Onions are one of the most versatile ingredients in the kitchen. They are used in almost every Indian dish - be it in curries to add a depth and pungent kick or as a crunchy, fried topping for biryanis. They easily merge with different flavours and yet add their own distinctive taste that can set your dish apart.
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Not only are onions popular as a cooking ingredient but they are also known for their healing properties. They are a good source of biotin and also contain other essential micro-nutrients such as manganese, copper, vitamin C, potassium and folate.
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While you may have known all this, there's a lot more to explore with this extremely useful ingredient. Here are six surprising ways to use onions that no one probably told you.
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Hair growth: Onion juice is one of the best home remedies to fight hair fall and boost hair growth. Onions contain sulphur that boosts collagen production in the tissues and helps in the regrowth of hair. Hair fall is also often caused due to the absence of high sulphur proteins which leads to breakage and makes your hair strands fragile.
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Clean rusty knives: Have lots of rusty knives lying around in the kitchen? Here's how you can clean them. Slice an onion and rub it all over the knife and on the rusted part. Rust is made up of hydrogen ions, and onions contain a chemical called sulphanilic acid that reacts with these hydrogen ions to break up rust and make your knives shine again.
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Soak up bad smells: While onions are known for their pungent aroma, they may also help in soaking up bad smells. It is suggested to place a cut onion next to your stove to soak up strong smells especially that of burnt food.
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Onion peels for additional flavour: Don't throw away the onion peels. They are rich in fiber and antioxidants such as flavonoids, quercetin, and phenolic compounds. Steep the onion peels in water for five-seven minutes and then use this water in your soups and stews. This adds a wonderful flavour to your curries and gravy-dishes.
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Remedy for a sore throat: Onions are a great natural remedy for a sore throat. To treat a dry or painful throat, sip some onion tea. You can make this by steeping some onion peels in water (1 cup of water will require peels of 12 an onion). Bring it to a boil, remove the onion peel and then drink up to get relief. Onion peels contain natural nutrients to fight cold, flu and cough.
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Clean metal surfaces and utensils: Mix onion juice and water in equal quantities. Dip a soft and clean cloth in this mixture and rub it gently over metallic surfaces. Wash the utensils with lukewarm water and you'll get the sparkling metal back. You can use the same process to clean your stove-tops and grills too.
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