When life hands you lemons, make lemon pepper. Or brighten your laundry. Or freshen your disposal. Or... well, just watch and see.lots of things! For more DIY and recipe ideas, subscribe to our YouTube channel: http://bit.ly/BlogSubs
Six Ways to Use Extra Lemons
Whether you have an over productive lemon tree or you bought a bag of lemons when you just needed one, you might be thinking to yourself, "How the heck am I gonna use all these?" Well you're in luck because lemons are a true wonder fruit! Their acidic properties make them perfect cleaning agents and their rinds are equally useful! Below are six easy way to put all your lemons to good use:
1. Garbage Disposal Freshener
If you find yourself wondering what that weird smell is in your otherwise clean kitchen, chanced are you have a funky disposer on your hands. These guys are an easy fix to get rid of oder quick!
Roughly dice a lemon and put pieces into an empty ice cube tray.
Pour in equal parts water and white vinegar and allow to freeze.
Throw into disposal whenever it needs it!
2. Lemon Pepper
Lemon paper is a quick way to add a lot of flavor to anything from salmon to your morning bagel.
Zest 2-3 lemons until you have about 3 tablespoons worth of zest. Allow to try completely on a sheet of parchment paper.
Pour into a spice grinder (or clean coffee grinder) along with a tablespoon of peppercorns and a tablespoon of chunky sea salt. Pulse grinder until you reach desired texture and keep in a small air tight container.
3. Dessert Bowls
Lemon rind bowls not only look lovely, they lend anything you put inside an extra lemony taste! We used ours with raspberry sorbet topped with dried coconut and fresh basil!
Cut the nubs off the ends of the lemon and slice in half.
Gently run a pairing knife through the pith of lemon, carefully separating the rind from the flesh before scooping out the lemon "meat."
Scoop in your favorite fruity frozen treat! Store in the freezer or serve immediately.
4. Brighten White Laundry
Amazingly all you need to brighten up a dingy sock or dishtowel is a bit of lemon juice! The instructions are simple: Just squeeze in about a half cup of lemon juice in with your regular detergent and voila! Instant brightening!Just don't use this method on colorful cloth that may lose its color.
5. Dust Rags
Lemons and vinegar are truly a dynamic duo. Why not keep some on hand for some quick nontoxic / zero-waste cleanup?
Pour equal parts water and white vinegar over a few dish towels and allow to soak for a minute.
Slice a few pieces of rind off 2-3 lemons.
In a large air-tight container layer the rags with the rind pieces to give them pleasant lemony smell. Use immediately or keep in your fridge for up to a week.
6. Preserved Lemons
Preserving lemons is incredibly simple and renders a much less bitter, more lemony taste in the rind and pith! Chop them up and use atop chicken, pasta or grain salads!
Chop the nubs off 4-5 lemons and slice in quarters about 2/3 through the lemon so that the lemon pieces do not fully separate.
Pour a teaspoon of salt into a large airtight jar and then another into the incisions in the lemon. Squish the lemon down into the bottom of the jar and pour another teaspoon on top. Repeat.
Pour about one lemon's worth over the top and add some water if desired.
Shake occasionally for three days and then keep refrigerated.