• Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
Platings and pairings logo.
Start Here
All Recipes
Perfect Pairings
Wine Travel
About
Home

How to Make Citrus Salt (Easy DIY Food Gift Idea)

Jump to Recipe

|

Posted by:

Erin Lynch

|

Updated:

December 16, 2024

|

5 from 11 votes

This site runs ads and generates income from affiliate links. Disclosure policy.

CITRUS SALTS PINTEREST IMAGE.
  • Facebook
  • Flipboard
  • Email

These Easy Citrus Salts are simple to make at home using the zest of fresh citrus and coarse kosher salt. They make amazing DIY food gifts and can be used to season lots of amazing dishes!

Three small bowls of lime, lemon and orange salt on cutting board next to zested citrus fruits.

Save This Recipe!

Enter your email address to get a link to this post conveniently in your inbox!

Save Recipe

Look at these beautiful citrus salts! Made with citrus zest and kosher salt, they’re SO easy to make and keep indefinitely on your countertop (for about a year).

They can be used to liven up so many dishes. Use these salts to season your roasted chicken, flavor your popcorn, add to a curry, or perk up your veggies.

ez-toc

Ingredients Needed

  • Citrus Zest – Lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit. They all work!
  • Kosher Salt

How to Make Citrus Salt

  • To the citrus zest, add an equal amount of kosher salt.
  • Mix together using your fingertips until all of the zest is coated in salt.
  • Allow to dry in open air and then store in a covered container.

There’s really no recipe needed for this one… It’s really simple! Just zest your fruit using one of these handy Microplane graters  and add about an equal amount of kosher salt.

Mix together using your fingertips until all of the zest is coated in salt. Allow to dry in open air and then store in a covered container. No refrigeration needed.

As you find yourself with citrus fruits at home, just keep adding those zests to your same container. That way, you’ll never find yourself in short supply. Just keep adding a bit more salt as well.

Variations

The flavor possibilities are endless… Make use of whatever citrus you have on hand – Grapefruit, limes, lemons, mandarins, oranges. Or, combine several different citruses in one salt mixture.

You can also get extra fancy by adding in hot chilies or fresh herbs such as parsley, thyme or tarragon. Try an orange-tarragon blend, it would be perfect sprinkled over pork. Or, a lime-hot chili blend to sprinkle over Thai dishes. Yum!

Overhead shot of three types of citrus salt - orange, lime and lemon

How to Use It

Before using in recipes, rub the citrus salt between your palms to help release their amazing flavor and break up any clumps. The lime salt is great on Thai dishes, the lemon can be used to liven up chicken, and I love the orange salt as a rim for my Italian Margaritas.

Also, these salts make great DIY food gifts for the holidays! Your friends and family will love them and appreciate the personalized touch.

I can’t wait to play around with more flavor combinations and start bottling these up for the holidays! What flavor combination would you try first?

Be sure to check out this recipe for Bacon Salt too! It makes a great gift and is perfect as a salt rim for Bloody Marys!

How Long Does it Last?

These citrus salts will last indefinitely in your cupboard. However, as they age, the citrus will lose it’s strength.

However, as you find yourself with citrus fruits at home, just keep adding those zests to your same container. That way, you’ll never find yourself in short supply. Just keep adding a bit more salt as well.

Three bowls of citrus salt next to zested fruit on white table.

More How to Guides

  • How to Make Dried Orange Slices
  • How to Make Bacon Salt
  • How to Cut Watermelon
  • How to Freeze Basil
  • How to Make Sun Dried Tomatoes
  • How to Clean a Dutch Oven

Did you try this lemon salt recipe?

If you loved these flavored salt recipes, I would appreciate it so much if you would leave a ⭐️star review⭐️! Also, be sure to snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #platingsandpairings and tagging me @platingsandpairings.

For more great Platings and Pairings recipes, be sure to follow me on Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest and Facebook.

Save This Recipe!

Enter your email address to get a link to this post conveniently in your inbox!

Save Recipe – Before Recipe Card

Three small bowls of lime, lemon and orange salt on cutting board next to zested citrus fruits.

Full Recipe

Easy Citrus Salts

These Easy Citrus Salts are simple to make at home using the zest of fresh citrus and coarse kosher salt. They make amazing DIY food gifts and can be used to season lots of amazing dishes!
5 from 11 votes
Print Pin
Serves 6 people
Created by Platings and Pairings
Prep Time: 5 minutes mins
Cook Time: 0 minutes mins
Total Time: 5 minutes mins

Equipment

  • Citrus Zester

Ingredients

  • Citrus Zest
  • Kosher Salt

Instructions

  • To the citrus zest, add an equal amount of kosher salt.
  • Mix together using your fingertips until all of the zest is coated in salt.
  • Allow to dry in open air and then store in a covered container.
Did you make this recipe?Mention @platingsandpairings or tag #platingsandpairings!

This citrus salt recipe was originally published in 2017. It was updated in 2020 to add new photographs and an instructional video, and again in 2023 to add additional information.

  • Facebook
  • Flipboard
  • Email
5 from 11 votes (10 ratings without comment)

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

17 responses

  1. Our Very Own Herb 🌿Salt – Leaf Blogazine
    September 28, 2021

    […] Citrus Salts […]

    Reply
  2. Judy
    April 20, 2022

    I just bought a packet of lemon salt. Can I use it on recipes?

    Reply
    1. Erin
      April 20, 2022

      Hi Judy – You should be able to… What brand is it?

      Reply
  3. Kim Browning
    May 11, 2022

    Fixing to make it now.. thank you..

    Reply
  4. Mary
    July 19, 2022

    Can’t wait to make these.

    Reply
←Older Comments
1 2

Hi, I’m Erin!

Can I pour you a glass of wine? Let’s have some fun in the kitchen! Maybe some pasta? A juicy steak? I’ve got loads of yummy, easy recipes for you! Because cooking should feel as comfy as your favorite yoga pants. ♥

Know More

Follow Me on Social!

  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • X
  • YouTube

Recent Recipes

  • Grilled Lamb Chops with Crying Tiger Sauce
  • Italian Green Beans
  • Cucumber Edamame Salad
  • Chicken Piccata Pasta
  • French Lentil Salad
  • Green Shrimp
  • Roasted Fennel & Artichoke Hearts
  • Mexican Street Corn Potato Salad

Dish Type

30 Minute Meals
Appetizer Recipes
Cocktail Recipes
Dessert Recipes
Healthy Recipes

Cooking Method

Air Fryer Recipes
Grilling Recipes
Instant Pot Recipes
Slow Cooker Recipes
Sous Vide Recipes

Ingredient

Beef Recipes
Chicken Recipes
Lamb Recipes
Pork Recipes
Seafood Recipes

Cocktails

Classic
Gin
Margarita
Moscow Mule
Vodka

Sides

Bread
Potatoes
Rice
Salad
Vegetables

Travel

Australia
California
Europe
Hawaii
Italy
About Me
Contact
Privacy Policy

© All Rights Reserved.

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.