Homemade Lemon Vinegar Recipe | Vintage Kitty (2024)

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When life gives you lemons, make the most of them! This recipe turns leftover lemon zest into flavored vinegar. Perfect for and vinaigrettes and marinades!

Homemade Lemon Vinegar Recipe | Vintage Kitty (1)

Growing up, I heard the phrase “waste not, want not” all the time. Money was usually tight, and my parents didn’t want me to squander away their hard earned cash. At the time, their admonishment was annoying and seemed trivial since we did have “enough”.

But in the end, my parents succeeded in teaching me this lesson in frugality. As an adult, I have a hard time throwing out anything that could possibly be reused. Saver? Occasional hoarder? Maybe. But in the long run, this philosophy saves money, especially in the kitchen.

I try to stretch food by not wasting anything. I save veggie scraps and bones for chicken stock and turn old bread into croutons.

Same goes for lemon zest. If I don’t need the whole lemon, I freeze the zest for later or find a way to add to to another dish.

I came up with this recipe to preserve that delicious lemon zest flavor. It’s a really easy to make flavored vinegar that’s affordable and can be used in a multitude of dishes.

Homemade Lemon Vinegar Recipe | Vintage Kitty (2)

How to make flavored vinegar

My recipe for lemon vinegar only uses four ingredients: lemon zest, white distilled vinegar, sugar and sea salt, which means this is also a seasoned vinegar. The process is very similar to making a pickle brine.

Homemade Lemon Vinegar Recipe | Vintage Kitty (3)

Simply place lemon zest in a mason jar. Bring vinegar to a boil with the salt and sugar and pour over the zest.

Homemade Lemon Vinegar Recipe | Vintage Kitty (4)

Cover the jar, refrigerate and let the flavors meld for a few days then give it a taste test. If you use a microplane zester, the flavors will infuse quite fast.

You can also pare the lemon with a peeler, being careful to leave the pith behind…but then you have to wait about 3-4 weeks for the vinegar to infuse.

Homemade Lemon Vinegar Recipe | Vintage Kitty (5)

You can then use the vinegar like it is, or strain and bottle it. I prefer to use the microplane and not strain the vinegar… it doesn’t usually last long enough to warrant the extra steps.

But if you would like to make homemade lemon vinegar for gifts, I suggest straining the vinegar after a couple weeks. After the vinegar sits a while, the jar tends to develop a ring of solids that can look unpleasant. You can always bottle the vinegar with a few small strips of fresh lemon zest for extra color and interest.

Homemade Lemon Vinegar Recipe | Vintage Kitty (6)

This homemade lemon vinegar is lemony, sweet and not too acidic. Since it’s a seasoned vinegar, we add it directly to salads and grilled vegetables for a pop of tart lemon flavor.

It’s also perfect if you love to freestyle in the kitchen like me! When I’m in a hurry to make lunch or dinner, I season things to taste rather than spend time carefully following a recipe. This vinegar is great in quick vinaigrettes and marinades and since it’s already seasoned with salt and sugar, I can pull out one ingredient instead of three!

Homemade Lemon Vinegar Recipe | Vintage Kitty (7)
Homemade Lemon Vinegar Recipe | Vintage Kitty (8)

Lemon Vinegar Recipe

I hate wasting food, so this easy lemon recipe is a great way to use the zest when your recipe only calls for the juice.

Print Pin Rate

Course: Condiment

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 5 minutes mins

Cook Time: 5 minutes mins

Total Time: 10 minutes mins

Servings: 8 2 tablespoon servings

Calories: 35kcal

Author: Charity Beth Long

Ingredients

  • 3 lemons , zested
  • 1 cup white vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt

Instructions

  • Place zest in the bottom of a mason jar.

  • Combine vinegar, sugar and salt in a pot and bring to boil over high heat.

  • Pour vinegar over lemon zest. cover and refrigerate for 2-3 days.

  • If desired, strain vinegar and bottle.

Notes

Nutrition

Calories: 35kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 292mg | Potassium: 56mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 9IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 1mg

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it turned out for you! Scroll down to leave a comment below.

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        Homemade Lemon Vinegar Recipe | Vintage Kitty (2024)

        FAQs

        What happens when you mix vinegar and lemon juice? ›

        When you mix an acid and an acid no reaction happens. You are simply combining two very effective cleaning ingredients into one product. The lemon also helps mask the smell of vinegar, if you are averse to the smell of vinegar.

