9 Ideas to Use Leftover Fresh Lemon Juice

On Saturday, I started my first batch of limencello. It will be at least a month before I take the mason jars with vodka and lemon rinds out of their dark hiding place. If I end up with something good, I'll let you know the method I used to make it.

Making the infused cordial calls for using only the rinds of lemons, not the juice. When I was done, I had a little over a cup of lemon juice leftover. There are many recipes that use just a small amount of lemon juice, and many that use a larger amount plus grated lemon peel. Since I didn’t have any peel left to use, I went in search of how to use up just one cup of juice. Here’s what I came up with.

1. Freeze It

You can freeze the entire amount whole or freeze small amounts in ice cube trays and then put the frozen cubes in a freezer proof container to use when you just need a small amount of lemon juice.

2. Lemon Curd

Lemon curd is such a treat on toast and crackers. I chose this recipe because it doesn’t call for the lemon zest, only the juice.

3. Lemon Syrup

Make a small batch of lemon syrup to use in beverages or baking. If you’re not going to use it anytime soon, do a little small batch canning.

4. Lemon-Garlic Soup

Sounds like a great spring soup, doesn’t it? It’s gluten-free and part of a paleo diet, but you don’t have to follow either of those diets to enjoy it. This only uses half a cup of lemon juice, but you could double the recipe and freeze half.

5. Sour Mix

I’ve never bought a bottled sour mix that was any good. It’s so easy to make your own with water, sugar, lemon juice and lime juice.

6. Lemonade

This recipe uses exactly one cup of lemon juice.

7. Pink Lemonade Popsicles

Fresh raspberries make the pink in these popsicles – not artificial food dye.

8. Tackle Stains on White Clothes

Lemon juice, salt and sun.

9. Clean With It

Here are 24 ideas for using lemon juice as a natural cleaner around your home.

How would you use one leftover cup of lemon juice?