Ways to Use Fresh Lemons
If you find yourself throwing away fresh lemons because you’re unsure how to use them or they spoil before you use them, we’ve got the best uses for fresh lemons! You’ve probably used lemon juice and zest on fish or in salad dressings, but there are many other uses you might not know about. This versatile fruit is not only high in vitamins and minerals, but it’s also a great food preserver and cleaning agent. We always encourage natural ways to eliminate harmful chemicals from our diet and environment, and fresh lemons are a great resource for this. Here’s our list of creative ways to use fresh lemons:
Flavor up your meals.
Lemon juice is a magical little kitchen trick. Squeeze ½ lemon over eggs, into smoothies, over bowls, or any dish, and you’ll get an extra pop of flavor. Lemon juice enhances other flavors within the dish. Try this Lemon Pesto! Or maybe this Lemon Instant Pot Chicken.
Give your water an electrolyte boost.
Squeeze ½ lemon in 8 ounces of water for a boost in nutrients and a hydration bonus. Try our Lemon Ginger Water Recipe!
Use the zest.
The zest of the lemon has nutrients too, so add it to your smoothies, bowls, or any dish you’d like for some extra flavor and texture. Only do this with organic lemons!
Liven up your crock pot meals.
Chop a lemon in half and add it to crockpot or one-pot meals. Remove before serving.
Sooth a sore throat.
Lemons are anti-inflammatory and antibacterial (1-2). Gargling lemon water may sooth a sore throat. Lemons are also high in vitamin C, so drinking lemon water will give your immune system a boost to prevent or fight off a cold.
Preserve fruits and vegetables.
Certain foods like apples, cauliflower, bananas, pears, potatoes, and avocados contain enzymes that turn them brown when exposed to air. This process is called oxidation. After cutting these foods, soak them in cold lemon juice or simply squeeze some juice on the food to prevent browning.
Revive limp lettuce.
There’s nothing worse than trying to make a salad with limp lettuce! Add the juice of half a lemon to a bowl of cold water, then soak the lettuce leaves. Refrigerate for one hour and then pat dry the leaves. Your lettuce with be as crispy as new.
Lemon ice cubes.
Add lemon slices, or lemon juice, to your ice cube trays and freeze. Pop them out and add to your water for a quick and easy way to flavor your water.
Make a marinade.
Add lemons to your favorite oils, seasonings, and herbs to marinate meats. The acidic lemon juice acts as a tenderizer, breaking down the meat’s tough fibers and allowing the marinade to infuse into the meat. The result is a more flavorful and tender meat!
Remove refrigerator smells.
Soak a sponge in lemon juice and place in your refrigerator for a few days to remove stubborn odors. This works better than baking soda and you’re left with a fresh smelling refrigerator!
Clean the garbage disposal.
Freeze lemons and vinegar and put down the garbage disposal to clean and remove stubborn odors.
Clean cutting boards.
Place coarse salt on your cutting board and rub with lemon to remove grease and stains.
Window cleaner.
Remove harmful chemicals from your home by making your own window cleaner. Combine lemon juice, vinegar, cornstarch, and water and use as a class cleaner or any shiny surface. It works like a charm!
Resources:
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4708628/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4085189/
