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How to Make Citrus Salt

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Posted by:

Erin Lynch

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Updated:

December 4, 2025

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5 from 11 votes

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Homemade Citrus Salts
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These citrus salt recipe is 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.

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Table of Contents

  • Ingredients needed
  • How to make citrus salt
  • Variations
  • How to use them
  • How long do they last?
  • Easy Citrus Salts

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.

Ingredients needed

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

How to make citrus salt

  1. To the citrus zest, add an equal amount of kosher salt.
  2. Mix together using your fingertips until all of the zest is coated in salt.
  3. 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.

Citrus salts on counter.

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 them

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 do they 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.

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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.

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5 from 11 votes (10 ratings without comment)

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17 responses

  1. Original Orange Julius Recipe – Easy Recipe Chef
    May 1, 2020

    […] Easy Citrus Salts From Platings and Pairings […]

    Reply
  2. Food, Feelings, and the Meaning of Wellness with Sophia Roe – The Whole Carrot
    June 18, 2020

    […] of Sophia’s favorite secret ingredients is homemade citrus salt, which is surprisingly easy to […]

    Reply
  3. Virginia
    August 2, 2020

    Where I live it is impossible to find Kosher salt, only regular salt. Can I make this recipe with normal salt?
    Thank you!

    Reply
    1. Erin
      August 3, 2020

      You can do that Virginia!

      Reply
  4. Lime Salt Recipe – Lime Salt Recipe | Taste Of Home
    November 26, 2020

    […] 5. Easy Citrus Salt Recipe + VIDEO (DIY Food Gift) | Platings + … […]

    Reply
  5. – Sophia the Frugal
    December 13, 2020

    […] Easy Citrus Salt Recipe via Platings + Pairings […]

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  6. Valgomos kalėdinės dovanos | Maisto tinklaraštis PUSRYČIAMS
    December 17, 2020

    […] dovaną mėgstantiems gaminti. Mane labiausiai sudomino baravykų druska, druska su rozmarinais, citrininė druska ir aštri […]

    Reply
  7. Lesley
    February 13, 2021

    5 stars
    So can’t wait to try this ! Sounds so easy!😋

    Reply
  8. Dalia
    July 13, 2021

    Hi thank you, i sure going to make it too, thanks for reminded me

    Reply
  9. Sarah
    July 24, 2021

    How long do these salts last?

    Reply
    1. Erin
      July 28, 2021

      Hi Sarah – As long as the citrus is well coated in the salt, they should last indefinitely. However, over time, the citrus flavor may become less strong. Hope that helps!

      Reply
  10. Angela
    September 22, 2021

    Yum! Looks super easy. I’ll have to try this.

    Reply
1 2
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Hi, I’m Erin!

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