Lemons are kitchen superstars. They brighten up our dishes with their zesty flavor and vibrant color. From sweet desserts to savory meals, lemons are incredibly versatile. We often use their juice, but what happens to the rest of the lemon? It often ends up in the trash. But before you toss those leftover lemons, consider this: they still have plenty to offer!
This article will show you resourceful and clever methods to use every bit of your leftover lemons. You’ll reduce food waste and enhance your cooking and home.
Zest Before You Juice
Before juicing your lemons, take a moment to zest them. Lemon zest is the colorful outer layer of the peel and is packed with essential oils. It adds a burst of flavor to many dishes.
Ways to use lemon zest:
- Mix it into roasted vegetables with Parmesan cheese.
- Add it to marinades and salad dressings for a citrusy zing.
- Create lemon or lime salt by combining zest with large-grain salt.
- Infuse sugar with lemon zest to make citrus sugar.
- Dry the zest and grind it into a powder to use as a meat rub with herbs and spices.
- Freeze lemon zest in a container or mason jar to use later.
Make Lemon Syrup
Don’t throw away those juiced lemon rinds! Use them to make a no-cook lemon syrup. This syrup is easy to make and adds a delicious lemon flavor to many treats.
How to make lemon syrup:
- Combine 2 parts lemon rinds with 1 part granulated sugar by weight.
- Cover the mixture and let it sit at room temperature overnight.
- Strain the syrup and enjoy.
Ways to use lemon syrup:
- Glaze lemon loaf.
- Drizzle it on sourdough pancakes or waffles.
- Add it to kombucha or water kefir.
- Make mocktails and cocktails.
- Add a spoonful to a glass of iced tea.
- Drizzle it onto fruit salad.
Create Lemon Pulp Recipes
After juicing, the lemon pulp still has a lot to offer. Instead of discarding it, explore ways to incorporate it into your daily routines and recipes.
Ideas for using lemon pulp:
- Lemon Puree: Boil leftover lemon halves until they soften, then blend them in a food processor. Store the puree in the fridge and add it to sweet or savory dishes.
- Clean stainless steel pots and pans.
- Add it to compost.
Make Cleaning Vinegar
Infuse lemon peels in vinegar to create a natural and effective cleaning solution. This method works well with grapefruit peels, too.
How to make cleaning vinegar:
- Fill a gallon jug with lemon peels.
- Pour vinegar over the peels.
- Let it sit for a few weeks.
- Use the infused vinegar for cleaning.
Simmer in Water to Clean Microwave
Clean your microwave with leftover lemons. Simmer lemon slices in water inside the microwave. The steam will loosen any gunk, making it easy to wipe away.
Deodorize and Clean Your Sink Disposal
Freshen your sink disposal with leftover lemon peels. Throw in 2-4 peels at a time and run the disposal with water. This will help clean the blades and make your sink smell fresh. Be sure to cut the peels into smaller pieces to prevent clogs.
Make Oleo Saccharum
Create oleo saccharum, a citrus-flavored syrup, by extracting citrus oils into sugar. This syrup can be used in cocktails and baking.
How to make oleo saccharum:
- Combine lemon peels with sugar in a jar.
- Seal the container and let it sit for at least 6 hours.
- Add water and stir until the sugar dissolves.
- Blend the mixture and strain the peels.
- Bottle the syrup and refrigerate.
Infuse Vodka
Infuse leftover lemons in vodka to create a citrus-flavored spirit. Add thyme for extra flavor.
Freeze It
Freezing lemons or lemon juice is a great way to preserve them for later use.
How to freeze lemons and lemon juice:
- Lemon slices: Rinse, dry, and slice lemons into rings. Arrange the slices on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze. Once frozen, transfer the slices to a freezer-safe bag.
- Lemon zest: Zest lemons and transfer the zest to a freezer-safe container or mason jar.
- Lemon juice: Pour lemon juice into an ice tray and freeze. Once frozen, transfer the ice cubes to a freezer-safe bag.
Make Lemonade
Use leftover lemons to make refreshing lemonade. You can blend whole lemons with water and sugar for a serious lemon lover’s drink.
Add to Dishwasher
Put juiced lemons in your dishwasher to cut through grease and make your dishes shine. The citric acid in lemons helps clean and deodorize. Place the lemons in the cutlery rack to prevent clogs.
Make Marmalade
Use lemon peels to make marmalade. Lemon peel provides pectin, so you only need sugar and a pinch of salt. Marmalade can be made with other citrus fruits like tangerines.
Clever Ways to Use Leftover Lemons
Here’s a list of additional ways to use leftover lemons:
- Flavor Water: Use lemon slices to flavor your water.
- Compost: Add leftover lemons to your compost pile.
- Clean Dishes at a Picnic: Rub a lemon across your dishes to clean grease.
- Preserve in Salt: Preserve lemon peels in salt for cooking.
- Make Candied Peels: Candied lemon peels make great gifts. Dip them in dark chocolate for an even better treat.
- Dry Them for Tea: Dry lemon peels and use them to make tea.
Conclusion
Leftover lemons are incredibly versatile and useful. By using these creative ideas, you can reduce waste, save money, and enjoy the many benefits of lemons. From cleaning to cooking, there’s a clever way to use every part of this amazing fruit.