How can I reuse or recycle lemon juice (Jif) plastic lemons?

For some reason, our local supermarket has stopped selling lemon juice in sensible containers and only sells it in plastic lemon-shaped bottles now. (Not actually Jif lemons but similar, with a flat bottom.)

We had to buy a couple of those annoying plastic lemons to tide us over until we can get to another shop to buy it in a lovely, recyclable glass bottle.

Admittedly we could squeeze it fresh – we generally need it in small quantities (a tsp or so at a time) – but we could freeze it (in half ice cube amounts, then once frozen, crack them out of the cubes into a baggie to save space) — but after last week’s marmalade & lemon curd making, I’m not sure how much more citrus fruit squeezing my poor hands can take ;) (I will do it though if this lemon juice in plastic lemons situation continues.)

According to the plastic lemon, it can be recycled – but doesn’t give a resin code number so I don’t know what type of plastic it is.

So any reusing or recycling ideas?

(Photo by Paul Hurst under the CCA-SA licence)

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15 Responses to “How can I reuse or recycle lemon juice (Jif) plastic lemons?”


  1. Keep and reuse as Christmas decorations next year.

    Alternative water pistols for the children.

    • Cipollina says:

      I was just about to suggest “tie a red bow around its neck and hang it in the yule tree”!

      I use one to rinse off dirt and dust on the leaves of delicate seedlings. I actually think this saves a wee bit of water to, as I only use just enough to get the specks of dust off.

  2. I’d use them as Christmas tree decorations too, or wreaths. Could also be used to dribble paint for interesting art effects

  3. Tim says:

    I collect them and use them in a decorative fruit bowl… I bury it on the bottom so no one notices what it is.

  4. Alexis says:

    cut a scoop off the top and use it as a convenient/quirky coin bowl – following same lines use a row of them for growing herbs in the window sill.

    If you have smooth floors you could stick a marble inside and bit of cloth soaked in valerian – hey presto! instant cat toy (Oh I guess you’d need a cat or two in addition to smooth floors).

    I love the water pistol idea (I remember my grandmother making them into same for me as a kid! . . . does that “date” me?)

    using them to rinse delicate seedlings – also great idea – also possibly as a “watering can” for hard to reach pots?

  5. Linda says:

    Childcare centres and small children you know would love these for playing house, play shopping, and kitchen play. A few in a small mesh bag with a fake price label would be fantastic for shopping play!!

    • Kacy says:

      I was thinking the same thing. Instead of buying toy foods for me to play with, my mom would give me the real items after they were used. I had several of those single-use cereal boxes stuffed with cardboard and wrapped with packaging tape for durability. I had egg cartons, milk jugs, velveeta boxes, honey bears, and of course the fake lemons.

  6. bookstorebabe says:

    Once it’s cut in half, could it be used as a mold for soap or a candle or what have you? Add some lemon scent, too.
    Fill them with paint, and make art! Even go to a fair, and they have a piece of paper on something that spins rapidly, and you squirt paint on it while it spins for a fun design? Look up Spin-Art.
    Bobbers or corks for fishermen? You know, those floating things tied to your line or net, that mark where your line is in the water.
    Fill them with water and freeze-leaving a little room for expansion, and tuck one in your lunch, or a few in your picnic basket, to help keep things cold. Use over and over again.

  7. Alice says:

    Yeah, boaters might like them as floats for lots of things, like keyrings that make your keys float for long enough for you to fish them out again if you accidentally drop them in the canal.

    They’d also be lots of fun as swimming pool toys, since they both float and squirt. And might the dog enjoy chasing or drinking some water squirted at her in the garden in the summer?

  8. Karmae says:

    Years ago while travellling through the East Coast of Canada, I had the pleasure of visiting Andy’s Dummy Farm.

    (http://www.medianet.ca/macdonald/dummy.htm)

    He had dozens of these tied to branches of a tree with a sign saying
    “You ain’t ever seen a lemon tree? While you ain’t seen one yet.”

  9. Olia says:

    Rattle toy for a baby.
    Hang them on your lemon tree for extra buzz about your harvest. :) Incorporate them into a wreath.
    Fill them with fresh squeezed lemon juice.
    Fill them with tiny candy and give as a gift.
    Use to mend socks.
    Cut two of them in half and use pointy part in your bra, if needed.:)
    Fill with soil and plant a lemon seed in it.
    Cut in half length-wise and use to serve snacks.
    Make a little dwarf hat.
    Cut the slit and use to collect coins.
    Place inside it small bulb and you’ll have a unique lamp.
    Carry water or another drink in it.

  10. Olia says:

    Fill it with sand and use as paper weight.

  11. Olia says:

    Cut one side and make a boat for a child.

  12. Olia says:

    Cut one side, so it turns into a small bowl, and serve lemon slices in it.

  13. Olia says:

    Make “Lemon Body” doll. Use plastic lemon as a head etc.



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