30 interesting ways to use lemon
If life has given you a lemon, make lemonade. But what to do with all this zest? Don't throw it away — let it serve the cause. Lemon juice contains about 5-6% citric acid and a pH level between 2 and 3. This makes it an ideal assistant in the safe cleaning of kitchen surfaces from scale and mineral stains.
Learn about these and other interesting ways to use lemons from our issue.
Dead skin cells can be removed with the help of alpha- and beta-hydroxyl acids, which are contained in lemon. It is also worth noting that lemon can be used to combat acne, as well as pigmentation. There are several recipes for making lemon-based scrubs, and some scrubs can be found ready-made in specialty stores.
You can make your own lemon peel:
From the manicure masters you can learn about a simple recipe for nail care: cut half a lemon and squeeze lemon juice into a cup filled with warm water. Dip your fingertips into the cup and hold for 3-5 minutes . Next, use lemon zest to rub the nail plates.
Are you seasick or sick of an unpleasant smell? Just cut off a slice of lemon and hold it in your mouth for a while — the malaise should pass.
This fruit is an excellent tonic. You can make a tonic from it, which will cleanse, disinfect, and also refresh your skin. Usually lemon tonic is prepared using mineral water and honey.
If you dilute lemon juice in water, then the resulting product can disinfect the oral cavity (citric acid is able to destroy bacteria), which will also get rid of the unpleasant smell. Do not forget to rinse your mouth with water after that, otherwise citric acid will begin to corrode the enamel of your teeth.
Fill the tub with foam and add a little essential lemon oil to it. Such baths not only relax, but also help to fight excess weight.
There is an old recipe for fighting dandruff: it is advised to cut lemon into slices and rub the hair roots 1-2 times a week. After each time, wash your hair in the usual way. But it is worth noting that this method is not suitable for those with dry skin, because lemon dries the skin.
There are many ways to use lemon essential oil, for example, for inhalation during a cold. Just add the oil to a glass of water (2-3 drops per glass) and breathe over the solution for about 5 minutes.
With the help of lemon juice, you can get rid of unpleasant odors and hard-to-wash stains on your hands.
Daily use of lemon with water is a great way to enrich your body with useful vitamins and minerals.
If you mix 2 teaspoons of lemon juice and half a teaspoon of honey, you can create a good remedy for sore throat and cough. You can also mix juice, honey and hot tea.
Wipe the place where the wasp stung with lemon juice to ease the pain.
Create a lemon zest seasoning. Just grate the zest on a fine grater, and you will enrich the taste of almost any dish. This seasoning should be stored in the freezer.
Create a spicy mixture using black pepper, salt, garlic, onion and, of course, lemon zest (you can add turmeric to it). This seasoning is suitable for fish and meat dishes. Here's how to make a mixture:
Grate the zest and put it in a bowl.
Pour a little black pepper or a mixture of several peppers.
Stir the whole mixture.
Spread the mixture evenly on baking paper (on a tray).
Place the pan in the oven at the lowest temperature and leave for about an hour. Occasionally check the condition of the seasoning.
Next, pour the mixture into a coffee grinder and grind.
After grinding, you can add salt to the mixture — but this is not necessary — and mix again.
This mixture can be used all year round.
* It is worth noting that lemon sugar can also be used in the preparation of some cocktails.
To preserve the freshness of fruits such as apples, bananas and avocados for a long time, simply sprinkle them with lemon juice.
Lemon slices, as well as pieces of zest, can be used as a decoration for drinks — just freeze them in water using ice molds.
Add a little zest to the brown sugar, and it will not be raw.
To store the lemon longer, cut it into slices and each slice into 4 parts. Put each piece in the freezer and use it when needed.
To squeeze out more lemon juice, twist the fruit in your hands, squeeze it a little and only then cut and squeeze out the juice. You can also pre-soak a lemon in hot water.
Pour the salad with a mixture of lemon juice and olive oil — the salad will not only taste better, but also acquire a pleasant smell.
Mix lemon juice from three lemons and water in a blender and stir. Add sugar to taste, stir again. Add ice and a mint leaf and serve.
Prepare lemon zest and vinegar. Put the lemon peel in a container, pour vinegar and close the lid. Leave the solution to infuse for 2 weeks. After that, strain the tincture and dilute with water in a ratio of 50/50. Now you can clean different surfaces.
The smell of citrus can scare away ants that can't stand it. Just sprinkle a little lemon juice on places where insects can hide (baseboards, window sills). The same can be done to scare away cockroaches and fleas.
This fruit boasts natural whitening properties. It can be used to remove stains (rust), as well as to "refresh" cotton products. Before washing, add a small amount of citric acid to the machine.
If you put lemon zest in the refrigerator, it will not only absorb unpleasant odors, but also give a pleasant aroma.
If you find scale in your kettle and/or on the heating element, use citric acid to clean it. The kettle needs to be boiled and then rinsed and boiled again.
Prepare a bowl that can be used in the microwave, fill it half with water, add a little lemon juice (a couple of drops) and put it in the microwave.
Turn on the oven for 3-5 minutes. The water should boil off, and condensation will remain on its walls. Wipe this condensation with a towel and you're done.
Cutting boards: with a solution of lemon juice and water, you can clean the cutting boards and remove the unpleasant smell from them.
Plastic containers: in addition, you can clean plastic containers with lemon peel, getting rid not only of odors, but also of stains.
Mirrors: they can also be cleaned with a solution of lemon juice and water. You need 2 tablespoons of juice for 2 liters of water.
Shiny furniture: make a solution of lemon juice and sunflower oil in a ratio of 1 to 2 and wipe the furniture with it — it will be almost as new.
From time to time, you can throw lemon peel into the urn to make the smell a little more pleasant.