2. Lemon Juice Helps You Avoid Sticky Rice
Have a problem with clumpy rice? You’re in luck — adding a few drops of lemon juice to your cooking water helps prevent the rice from sticking together. Clark-Hibbs points out a study published in July 2019 in Food Research Internationalthat shows that ascorbic acid helps improve the texture and stickiness of aged rice, which is a 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, CDN, a Mount Kisco, New York–based nutritionist and 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. Lemon Juice Helps You Cook Perfectly Hard-Boiled Eggs
Try brushing the eggshells with lemon juice before adding them to the pot for a little added insurance that the shells won’t crack. This one 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 benefits extend to your beauty regimen too. “Your skin can benefit from lemons since researchshows the vitamin C in lemons promotes collagen synthesis,” 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 toScience Learning Hub. That leaves it scrumptiously fork-tender. “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 with 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 also 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 a tbsp or 2 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 it can be used in other hair products, such as shampoo, in other ways. Citric acid opens up the hair cuticle, which allows for deeper penetration. That’s why lemons may be used to correct hair styling goof-ups, such as to wash out wax or hair coloring.
