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

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!

Look at these beautiful citrus salts! I was inspired by Local Kitchen Blog to make these fun seasoned 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 It

  • 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.

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 Make Citrus Salt

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.

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

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 InstagramTikTokPinterest and Facebook.

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

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
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 6 people

Ingredients

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!

Equipment

Citrus Zester

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.

17 thoughts on “How to Make Citrus Salt (Easy DIY Food Gift Idea)”

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

    Reply
    • 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

Leave a Comment

Recipe Rating




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