half the shell with soil and insert the seed carefully. A good tip for storing egg shells is to put them back in the egg carton. Then, when the plants have grown enough, you can plant the entire pod into the garden. Then the crust breaks down and supplies the necessary calcium to the surrounding soil. Eggshells are also an eco-friendly and biodegradable choice for storage pots.
7. Fertilize the garden
Eggshells are rich in calcium and other minerals because they help your plants and gardens thrive, you can fertilize them. Simply cut the eggshell into small pieces with a mortar or pestle. And sprinkle around the roots of your plants every two weeks. This will improve your plants and give them a natural growth.
Eggshells are especially good for treating rotten tomatoes. This is mostly due to the lack of calcium in the plant due to dry conditions in the soil. If the level of calcium in the soil is low, the fruit tissue will be destroyed and depressed wounds will be formed on the bottom of the fruit.
To solve this common problem, gardeners recommend placing eggshells directly under the tomatoes when growing tomatoes.
8. Drainage for indoor plants
If you love indoor plants but wonder why they are falling over, it could be because of a lack of drainage. In addition to providing the soil with calcium, eggshells work well as fertilizer for plants.
Simply cover the bottom of the pot with crushed eggshells to help absorb water and drain the plant. Other types of drainage include lava rocks, rocks, or gravel. The roots of the plant do not grow in excess water, so it is important to provide good drainage until the water is drained.
9. Make a high quality compost
Eggshells are a perfect addition to your compost pile as they are rich in calcium and essential minerals. Simply cut the eggshell into small pieces before tossing it into the pile. In fact, the more you squeeze them, the faster they break and rot.
This not only allows calcium to be released over time, but also helps to aerate the soil for better moisture distribution, improving the overall quality of the tree. In addition, having a compost pile reduces the amount of landfill and helps eliminate yard waste.
10. Scatter in the garden to prevent pests
In addition to being a good plant fertilizer, eggshells are a good defense against common garden pests. Soft-bodied insects such as snails and slugs hate and avoid sharp eggshell pulls.
So, if you want to prevent your vegetables or plants from getting infected, simply crush some eggshells and sprinkle them on your vegetables. This will help protect your garden from pests and weeds.
11. Feed the birds
If you want to attract birds to your garden or have bird feeders, eggshells add extra nutrients to your food. Simply cut the eggshells into bite-sized pieces before sprinkling them in a feed mixture or suitable container.
It will be a very nutritious and delicious food for wild birds and even chickens. For more bird feeding tips, check out these tips and tricks to avoid.
