Walnuts are delicious and he althy. You don't have to throw away the shells. We have 6 ideas for you on how to use them.
Cracking nuts is fun. But after the nibbles is a pile of rubbish left behind? Not necessarily, because the walnut shells also have their uses and are actually much too good to throw in the bin. There are several ways to put walnut shells to good use while saving money and gaining new experiences in dealing with our natural resources.
What is so special about walnut shells?
As soon as you crack it, you notice that walnut shells are different. The bowl does not represent a uniform whole, but appears to be composed of individual puzzle pieces. The cells do not line up evenly, but are made up of individual lobes that actually interlock and are firmly connected like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.
Tip: Each cell in a walnut shell has up to 14 neighboring cells that form an almost inseparable connection.
The effort of cracking walnuts is not the only special feature. Walnuts are he althy and consist of valuable polyunsaturated fatty acids. Some of these stick to the shell. Therefore, walnut shells are an interesting by-product for a variety of cosmetic, hygienic or creative projects.
The Best Ways to Use Walnut Shells
Before walnut shells end up in the trash, take a closer look at these uses. There's bound to be something that will stop you throwing those bowls away thoughtlessly in the future.
Walnut shells belong in the compost
Disposing of walnut shells in the compost can be useful. The ingredients go from the shell into the soil and increase the nutrient content of the later substrate. Compost itself is a valuable fertilizer and can also be used to mulch plants.
This means that chemical fertilizers can be saved, which is good for both the environment and your wallet.
Because walnut shells are difficult to decompose due to the tannic acid they contain, the shells should be broken into smaller pieces before composting.A hammer can be used for this.
Walnut shells make houseplants thrive
Indoor plants should be repotted more frequently because the substrate loses nutrients. When transplanting, the soil is completely replaced. If crushed walnut shells are mixed into the new soil, the substrate not only becomes looser and the irrigation water can drain off better, the soil is also more nutrient-rich. This means that the green plant needs to be repotted less often.
Walnut shells instead of grill lighters
Few people know that walnut shells are also useful as a firelighter. The fire in the oven can be ignited by filling a walnut shell with paper. Multiple pans can be used on grills and braziers.The paper catches fire, the heat is transferred to the walnut shells. Walnut shells give off an enormous amount of heat, which ignites the wood.
Warning: The nut shells can develop enormous heat. Therefore only put a few bowls into the fire.
Walnut shells in the saucepan
A nutty taste doesn't just come from the walnuts themselves. The peel can also give off flavors. So amateur chefs should experiment with it from time to time.
The walnut shells can be crushed and added to the cooking water in small quantities to round off the taste of soups and sauces. Ground walnut shells combine with chopped walnuts and assorted herbs to create a hearty crust for meat or ham.
Tip: Walnut shells should not be cooked for too long. Otherwise, the food could get a bitter aftertaste.
Crafts with walnut shells
Crafting and decorating with walnut shells leaves a lot of creative freedom. Perhaps you have already been able to marvel at how carvers conjure up small works of art in walnut shells.
The Christmas handicrafts are less filigree. Walnut shells can be painted and integrated into various Christmas decorations, for example. The walnut is also suitable as a Christmas tree decoration or can be integrated into Advent arrangements. When it comes to attractively packaging jewelry and other small gifts, walnut shells are also a clever idea.
A romantic evening can be accompanied by floating candles made from walnut halves. Leftover candles can be used for this.
How to make a walnut shell floating candle:
- Cracking walnuts
- clean undamaged walnut shell half
- Drip wax in
- Insert candle wick
- Set the wax
- Put the walnut shell in a container with water
- Light the wick
Walnut shells for skin and hair
The cosmetics industry also takes advantage of the antibacterial effect of walnut shells. Walnut shell powder serves as a natural coloring agent. Hair and textiles can change colour, so to speak. Adding potash results in an intense reddish brown.
Every cleansing cream can be transformed into a scrub in just a few simple steps. For this purpose, the walnut shells are crushed as finely as possible and added to the cream. The cream is now gently massaged into the face. The remains can then be removed with a cosmetic tissue. The complexion appears rosy and refreshed. Excess skin flakes have come off.
Anyone who is annoyed by plaque shouldn't throw away their nutshells either. Eighty grams of walnut shells are boiled with half a liter of water for 20 minutes. This sauce will keep in the fridge for several days. When brushing your teeth, the toothbrush is dipped into the brew several times and moved over your teeth with light pressure.