Don’t Throw Away Lemon Zest — Soak Them in Oil: They Are Worth Their Weight in Gold

Lemon peels are rich in properties: do you know what happens if you put them in oil? An ancient remedy you’ll never stop using.

Lemon zest should never be thrown away. In fact, they can be used in cooking and beyond. Highly appreciated in culinary terms, lemon zest can enrich desserts, like those typical of the Amalfi tradition, or prepare tasty liqueurs like limoncello. They can lend themselves to creating, for example, completely natural remedies that don’t only find their place in Italy. Let’s look at one.

Lemon Zest in Oil: An Ancestral Remedy

Lemon zest can also be used to create an oil, called oleolite. It is a completely natural remedy that serves to give vitality to the body but also unparalleled well-being. In particular, oleolite finds its origins in antiquity and can be prepared not only with lemon zest but by using different plants to add to a vegetable oil. Lemon zest is left to macerate in the oil. This way, the benefits of the oils contained in the peels (or in the plants you choose to macerate) are exploited, combined with the moisturizing and preserving power of extra virgin olive oil. In fact, the oil fulfills a solvent function, capable of dissolving all the liposoluble substances that plants are rich in. Extraction can take place when these elements macerate cold. The properties of lemon and its perfumes are associated with the mixture of antioxidant substances contained in extra virgin olive oil, notoriously rich in polyphenols. The benefits brought by the oil to our body can be numerous. In fact, it can be used as a tonic, it can stimulate venous return. In addition, when used as a massage oil on damp extremities, circulation is restarted.

How to Prepare Lemon Oil: Procedure and Tips

Lemon oil can be considered a massage oil with different functions — you can also mix salt to create a scrub. It can also refresh the eye contour, lighten dark circles and bags under the eyes, by allowing microcirculation. The look and face will have clearer lines and a fresher look. To prepare it you will need:

• Lemon zest in quantity of 100 grams
• EVO oil, at the rate of 100 grams

As a rule, lemon zest must represent exactly half of the amount of oil, in proportion. Lemons must be cut finely, the zest must be kept and the white part removed. The peels must be left to dry for about two days in the air or, better yet, in the sun. The oil must represent half of the peels obtained. The indicated dosage is an example of preparation. If you want to increase the quantities, you must always keep in mind the proportion of the two ingredients. Drying prevents mold formation. Then, the lemon zest will be placed in a previously sterilized glass container. At this stage, you will pour the oil that must completely cover the peels. The jar will be shaken often to ensure that the peels always remain covered with oil.

The jar must be kept in a cool and dark place for a month. Afterwards, the contents will be filtered, the peels thrown away, and the remaining contents stored in a very clean glass container.