Potato: 22 ways to use it in addition to cooking

Potatoes are present in most homes and are used to prepare the most varied (and delicious) dishes: purees, soups, mayonnaise, gnocchi and much more. Not to mention its tasty stuffed and fried versions, which both children and adults enjoy!

However, what few people know is that the potato has other uses, which go far beyond cooking!

Did you know that potatoes can be used, for example, as compresses? Or even, that they can help reduce dark circles? Well, the list doesn’t stop there. Check out these and other unusual uses of potato:

To health

1. Potatoes can be used in feverish processes to lower body temperature. Just cut a few slices of it raw and apply on the forehead or insteps.

2. You can apply a raw potato poultice (poultice is the use of material between two thin cloths) to relieve sprain pain.

3. Potatoes can help with healing and skin renewal in cases of burns. To do this, just grate the potato and pass it on the spot.

4. With potato skins it is possible to make a tea that helps in blood circulation and improve hypertension problems.

5. Tea made with potato skins also facilitates the digestive processes and detoxification of our body.

6. Juice made from raw potato helps to improve migraine problems and also to fight constipation. It should be consumed on an empty stomach, in the morning.

7. The same raw potato juice acts as a liver and intestinal cleanser and helps to reduce uric acid. One tip is to sweeten it with honey.

8. Raw potato juice is still considered a good ally for the treatment of rheumatism.

9. Potatoes can be made from compresses, replacing the ice pack or hot water. Just heat or cool a potato and wrap it in a cloth or cheesecloth.

for the skin

10. Raw potatoes are rich in minerals such as sulfur, potassium and phosphorus, which stimulate the production of collagen and elastin and therefore can help to provide a more toned and youthful skin.

11. Raw potatoes can also act to prevent and/or improve acne. For this, just apply a few slices on the skin and you can already see its exfoliating property, which will help eliminate dead cells.

12. To reduce dark circles and puffiness, just apply potato slices to your eyes and let it act for about 10 minutes.

13. It is also possible to make a face mask with potato. Boil one unit, knead and add a teaspoon of lemon juice. Apply on the face (taking care with the eyes!) and wait 10 minutes. After that time, wash your face well with warm water.

14. You can also use the water you used to cook the potato to wash your face. The properties of the vegetable help in the fight against skin aging.

15. The skins and a few slices of potatoes can help soothe sunburn by decreasing the redness caused by overexposure to the sun.

16. It is believed that the potato can even help in the disappearance of warts. To do this, just carefully rub a slice over the wart every day.

Other utilities

17. Potatoes can help remove stains and glue from hands. Just pass a slice of raw potato before washing your hands.

18. To clean rusty tools, rub slices of raw potatoes on them, which will help to remove the oxidation caused by rust.

19. Potatoes can also be used to clean and polish cutlery. Use water from cooking potatoes and dip the cutlery in it while it is still warm. Leave it there for about an hour. Then just rinse.

20. To clean shoes made with waterproof material and rubber soles, run a slice of raw potato on them. Then just pass a cloth or a shoe brush.

21. Use a large potato cut in half, lengthwise, as a base for attaching flowers to an arrangement.

22. If your plant has worms in the root, put some slices of raw potato around it. Then, when they pass into the potato, remove them and throw them away.

Did you imagine that potatoes had so many uses besides cooking?! Here are the tips! But it is worth noting that no homemade recipe (in this case, using potatoes) should replace treatments (for skin and health) guided by professionals. So, in cases of doubt, always consult your doctor!