Eggshells Have Many Useful Applications – Don’t Throw Them Away After Cooking

Eggs are a common cooking ingredient. When used, most people discard the shells, but this is actually a big waste, because eggshells can help us solve many household problems.

Roasting Eggshells

After cooking, you can keep the eggshells, wash them thoroughly, and let them dry. Then, crush the shells into small pieces and roast them in a pan or pot. Roasting the eggshells helps sterilize and kill bacteria, allowing you to preserve them longer. Roast until the shells turn golden and give off a pleasant aroma.

Once cooled, grind the shells into a fine powder using a grinder or mortar and pestle. Store the powder in a sealed container in a dry place for later use.

If you don’t want to roast them in a pan, you can also dry the shells in an oven. After roasting or drying, the shells can be ground into fine powder.

How to Use Eggshell Powder

The main component of eggshells is calcium carbonate. They also contain proteins and trace minerals, all of which are beneficial for plants. You can use eggshell powder as fertilizer for flowers and houseplants.

Simply sprinkle the powder directly onto the soil surface and water it. Nutrients will slowly seep into the soil and be absorbed by the roots.

You can also mix eggshell powder into the soil before planting or when replacing soil for potted plants. This not only provides more nutrients but also improves soil aeration, drainage, and prevents compaction.

Other Uses of Eggshells

1. Cleaning a Thermos Flask

Thermos flasks usually have a narrow opening, making them hard to clean thoroughly. Eggshells can solve this problem.

Wash the shells thoroughly, place them inside the flask, add a bit of hot water, close the lid tightly, and shake the flask well. The shells rubbing against the walls and bottom will remove residue. Additionally, calcium carbonate can activate in high-temperature environments, helping break down stubborn deposits.

After shaking for 3–4 minutes, pour out the shells, rinse the flask several times with clean water, and let it dry.

2. Cleaning a Range Hood

Over time, range hoods accumulate grease, creating an environment for bacteria to grow. Wiping with a cloth and plain water is often ineffective. To enhance cleaning power, you can use eggshells.

Prepare two clean, dry eggshells. Take a disposable face mask, cut one end open, and gently pull apart the layers to create a small pouch. Place the shells inside and tie the opening closed.

Next, prepare a cleaning solution by mixing baking soda, vinegar, a few drops of dish soap, and some hot water in a bowl. Stir well. Dip the mask pouch containing eggshells into the solution and use it to scrub the greasy range hood.

The mixture of baking soda, vinegar, and dish soap helps dissolve grease, while the eggshell-filled pouch increases friction, making it easier and more effective to remove stubborn stains.

Finally, wipe down the range hood once more with a clean cloth.