What do I do with all the eggshells?

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What do I do with all the eggshells? - by Joy Sypher

My family loves eggs. It is one of the few protein choices my grandson will eat. We eat between 8-12 eggs per day and after meal prep days there may be as many as 36 eggs used.

Store egg powder in an airtight container.

I had to find a solution to all the eggshells being thrown out and started researching, "What do I do with all of these eggshells?"

Site after site, video after video all said the same – put them in your garden. So, we got a compost bin, set it up on the counter and it was full the first day from all the eggshells. Yes, they accumulate that fast. I will also point out that it is 119.5 degrees F (48.6 C) in my backyard in the summer and the garden has been shut down. Maybe I can revive it in October.

With the kitchen compost bin full, and the outside compost bin full and still more eggshells showing up every day, there had to be more options.

Side note, Global egg production generated about 8.3 million metric tons (MT) of eggshells in 2019, with most ending up in landfill.
Source: Egg Shells: From Waste to Wealth. Wattagnet.

5 reasons why you shouldn't throw away eggshells.

1. Make your coffee less acidic.

My mom swore by this technique. She grew up during the depression and everything was reused. Specialty roasters for coffee beans weren't readily available, even if you could find coffee to be purchased. She drank what brand and flavor was available at the time, just happy to have coffee beans. To make the acidic beans less bitter and more palatable she added cleaned and crushed eggshells to the grounds before brewing. In the realm of enhancing your coffee experience, eggshells might not immediately come to mind. However, they hold a remarkable ability to counteract the overpowering bitterness that sometimes plagues strong or less-than-desirable coffee. Regardless of whether you're brewing with a drip coffee maker or indulging in a French Press, incorporating eggshells into the process can effectively mitigate that unwelcome bitter taste.

You can even use this trick when adding a raw egg to your coffee as shown here.

2. Prevent your clothes from graying.

It might sound unusual, but the method is surprisingly effective. By placing eggshells and lemon slices into a cloth bag, like cheesecloth (preferably one that's safe for laundry and semi-permeable), and including it in your washing cycle, your clothes will retain their colors more effectively. The eggshells work to preserve the vibrancy of your garments by hindering the buildup of soap residue that can cause clothes to appear dull and dingy. In our home we are trending towards more self-sufficiency and zero waste and laundry and laundry detergents are a real challenge for me. Hard water is my nemesis and I love this tip.

3. Make your own sidewalk chalk.

I've been a homeschooler, a Scout leader and now a grandmother for over 30 years and this trick to make homemade sidewalk chalk is perfect. Crafting your own chalk at home isn't just fascinating but also remarkably simple. All you need to do is blend a teaspoon of flour with an equal amount of hot water, followed by a tablespoon of finely crushed eggshells and a touch of food coloring. Shape the chalk as you desire, allow it to dry over a few days, and relish an immensely enjoyable way to repurpose leftover eggshells.

4. Add to your compost or directly to your soil.

One guilty pleasure I have is buying expensive plants in the spring and watching them die in this intense heat. Or that's what my husband thinks. While I wouldn't claim to be a gardening expert, I've attended several informative lectures, and there's one that has stuck with me—the notion that eggshells might not be as all-purpose as they're often touted to be. For instance, their effectiveness in deterring slugs when placed around plants might not be as foolproof as it sounds, as slugs can actually traverse right over the eggshells. Similarly, the practice of placing eggshells at the base of tomato plants to prevent blossom-end rot may not yield the anticipated results. It's worth noting that simply discarding eggshells onto the soil might not offer the full range of benefits you're aiming for due to their limited bioavailability. Preventing blossom-end rot does benefit from adding calcium into your soil, but large chunks of eggshells is the least effective. To make eggshells more bioavailable for tomatoes and your garden, mix 1 part crushed and baked eggshells to 10 parts brown rice vinegar. Store in a jar and use the liquid as a foliar.

5. The number one reason to save, clean, sanitize and crush your eggshells is to take as a calcium supplement.

Unlocking the Power of Eggshells: Your Ultimate Calcium Supplement

When it comes to ingenious ways of incorporating natural resources into our daily lives, eggshells might not be the first thing that comes to mind. However, these seemingly mundane remnants hold a surprising secret: they can serve as a rich and eco-friendly source of calcium supplementation. I'll share the science behind this unconventional approach and explore why saving, cleaning, sanitizing, and crushing your eggshells might just be the number one solution to bolstering your calcium intake.

The Calcium Conundrum

Calcium, often regarded as the cornerstone of strong bones and teeth, is a mineral that plays a pivotal role in maintaining our overall health. It's essential for nerve transmission, muscle function, blood clotting, and more. While we often associate calcium with dairy products, leafy greens, and fortified foods, the humble eggshell presents a unique opportunity to tap into this essential nutrient. I discovered while researching that the countries that have the greatest consumption of calcium, whether from drinking milk or taking a calcium supplement, also had the highest rates of osteoporosis and low bone mass. Not only that but studies show taking a calcium supplement increases the risk of heart attack. It also increases the risk of kidney stones and increases male risk of prostate cancer and female risk of ovarian cancer. I suffer from kidney stones, and I want my bones to be strong as I continue to age. I kept researching.

Watch Dr. Ken Berry's warning about calcium supplements:

The Eggshell Solution

Picture this: you're enjoying your morning omelet or scrambled eggs, and instead of discarding the eggshells, you embark on a journey to unlock their hidden potential. Saving, cleaning, sanitizing, and crushing eggshells can transform them into a finely powdered supplement that's easy to incorporate into your daily routine.

A Natural Source of Calcium

Eggshells are primarily composed of calcium carbonate. By repurposing eggshells, you're essentially creating your very own natural and cost-effective calcium supplement. This homemade powder can be added to your meals, smoothies, or even used in baking to effortlessly boost your calcium intake.

The Process Unveiled

Save and Clean: After cracking open your eggs, save the shells in a container. To ensure they're free from any remnants, rinse them thoroughly with water. You can freeze these shells in a container until you have 4-8 cups worth and bulk prep, or prep daily. Never store for future processing without freezing.

Sanitize: To eliminate any potential bacteria, you can briefly boil the shells or bake them on a cookie sheet in the oven at 350* (175C) for 1 hr.

Crush and Powder: Once sanitized and completely dry, use a mortar and pestle or a food processor to grind the shells into a fine powder. This powder can be stored in an airtight container for future use. I use my Ninja blender and pulverize into a fine powder.

½ teaspoon gives 90% of daily requirement of a very bioavailable calcium source. (Insert Roxana's eggshell pics here.)

An Environmentally Friendly Choice:

Choosing eggshells as your calcium supplement not only benefits your health but also contributes to environmental sustainability. By repurposing eggshells, you're reducing waste and minimizing your ecological footprint—a small yet impactful step towards a greener lifestyle.

Incorporating eggshell powder into your diet might seem unconventional, but it's a smart and practical way to boost your calcium intake while minimizing waste. By saving, cleaning, sanitizing, and crushing your eggshells, you're tapping into a natural source of this essential nutrient, all while making a positive impact on the planet. So, the next time you crack open an egg, remember that within that fragile shell lies a powerful secret to enhancing your health and well-being.

Written by Joy Sypher
Published August 19th, 2023

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