9 Surprising Ways to Use Lemons
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9 Surprising Things You Never Knew Lemons Could Do

Put this zesty citrus fruit to good use with these unexpected tricks, and take some of the hassle out of cooking.
9 Surprising Things You Never Knew Lemons Could Do
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Updated on June 30, 2024
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You know that lemons add a delicious, citrusy kick to everything from salad dressings to cocktails. And you may have heard about their impressive health benefits — lemons contain antibacterial properties and may strengthen your immune system, says Priya Lawrence, RDN, a cofounder of Tried and True Nutrition in New York City. Lemons also offer a hefty dose of vitamin C (also known as ascorbic acid), according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), along with other antioxidants that can fight free radicals and may help keep you looking and feeling younger, Lawrence adds. Vitamin C also promotes collagen production and improves iron absorption, according to the National Institutes of Health.

But lemons also have some unexpected uses, too. Here are nine ways this citrus fruit can solve your trickiest kitchen dilemmas and enhance your meals.

1. Lemon Juice Prevents Your Fruits and Vegetables From Turning Brown

A few squeezes of juice can do wonders for avocados, apples, bananas, and peeled raw potatoes, since lemon juice is just acidic enough to prevent the oxidation that turns produce brown. According to research from 2014, this happens because of ascorbic acid.

“It’s found in all citrus fruits, including lemons, and helps keep other fruits and vegetables fresh by preventing browning,” says Grace Clark-Hibbs, RD, the owner of Nutrition With Grace in Portland, Oregon. “It does this by interfering with oxidation, the enzymatic reaction that occurs when the inside of an apple or potato, for example, is exposed to oxygen.”

To keep apples from browning, mix 1 tablespoon (tbsp) of lemon juice per 1 cup of water and soak the slices for about five minutes before rinsing. “This will prevent browning for about three hours if kept in a sealed container and will have minimal impact on the flavor of the apple,” Clark-Hibbs says.

For other fruits and veggies, the amount of lemon juice to use without turning food sour depends on the food and how long you’re trying to preserve it. In general, brushing or sprinkling the cut fruit with about 1 teaspoon (tsp) of lemon juice should do the trick, says Kelsey Sackmann, RD, who practices in Butler, New Jersey. Try this next time you’re doing meal prep ahead of time or when you set out a platter of fresh sliced fruit.

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Everyday Health staff nutritionist Kelly Kennedy, RDN, shows you how to make gluten-free, dairy-free lemon bars.
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2. Lemon Juice Keeps Rice From Sticking

Have a problem with clumpy rice? You’re in luck­ — a few drops of lemon juice in your cooking water will prevent the rice from sticking together. Clark-Hibbs points to a study published in July 2019 in Food Research International that showed ascorbic acid improved the texture and stickiness of aged rice, which is rice that has been kept dry for one or more years and tends to be stickier than fresh rice. The evidence that this works on fresh rice is more anecdotal than scientific. “Still, many cultures use a few drops of lemon juice (about ¼ tsp) in their rice cooking water to promote light, fluffy, and bright white rice granules,” Clark-Hibbs says.

3. Lemon Peel Keeps Brown Sugar Soft — and Saves You the Sifting

The juice isn’t the only useful part of the lemon; its super moist and flavorful peel can work wonders in the kitchen, too. Add a slice of the skin (with the pulp completely removed) to your box of brown sugar to keep it from clumping and hardening. “The molasses in brown sugar will evaporate over time, leading to dryness,” says Melissa Rifkin, RD, a nutritionist in Mount Kisco, New York, and a health expert for Juice Plus+. “The lemon peel can add some moisture and oils to help keep your brown sugar soft and slow the speed at which it may harden.” This way, you won’t have to do any sifting the next time you make a batch of cookies.

4. Use Lemon Juice to Cook Perfectly Hard-Boiled Eggs

Try brushing the eggshells with lemon juice before adding them to the pot to ensure that the shells won’t crack. This is an anecdotal hack rather than one that has a study supporting it, Rifkin says, but if you’re constantly dealing with shells that break before you’re ready for them to, it’s worth a try. Apply this technique before you enjoy the eggs in our Healthy Deviled Eggs Recipe.

5. Lemon Juice Can Promote Healthy Skin

Lemon's gifts extend to your beauty regimen. “Your skin can benefit from lemons, since research shows the vitamin C in lemons promotes collagen synthesis, giving structure, strength, and elasticity to your skin,” Sackmann says. “Adding lemon juice to your water [when washing your face] promotes hydration, gives a boost of vitamin C, and helps fight inflammation, which may benefit your skin health.” That’s why you may spot lemon as an ingredient in skin-care products.

