Tag: Onion peels

Did you know that the papery skins you discard from onions are packed with more antioxidants than the vegetable inside? Boiling onion peels is a simple, zero-waste practice that can unlock a wide array of surprising benefits, transforming kitchen scraps into valuable resources for your home and health.

A single onion bulb contains several distinct outer layers, and while the paper-thin, dry skin is typically inedible, the tough, translucent outer flesh layer is loaded with powerful antioxidants. Knowing the difference between the peel and the flesh can transform your cooking and reduce food waste.

Recent research confirms that the outer skins of onions provide an exceptionally rich source of plant compounds called flavonoids, including the potent antioxidant quercetin, often in higher concentrations than the onion's flesh. By boiling these often-discarded peels, you can extract these valuable compounds for use in a variety of surprising applications around your home and for your health.

According to a review in *Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy*, onion skins contain a more concentrated amount of the potent antioxidant compound quercetin than the onion's flesh. The simple question "Is it safe to eat onion peels?" leads to a surprising answer, revealing a hidden source of nutrition that is often discarded as food waste.

Onion peels contain significantly higher concentrations of flavonoids, like quercetin, than the edible flesh of the onion. This remarkable fact has led many to explore the health benefits of drinking boiled onion peels as a way to access these potent compounds.