One of the most versatile items to keep in the kitchen is actually a fruit. I always try to keep a couple of lemons on hand because I have found them to be useful for so many different things. You can use the zest or skin of a lemon to add a burst of flavor to a salad or a sauce. Using lemon juice in a heavy sauce helps to lighten the flavor and add a little zing.
Once you’re done with the skin and the juice, you can still use lemon for a variety of other things. If you have a cutting board that is stained, you can try scrubbing the stain with a half of a lemon and some salt, often that will remove the discoloration and bring new life to your cutting board. And once you are done, toss the lemon down the garbage disposal with the hottest water you can manage. This will help clean the disposal and release a burst of fresh scent into the kitchen. In fact that works great with any type of citrus peel.