        How do you make lemon deodorizer with vinegar? ›

        In your large glass jar, fill it at least half way with citrus peels only (do not include seeds/juices etc..). Fill the rest of the jar with distilled white vinegar and cover for at least 1 week. Strain the vinegar/citrus mixture. Transfer into your spray bottle, until you've reached half of the bottle.

        Can you mix lemon juice and vinegar and baking soda? ›

        All-Purpose Cleaner: Combine 1 teaspoon baking soda, 2 teaspoons vinegar, 1/4 teaspoon dishwashing liquid, 1 teaspoon lemon juice and 2 cups hot water in a spray bottle and shake well. Add essential oil for fragrance if desired and add 1 teaspoon borax for extra cleaning power.

        What is the best homemade vinegar cleaning solution? ›

        DIY Vinegar Cleaner Recipe

        In a 16-ounce glass spray bottle combine 8 ounces of distilled white vinegar and 8 ounces of water. Optional: Add a few long strips of lemon zest and/or a handful of fresh rosemary sprigs, or 5 to 10 drops of lavender or lemongrass essential oil.

        Is lemon juice as good as vinegar for cleaning? ›

        Lemon, like vinegar, is an excellent cleaner. Lemon acid is naturally antibacterial and antiseptic, and also serves as a natural bleach. Not only is lemon great to use as a natural cleanser, but the citrus scent is also energizing and refreshing.

        What is the ratio of lemon juice to vinegar? ›

        If you want to incorporate the power of two acids into your other favorite vinaigrettes, reduce the vinegar by half and replace it with the same volume of fresh lemon juice. (If your recipe calls for 1/4 cup vinegar, use 2 tablespoons vinegar and 2 tablespoons lemon juice.)

        What is lemon and white vinegar good for? ›

        Uses include rinse aid, glass cleaner, limescale remover, multi-surface cleaner, laundry softener, stain remover and pet odour remover. Eco-Friendly and Readily Biodegradable.

        What happens when you add lemon juice or vinegar to baking soda? ›

        The sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and weak acetic acid in vinegar react and trap the carbon dioxide to form bubbles. The mixture of the baking soda (solid) and vinegar (liquid) creates a gas and a liquid, which in turn results in a foam (a mixture of gas and liquid, or a colloid).

        How do I make my house smell lemon fresh? ›

        To do so, simmer a half dozen lemon slices and a handful of cloves in a pan of water. The mixture will leave the air lemony fresh.

        What kind of vinegar to use for room deodorizer? ›

        Deodorize the Room

        All you have to do is leave a dish filled with 1/2 inch of white vinegar in the offensive-smelling room for it to work its magic. Leave it in the room until the smell dissipates completely.

        Does lemon and vinegar sanitize? ›

        Studies confirming vinegar's antibacterial properties: Household natural sanitizers like lemon juice and vinegar reduced the number of pathogens to undetectable levels. Vinegar can inhibit growth of and kill some food-borne pathogenic bacteria. Plus, vinegar's bactericidal activity increased with heat!

        Is lemon juice not safe to mix with vinegar? ›

        Yes, it is generally safe to mix vinegar and lemon juice. However, keep in mind that both are acidic, so using them together in large quantities could potentially irritate sensitive skin or surfaces. It's best to dilute them with water if you plan to use the mixture for cleaning or cosmetic purposes.

        Is borax stronger than baking soda? ›

        Borax is significantly more alkaline than baking soda. Borax has a pH of 9.5 vs. 8 for baking soda. That might make it more effective in certain situations, but it also makes it a harsher cleaning agent.

        How do you clean a shower with vinegar and Dawn and lemon juice? ›

        Dawn 4 oz. bottled lemon juice 8 oz. white vinegar 10 oz. water -Mix all ingredients into a spray bottle and gently shake to mix.

        What is the ratio of white vinegar to lemon juice? ›

        Substitute white vinegar for lemon juice at 1/2:1 ratio. ½ part white vinegar for every 1 part lemon juice. Substitute lemon extract for lemon juice at a 1/2:1 ratio and replace the rest with water.

        What is the best homemade all-purpose cleaner recipe? ›

        DIY All-Purpose Cleaner Recipe
        1. 1/4 cup vinegar.
        2. 12-20 drops essential oil.
        3. 1 tsp castile or phosphorous-free dish soap or washing soda.
        4. 2 cups boiled or distilled water.

        Can you mop with vinegar and lemon juice? ›

        Don't use harsh chemicals on your nice floors — especially if you have pets or children. They'll smell better, be safer, and cleaner with the use of lemon and other natural products found in your home. Here's how: Mix one part lemon juice with one part white vinegar and two parts water.

        References

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