Most people throw away the peel after eating a mango. But the peel also holds some of the fruit's nutrients and its natural aroma, which can be put to various uses. With a few simple tricks, mango peel can be quite useful. Here are some easy uses.

Like different mango varieties, their peels can have distinct and pleasant smells. To get rid of unpleasant odours in the kitchen or house, boil mango peel in a pot of water, and the steam will spread a light fragrance. You can also cool the water, store it in a spray bottle and use it while cleaning.

Mango peel can be dried well in the sun, ground into powder and stored. Some of the vitamin A, vitamin C and beta-carotene found in mango is also present in the peel, and the powder can be used as a gentle scrub in skin care.

Boil well-washed mango peel in a little water, then strain out the peel. Add enough sugar to the water and stir until it dissolves, with a little salt to taste if you like. When the mixture thickens, take it off the heat, let it cool and store it in a glass bottle or jar. It will keep the sweet aroma of mango peel.

Dried mango peel mixed into soil slowly decomposes and adds minerals, so it can work as a natural fertiliser. Soaking the peel in water can also make a liquid fertiliser.

Small pieces of peel can be scattered on the soil of potted plants. The smell of mango peel may help keep some kinds of insects away, making it a useful extra aid in caring for plants.

Mango peel is not just waste: it can be used to keep the house smelling fresh, in skin care, to make jelly, to prepare organic fertiliser and in gardening. So next time, think twice before throwing it away after eating a mango.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.