Melis Campbell
When cooking and baking, eggshells are always left over. Especially at Easter. However, the eggshells are far too good to be thrown away. We have eight ideas on how to salvage the micronutrients and recycle the eggshells.
The shells of chicken eggs contain many good components: 90 percent of the shell consists of calcium, but micronutrients such as fluorine, copper, iron, zinc, and silicon are also contained in the shell of chicken eggs.
There are many ways to use the eggshells in the household: as fertilizer, to ward off slugs, for handicrafts, for beauty – and you can even eat the shells.
It is important that you kill all germs by heating.
We have eight ideas on how to recycle eggshells in everyday life:
Egg shells as plant fertilizer
Lime (calcium carbonate) is a classic plant fertilizer. It loosens the soil and is especially helpful in the growth phase of plants. The calcium contained in eggshells does not belong in the garbage, but is much better off in the garden.
For the eggshell fertilizer it is sufficient to simply crumble the eggshells or crush them in a mortar and then spread them directly on the soil.
Egg shells instead of muffin cases
The egg shells are also suitable as a substitute for muffin cases. Small cakes in egg shells are an original idea, especially at Easter. Simply fill the cake or muffin batter into the egg shells and bake in the oven according to the baking instructions.
Egg shells for snail defense
Eggshells are also helpful in fighting snails. However, they may only be roughly crushed. You can then lay out the shards as a protective ring around the plants. The sharp edges keep the snails from the plants.
Egg shells for growing plants
The shells of spooned breakfast eggs quickly become an environmentally friendly substitute for pots. They are suitable for growing cress or for growing seedlings. If you poke a tiny hole at the bottom (for example with a thumbtack), excess irrigation water can drain away.
When repotting in a larger pot, you can simply plant the seedlings together with the eggshell. The eggshell decomposes over time and provides valuable fertilizer.
Egg shells as a dietary supplement
Calcium is an important nutrient for our body: it is essential for building muscles and bones in particular. We have to absorb calcium from food, our body cannot produce the mineral itself.
You can easily make a dietary supplement from eggshells.
Thoroughly wash the eggshells and then boil them in the pot for 10 minutes to kill any bacteria.
Then dry the shells in the oven at 90 degrees for 20 minutes.
Crush the egg shells in a mortar.
You can mix the eggshell powder into muesli, add it to a smoothie, pizza or bread dough. But: Too much calcium is not healthy, it should not be more than half a teaspoon a day.
Eggshell mask for beautiful skin
Powdered eggshells mixed with fresh egg whites are said to keep skin firm. For the face mask, dry the shells of two eggs in the oven (20 minutes at 100 degrees) to kill any germs. Then grind very finely in a mortar.
Mix the powder with whipped egg white and apply to the face with a brush. You should avoid the mouth and eye area. After 15 minutes you can wash off the mask with warm water.
Eggshell candles as table decorations for Easter
You can recycle eggshells for a pretty Easter decoration: Pour some liquid candle wax into the empty egg, add a wick – and then fill the eggshell with the liquid wax. Colored or painted eggshell candles are particularly pretty.
Egg shell scouring paste
Crushed egg shells are also suitable for removing stubborn incrustations in pots and replace chemical cleaning agents. Crush the cleaned egg shells, add them to the pot with a little washing-up liquid, and then use a sponge to remove the dirt.
Not only at Easter: Keep your eyes open when buying eggs
Always buy eggs that have been raised humanely, organic eggs are best, or eggs from local farmers where you know the animals live outdoors.
When buying finished products, also make sure that eggs from species-appropriate husbandry have been processed.
