Slovak households urged to reuse potato peels and store tubers with fruit to extend freshness

A Slovak guide highlights numerous practical uses for potato peels, recommending they be added to compost or used as a natural fertilizer for garden plants and indoor flowers. The peels can also be dried and ground as a breadcrumb or flour substitute, baked into low‑cost chips, burned to clean chimneys, or brewed into a hair‑darkening rinse. Additional home‑care applications include applying peel extracts to reduce eye‑area swelling and using them as a gentle skin treatment.

Another Slovak article advises proper potato storage to prevent sprouting, softening or rot. Potatoes should be kept in a dry, dark, cool (4‑10 °C) and well‑ventilated environment such as a cellar, wooden crate or perforated bag, avoiding sealed plastic. Placing a few apples or bananas among the tubers releases ethylene gas, which recent research shows can slow sprout formation, contrary to earlier recommendations to keep fruit separate. Together, these tips aim to prolong potato freshness and reduce household waste.