Lemons are an incredible multi-purpose fruit. There’s a use for every part, especially if you store your lemons correctly. You may already know that you can use lemon juice to make everything from salad dressings to desserts. You can even use the seeds to thicken jam (just make sure you strain them out in the end). 

And then, there’s the almighty peel. Lemon peels are pretty much the Swiss Army Knife of citrus byproducts. Just like the flesh, the peel is loaded with immune system-boosting vitamin C and other healthy ingredients like potassium and fiber. The peel also has antimicrobial qualities, meaning you can make an effective all-purpose cleaner from it, especially when you mix the peels with powerhouse cleaning solutions like vinegar.

Last but certainly not least, citrus peels smell good — plain and simple. There are plenty of ways to use lemon peels to brighten up your home and keep it smelling fresh. Read on for everything you need to know about making the most of your lemon peels. 

How to use lemon peels in food

Lemon peels are divided into two parts: the pith and the zest. The zest is the outermost yellow part of the lemon and the pith is the white part underneath, between the zest and the flesh. You can find zest in springtime pastas, cakes, lemon sugar, and lemon pepper (where it’s dried). Zest has a brighter, more lemony flavor than the pith, which tends to be bitter, but both have uses in the kitchen. 

1. Grate the zest

There are a few ways to incorporate lemon zest into your cooking, and one of the best ways is to use grated lemon zest. Grating it (using a grater) will leave you with powdery zest that you can add to everything from salad dressings to baked goods. Since grated zest is so fine, it won’t change the texture of your dish.

2. Peel the zest

You can also peel the zest like you would an apple, using a vegetable peeler. From there, you can dry lemon peels or julienne the zest (a fancy word for thinly slicing it) and add it to pasta, make sauces like gremolata, or use it as a garnish for a variety of dishes. 

3. Use the whole peel

Because the pith is so bitter, cooking with whole, intact lemon peel can be controversial, but for dishes that are rich and unctuous, the hint of bitterness will round the flavors out. Cooking the whole peel in dishes like roast chicken can soften some of the peel’s bitterness and make for both a delicious texture and flavor. 

4. Make jam

Making jam is also a way to use the entire lemon peel. The added sugar balances out the bitterness of the pith, and because of all the pectin that’s naturally occurring in citrus, you’ll be left with a well-balanced, deliciously firm jam. You can find plenty of recipes online, but the general idea is to simmer one part lemon peels with two parts sugar until the lemon peel softens and a thick jam starts to form.

How to use lemon peels in drinks

Lemon peels make an excellent garnish for cocktails — from martinis to Pisco Sours and French 75s. But lemon peels can do more than garnish: There are plenty of ways to make the most of peels in alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages alike. 

5. Make lemon simple syrup

To transform your lemons into a natural citrusy sweetener for drinks like lemonade, lemon sparkling water, or tea, make a lemon simple syrup. Combine the whole peel and granulated sugar in a 2:1 ratio by weight (so, one pound of lemon peels to half a pound of sugar) and let the mixture sit at room temperature for a couple of hours, stirring occasionally. Once it’s syrupy and slightly thick, strain your syrup through a fine mesh sieve. It’ll stay good in the fridge for up to a month. 

6. Make limoncello

If you’re looking for something with a higher ABV, homemade limoncello is a great candidate for leftover lemon peels. In this case, unlike with the syrup, you’ll want to make sure you’re only using the zest and none of the pith. There are plenty of recipes floating around on the internet but they’re are all pretty similar: infuse a 750 ml bottle of high-proof clear alcohol, like vodka, with the zest of about ten lemons. After a few days, strain the mixture and combine it with one to four cups of simple syrup (the sweetness depends on your personal preference), and that’s pretty much it — bottle, chill, and enjoy. 

How to use lemon peels in your cleaning routine

Lemon peels can do a lot of work outside of the culinary arts, too. On their own or combined with a couple of staples you probably have in your house right now, lemon peels can help you keep your house clean. 

7. Scrubbing cutting boards

Before we leave the kitchen, try using any leftover lemon to give your cutting boards a thorough cleaning. Working over your sink to avoid any mess, sprinkle some coarse salt, like kosher salt, onto your cutting board. Then, holding on to the peel, start scrubbing away, using the cut, flesh side of the lemon to scour. The acidity of the lemon, combined with the coarse salt, works as a natural sanitizer to give your cutting boards the deep clean they need. After you’re done scrubbing, just rinse the cutting board off with water, dry, and you’re good to go. 

8. Cleaning the sink, stove, and microwave

Because lemons are high in citric acid, using peels to scrub your sink, stove, and microwave is a fantastic cleaning method. So, after you're done juicing your next lemon, if your kitchen needs a little extra love, just rub everything down with the cut side of your lemon. You can use a damp cloth afterwards to wipe away any lingering lemon residue. 

9. Make a cleaning product

If rubbing a lemon peel on your appliances isn’t your thing, you can drop the lemon peels into a jar with some white vinegar, cover, and let it sit for a few days. This will infuse the vinegar with the antibacterial properties of the lemon, making a perfect natural cleaning solution. Simply transfer the infused vinegar to a spray bottle with an equal amount of water and then break it out whenever you need it. 

Vinegar is naturally acidic and antimicrobial, and it also does a great job of destroying unwanted odors. Once you infuse vinegar with lemon and spray, the only thing left behind will be clean, lemon-scented surfaces.

How to use lemon peels to make everything smell fresh

Life would probably be a little bit better if it always smelled like you were sitting in the middle of a lemon orchard. If you’ve got some lemon peels on hand, life can smell this way — at least when you’re in your house.

10. Simmer them on the stove

A lemon simmer pot is a natural air freshener, and it couldn’t be easier to make. Add your lemon peels to a pot of water, bring it to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and enjoy the fresh smell of lemons — it’s as easy as that. It’ll last you all day as long as you keep adding water to it when it gets too low. 

For a more dynamic scent, you can toss in other citrus fruit and herbs you might have around, like rosemary or mint. If you want to get in the holiday spirit, toss in a cinnamon stick for an added punch. 

11. Deodorize the trashcan and fridge

If you’ve got stubborn smells in your refrigerator or trash can that just won't go away, lemon peel can help. For easy clean-up, place lemon peel on a plate and sprinkle with a little bit of baking soda. Then, place the plate in the fridge or at the bottom of your trash can and wait. After a few hours, things should smell lemony fresh. 

12. Wash your hands

If you’ve ever chopped onion or garlic, you know how hard it can be to rid the smell from your hands once you're done. Rubbing your hands with lemon peel will help neutralize the odor and leave your hands smelling way better. Cut and store used lemon peels in the freezer, that way you’ll have some on hand the next time you’ve got garlic smell on yours.

Reduce food waste with Mill

So you've rubbed your hand with peels and simmered your lemons to freshen your kitchen, now what do you do with what's left? Instead of sending those lemon scraps to the landfill, where they will emit methane, you can toss whatever is left over directly into a Mill food recycler. Mill will recycle your food scraps and turn them into dry grounds that can be used in your garden or compost pile.

Sources:

1. U.S. Department of Agriculture, FoodData Central: “Lemon peel, raw.” April 1, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/167749/nutrients

2. BBC: “Why vinegar is so good at cleaning.” March 5, 2023. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20230303-why-vinegar-is-so-good-at-cleaning