Wrinkly lemon in your fruit bowl? Or a half zested wedge of citrus abandoned in the corner of the fridge? Using up leftover lemons (even the tough and the shrivelled) is easy with these handy ideas up your sleeve:
Shake up a salad dressing
Make a citrusy vinaigrette with a wrinkly lemon by zapping it for 10 seconds in the microwave to loosen up the juice. Combine the juice with a good olive oil and anything from chopped garlic and herbs to mustard and chilli flakes to make a sharp salad dressing that will keep in the fridge for up to a week. If salad ‘aint your thing, use the same dressing over baked veggies, mix into bulgar wheat and quinoa, drizzle over chickpeas or smear on a toasted baguette before topping with cheese and grilling.
Make instant buttermilk
Got a cake recipe that calls for buttermilk but haven’t got any? Add a tablespoon of lemon juice to a cup of milk and wait five minutes for it to transform into buttermilk. Use it to make lighter bakes and cakes, juicy fried chicken, tender pancakes, melt-in-the-mouth scones and fast soda bread.
Rustle up a tangy salsa verde
Prepare a tangy salsa verde to strew over pan-fried prawns or a new potato salad by adding the flesh of a chopped lemon to all the regular bits; diced shallots, fresh green herbs, oil and garlic.
Stuff a roast chicken
Odd bits of lemon – be they wedge, slice or wrinkly quarter – are brilliant for stuffing into the cavity of a chicken before roasting. Pair the chicken with dried herbs, garlic and butter to create a garlicky, lemony jus at the bottom of the roasting pan that you can slurp as is or combine with flour to make a gravy.
Whip up a quick marinade
Make zesty, bright marinades for chicken, lamb and beef with lemon juice! Combine the lemon with oil and your favourite seasonings, like garlic granules, smoked paprika, dried onion and curry powder, to lend your meal a perky fragrance and maximise juiciness.
Amp up flavour without extra salt
If you’re looking to reduce your sodium intake, try spritzing some lemon juice into your meal before adding extra seasonings – the lemon will bring out the flavours of your dish in a similar way to salt.
Put together a savoury crunch lemon topping
Add a topping of breadcrumbs mixed with lemon zest, herbs and parmesan to fish fillets or a fish pie before baking. Use the juice of the lemons as a tart marinade for the fish first.
Make a lemon flavoured simple syrup
Boil equal parts water and sugar together with some lemon juice to make a lemony syrup to mix into summery co*cktails, like these blueberry lemonade margaritas, or drizzle over a just-baked cake.
Mix lemon zest into crumbles and creams
Zest that tough old lemon and mix it into a streusel or crumble topping to give your puds a lemony lift. The natural oils in lemon zest lend a zippy, citrusy fragrance to icings, whipped desserts, ice creams and jelly too. Better yet, hide the zest in a bowl of sugar to make a lemon-scented sweetener for later use.
Prep dried lemon peel for tea
Bake lemon peels in a low oven to dry them out before stashing away for later use in flavoured hot teas. Dried lemon peels can also be ground up with pepper and salt for a quick all-purpose seasoning to scatter over chicken, fish and prawns.
FAQs
It can be added to fruit desserts or yogurt to give a vitamin-packed zing — or lend its flavor to sauces and dressings for salads. As with lemon juice, purée can be frozen in an ice cube tray to make sure you always have some to liven up your recipes.
What to do with left over lemons? ›
It can be added to fruit desserts or yogurt to give a vitamin-packed zing — or lend its flavor to sauces and dressings for salads. As with lemon juice, purée can be frozen in an ice cube tray to make sure you always have some to liven up your recipes.
How to use lemons going bad? ›
Household uses for expired or extra lemons
Cut a lemon in half and wipe down your cutting board with a bit of lemon juice. Make citrus zest- Using a zester, grate the rinds of the fruit and freeze the zest in a freezer bag to use later.
What to do with lemons when you have too many? ›
Sprinkle it to your vegetable salad, ice cream, soup, cereals, noodles, spaghetti sauce, rice, sushi, fish dishes, whisky…. the list is endless. All of the foods will unexpectedly have a wonderful taste, something that you may have never tasted before.
What is the 10 day lemon challenge? ›
The Master Cleanse aims to cleanse the body of harmful chemicals and toxins by drinking a lemon beverage made with maple syrup and cayenne pepper for 10 days. Besides this homemade drink, a saltwater solution and herbal laxative teas are also encouraged on the diet. In effect, it's more of a fast than a diet.
What is the best use of lemon? ›
They are a rich source of vitamin C and consuming them may reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer. Lemons are a popular fruit that people use in small quantities to add flavor to baked goods, sauces, salad dressings, marinades, drinks, and desserts.
Do lemons last longer in the fridge or on the counter? ›
Whole lemons are best kept in the fridge. It can be tempting to store lemons in a pretty bowl on your countertop or kitchen table, but avoid the urge to decorate with fresh fruit. Left at room temperature, lemons will dry out, leaving you with less juice and a tough rind.
Can I freeze lemons? ›
Freezing lemons means you'll always have fresh lemon on hand to add zip to dishes and tang to drinks. You can freeze lemon wedges or slices, lemon zest, lemon juice, or whole lemons. Always wash fruit with soap and water or a fruit and vegetable wash before starting the prep work for freezing.
What are the benefits of putting lemons in your room? ›
Lemons are natural insect deterrents! To cleanse the air in your bedroom, fight bacteria, prevent sickness, and enjoy a deeper, more pleasant sleep, placing some lemons near your bed is definitely a good idea. To learn about even more benefits of placing sliced lemons in your bedroom, check out the video below.
What happens to your stomach when you eat too much lemon? ›
Overuse leads to peptic ulcers Peptic ulcers are ulcers in the lining of the stomach, duodenum, or lower esophagus. The main cause of this pathology is an excess of stomach acid. The abuse of lemon is a favorable factor that increases the amount of excess acid and consequently causes stomach ulcers from mild to severe.
The Bottom Line
Lemons contain a high amount of vitamin C, soluble fiber, and plant compounds that give them a number of health benefits. Lemons may aid weight loss and reduce your risk of heart disease, anemia, kidney stones, digestive issues, and cancer.
What are lemons most used for? ›
Whether used to impart bold citrus flavor or a hint of acidity, lemon juice is a refreshingly tart addition to salad dressings, dips, syrups, and sauces. Lemons are the star of the show in lemon curd and lemonade – as well as lending limoncello flavor its zesty edge.
What does leaving a lemon in your room do? ›
It has been proven through research that placing sliced lemons next to your bed at night can help improve respiratory concerns, air quality and sleep.
What are 2 uses of lemon tree? ›
Lemon is a plant. The fruit, juice, and peel are used to make medicine. Lemon is used to treat scurvy, a condition caused by not having enough vitamin C. Lemon is also used for the common cold and flu, H1N1 (swine) flu, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), Meniere's disease, and kidney stones.
