Did you know that lemons can be added to more than just tea? We are learning to use this unusual fruit in everyday life, cooking, and in the field of beauty.
Cooking
- Lemon zest seasoning. Finely grated zest is a great savory addition to many dishes. Store this seasoning in the freezer.
- Lemon pepper. It is a spicy blend of black pepper, salt, garlic, onion, turmeric, and lemon peel. It is used to prepare various dishes, especially good for grilled fish and meat. You can make lemon pepper at home.
- Candied fruit. It’s easier than it sounds to make this favorite childhood treat. Boil the pre-soaked lemon peels in sugar syrup and then dry them.
- Lemon sugar. Many people love lemon tea. There is a new recipe for them; grate lemon zest put in a plastic container, and cover with granulated sugar. Lemon sugar is also used in various cocktails.
- Freshener for fruits. Sliced bananas and apples turn black quickly. To avoid this and keep the “festive” look of these fruits for a long time, sprinkle them with lemon juice.
- Lemon olive oil. If you want to add a pleasant, light lemon scent to regular olive oil, use the following tip. Cut the lemon zest and place it in a jar of butter. Let it brew for two weeks (shaking the jar from time to time). Then strain the oil through a strainer, pour into a bottle and use for cooking.
- Limoncello. Lifehacker has already talked about how to make this delicious Italian liqueur.
- Lemon ice. Spirals of lemon zest or whole lemon wedges can become an original decoration and tasty addition to various drinks if you freeze them with water in ice cube trays.
- “Preservative” for cane sugar. If you put a little lemon zest in a box with brown sugar, it will not damp.
- Lemon cream. Perfect for soaking biscuits, as well as ice cream and other desserts.
Also read: 15 Simple Tricks That Can Help You, Cook, Better
Everyday life
- Cleaning agent. Lemons make an excellent cleaner and disinfectant. To prepare it, you will need lemon zest and vinegar. Lemon peels should be placed in a jar, covered with vinegar, covered, and left for two weeks. After 14 days, strain the resulting tincture, dilute with water (50 to 50), and you can start cleaning.
- Insect repeller. Ants can’t stand the smell of citrus fruits to get rid of them, pour lemon juice on baseboards, windowsills, and other places where they hide. Also, lemon is effective against cockroaches and fleas.
- Bleach. Lemon has natural bleaching properties. To give white cotton garments a fresher look and get rid of some stains (such as rust), add some citric acid to the machine before washing.
- Refrigerator freshener. Lemon peel absorbs unpleasant odors, and in return, gives a pleasant citrus aroma.
- Descaler. Over time, scale builds up on the heating elements of metal and plastic kettles. However, it is straightforward to get rid of it. To do this, you need to boil a kettle with citric acid. After which, it should be thoroughly rinsed and boiled again.
- Microwave cleaning. Many homemakers are already familiar with this hack; we take a bowl designed for microwave cooking, fill it halfway with water, add a few drops of lemon juice and send it to the microwave for 3-5 minutes at maximum power. The water boils away, condensation forms on the stove walls, which must then be wiped off with a towel. The dirt will disappear with it.
- “Firewood.” Dry lemon zest burns great. It can be used instead of paper for kindling a fireplace or lighting a fire.
- Cutting board odor eliminator. Onions, fish, garlic – smells from these and other foods are very pungent and are absorbed into the cutting board for a long time, especially if it is wooden. You can get rid of unpleasant odors by rubbing the board with half a lemon.
- Sachet. This is a scented pillow designed to deodorize laundry and repel moths. Take a cotton bag and fill it with dried lemon zest, cloves, juniper, cardamom, and other spices and herbs of your choice. A pleasant aroma is provided for your things.
- Cleaning of knives. Knives that are not used for a long time become coated. To get rid of it, sprinkle the blade with sea salt and then rub with lemon zest. The knives will be as good as new.
beauty and health
- Lemon scrub. Lemons are rich in alpha and beta hydroxy acids, which are excellent at removing dead skin cells. Plus, lemons help fight acne, pigmentation, and other skin problems. Lemon-based scrubs are an excellent refreshing and cleanser. There are many recipes on the web – you can choose the one that suits your skin type.
- Cleaning and whitening nails. Manicurists recommend this simple nail care recipe: squeeze the juice of half a lemon into a small cup of warm water and immerse your fingertips there for 3-5 minutes. After the bath, rub the nail plates with lemon zest.
- A remedy for nausea. If you feel unwell and nausea comes, hold a slice of lemon in your mouth – the malaise will recede.
- Dry skin on the elbows. Our grandmothers also used this remedy to combat dry and darkened skin on the elbows; you need to grease your elbows with cream and rub with lemon juice, and then, after 10-15 minutes, rinse with water. Then again, grease with cream.
- Lightening age spots. As already mentioned, lemon is a natural brightener and has been used since ancient times to fight age spots and freckles. To do this, apply lemon juice to problem areas, leave for 10-15 minutes, and then rinse with warm water.
Also read: 11 Tricks to Eliminate Bad Odor Produced by Pets
- Lemon tonic. Lemon is an excellent tonic. The tonic prepared on its basis will cleanse, disinfect, and refresh the skin. Typically, the lemon tonic is made from mineral water and honey.
- Fresh breath. Lemon juice diluted in water can disinfect the oral cavity and get rid of bad odors – citric acid kills bacteria. True, after that, you still need to rinse your mouth with water so that the remains of citric acid do not corrode the enamel.
- Aroma bath. If you add a few drops of essential lemon oil to the water in addition to foam, then a simple hygienic procedure will turn into a therapeutic one. Such baths are great for relaxing and also help in the fight against cellulite and excess weight.
- Dandruff remedy. Also, the “grandmother’s” recipe: rub the hair roots with lemon wedges 1-2 times a week, then wash your hair in the usual way. Warning: lemon is drying, so this method is not suitable for people with a dry and sensitive scalp.
- Inhalation for colds. The lemon essential oil has many medicinal properties (you can write a separate article about this); one of its uses is inhalation during colds. Dilute the oil in a ratio of 2-3 drops per glass of water and breathe over the solution for 5-7 minutes.
Adapted and translated by Wiki Avenue Staff
Sources: Life hacker
