As a self-proclaimed minimalist and recycler, I hate to waste anything. That includes something as seemingly discardable as lemon peels. But these citrus waste products possess some great possibilities beyond their use as zest in a recipe. That’s why I want to share with you 17 ways to use lemon peels. Note: All of these ideas involve lemon peels only…no juice! Lemon juice has many uses as well, but that’s for another article.
1. Zest. This is probably the most common way people use lemon peels…if you use them at all. (Of course, this article is going to make you realize all the wonderful ways you’ve been missing!) Lemon zest prepared from (organic when possible) lemons provides not only zest, to your recipes, but also some important nutrients. Although it’s true you would need to consume a lot of zest to make a big difference, every little bit helps. Per tablespoon, lemon peel contains 8 mg of calcium, 10 mg of potassium, 7.7 mg of vitamin C, and 0.6 grams of fiber.
2. Facial cleanser. Process lemon peels in a coffee grinder or blender until they look like cornmeal. Combine 1 tablespoon of the peels with enough plain yogurt to make a paste. Use this lemony natural cleanser to wash your face, rinse with cool water, and pat dry.
3. Garbage disposal deodorizer. Cut up lemon peels and place them in your garbage disposal to help prevent odors from forming.
4. Glass brightener. Place pieces of lemon peel in the rinse water for glassware and they will come out crystal clear.
5. Cat and dog deterrent. Place ground-up lemon peels on freshly tilled soil to keep cats from using your yard as a litter box. A mixtures of coffee grounds and lemon peels sprinkled around the perimeter of your yard may help keep cats and dogs away.
6. Pest deterrent. Place lemon peel along areas where ants and other pests can enter your home.
7. Brown sugar delumper. Hate hard lumps of brown sugar? Place a lemon peel (all white removed) in your container of brown sugar and problem solved.
8. Corn remover. Place a piece of fresh lemon peel inner side down on a corn and secure it with a bandage or adhesive tape. Wear this overnight. Use a fresh piece of lemon peel every night for about a week and the corn should disappear.
9. Room freshener. Toss lemon peels into a roaring fire to fill the room with a delightful natural fragrance.
10. Lemon cubes. Place a small amount of lemon zest in an ice cube tray, add water, and within a few hours you’ll have tasty cubes for your drinks.
11. All purpose cleaner. Fill a glass jar with lemon peels and pour white vinegar into the jar and cover with a lid. Let the mixture sit for 14 days, then strain. The resulting liquid is a great all purpose cleaner that also disinfects. Before using, mix 50/50 with water.
12. Chocolate peels. You can enjoy candied peels by dipping them in melted chocolate.
13. Candied peels. This seems like a lot of work to me, but then again, I’m no fan of candied fruit. I must admit these candied peels are attractive, however. Here’s a candied lemon peels recipe.
14. Pot and kettle cleaner. Lemon peels can remove mineral deposits. Toss a handful of sliced lemon peels into your tea kettle and boil them in water. Once the water boils, turn off the heat and let the water sit for about 60 minutes. Drain, rinse, and you’re ready to go with a clean kettle. For a coffee pot, place lemon peels, ice chips or cubes, and salt in your pot, swirl the contents around in the pot for several minutes, dump, and rinse.
15. Metal polisher. Whether you have copper, stainless steel, or chrome, lemon peels can make them shine. Sprinkle sea salt on the metal, then use lemon peel to scrub away any stains. Rinse the item and then polish.
16. Humidify and add scent. If your indoor environment is dry, like it can be in the winter, place lemon peels in a pot of water and simmer on low heat to add moisture and a gentle delightful scent to the air.
17. Lighten age spots. This is a folk remedy for age spots, but there’s usually some wisdom in such suggestions. Rub lemon peel on the desired area, secure it with tape, and leave it on for about 60 minutes. Avoid the sun while you are doing this.
Image via Jordi Payà