6. Lemon Juice Tenderizes Meat and Makes It Even Tastier

Lemon juice is a great meat tenderizer; the acidity gently breaks down the protein fibers in meat, according to Science Learning Hub. “You can simply coat a piece of meat with lemon juice for at least one hour before cooking to improve tenderness,” Rifkin says. “You will want to coat the meat pretty well, so you may need the juice of one whole lemon per pound of meat.” The longer the meat sits in the lemon juice, the more likely it is to tenderize, she says. Taste the difference next time you cook a steak on your grill.

7. Lemon Juice Enhances the Flavor of Your Food — No Need to Add Salt

A little bit of lemon can totally transform a meal, brightening up creamier dishes and balancing the flavor in seafood. “The acidic quality of lemon juice brightens up everything it touches,” Sackmann says. Clark-Hibbs adds that it also works well in enhancing bitter or sweet flavors. It packs so much flavor that it works as a sodium-free substitute for salt, says Lawrence. This is perfect for those with high blood pressure and anyone looking to cook healthier dishes without sacrificing flavor.

8. Lemon Juice Is an Everyday House Cleaner

The acid in lemon has an antimicrobial effect, which makes it a natural cleanser. “To create a cleaning solution, combine 2 tbsp of lemon juice with 1 cup of water,” Rifkin says. “You can also add 1 or 2 tbsp of vinegar for extra cleaning power.” Use this solution to clean cutting boards, windows, stovetops, and some countertops. Be careful around certain materials, such as a marble countertop, though. “The acid in lemon can damage some materials,” Rifkin says. Clark-Hobbs also likes to use lemons to clean the microwave or oven, where food and grease build up over time. “Place a single lemon wedge in a bowl of water, heat it up until the water is hot or boiling, then let it sit for a few minutes,” she says. “This will make wiping out either the microwave or the oven very easy. Plus, it will help eliminate any unwanted odors, leaving your kitchen smelling fresh and clean.”

9. Lemon Juice Can Repair Your Hair

You may be familiar with using lemon juice to lighten your hair, though that’s not recommended because it can lead to damage. But lemon can be used in other ways, such as in shampoo. Citric acid opens up the hair cuticle, which allows for deeper penetration. That’s why lemons are sometimes used to correct hair styling goof-ups, as a way to wash out wax or coloring.

The Takeaway

Although lemons are commonly used to make dressings, they also have other uses you might not have considered. They are a nontoxic household cleaner, meat tenderizer, promoter of healthy skin, and can even help correct a bad dye job. This tart fruit is great to always have on hand.
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Melissa Sleight, RDN

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Member of American College of Lifestyle Medicine
Melissa Sleight, RDN, is a board-certified lifestyle medicine dietitian with over 15 years of experience. She has a passion for educating her clients about improving their health through nutrition and lifestyle changes, and seeing them motivated to improve their health each day.

Sleight earned her bachelor's in nutrition and food science from Utah State University. She is a member of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine and the Sports, Cardiovascular, and Wellness Nutrition group for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. She is involved at the local level as the president-elect of Magic Valley Dietitians and is a liaison for her community as a board member of the Idaho Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

She likes to cook and try new recipes, and loves water activities of all kinds — from paddleboards to hot tubs. She enjoys exploring the outdoors through hiking, on all-terrain vehicles, and camping.
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Brianna Steinhilber has written about food, nutrition and fitness for Everyday Health, Joy Bauer, and Denise Austin, as well other health sites and publications. She received her bachelor’s degree in communications and media studies with a concentration in journalism from Fordham University, where she was the features editor and blog editor of The Observer.

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Moira Lawler is a journalist who has spent more than a decade covering a range of health and lifestyle topics, including women's health, nutrition, fitness, mental health, and travel. She received a bachelor's degree from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism and lives in the Chicago suburbs with her husband, two young children, and a giant brown labradoodle.
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Resources
  1. Food Data. U.S. Department of Agriculture. October 30, 2020.
  2. Vitamin C Fact Sheet for Consumers. National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. March 20, 2021.
  3. Bharate SS et al. Non-Enzymatic Browning in Citrus Juice: Chemical Markers, Their Detection and Ways to Improve Product Quality. Journal of Food Science and Technology. October 2014.
  4. Diao M et al. Restoring Fresh Texture in Cooked Aged Rice With Reducing Agents. Food Research International. July 2019.
  5. Pullar JM et al. The Roles of Vitamin C in Skin Health. Nutrients. August 2017.
  6. Fruit Enzymes Tenderise Meat. Science Learning Hub. February 8, 2022.