Grapefruit oil is well known as a weight loss aid by curbing cravings and suppressing your appetite. Ironically, it is also great to use in the kitchen to add a wonderful flavor profile to a variety of recipes. It’s also commonly added to body care products because of its heavenly aroma, which also makes it a great option to add to cleaning products. Here are plenty of easy recipes that will show you how to use grapefruit oil all over your home.
Cooking
Grapefruit oil is a great way to flavor frosting for cookies and cakes or to use in a salad dressing that is sweet and satisfying without being full of fat and high in calories.
Grapefruit Cupcakes
Ingredients
Cake
- 2/3 cup soy milk
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 2/3 cup agave nectar
- 1/3 cup safflower oil
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 2/3 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- pinch of sea salt
- 3-4 drop grapefruit essential oil
Frosting
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 1 stick butter, softened
- 3 drops grapefruit essential oil
Directions
Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners. Mix the vinegar and milk in a medium bowl, until it begins to bubble. Add the agave nectar, vanilla and oil. Stir well. In a separate bowl, combine both the flours, baking soda, baking powder and sea salt. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir well until there are no more lumps. Pour batter into the paper liners and bake for 18 to 22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the middle of a cupcake comes out clean. Cool the cupcakes completely before frosting. To make the frosting, cream all ingredients together and spread onto the cupcakes or use a pastry bag to top each cupcake.
Avocado Salad with Grapefruit Vinaigrette Dressing
Ingredients
Salad
- 1 small bunch watercress
- 6 ounces baby spinach leaves
- 1 avocado, pit removed and diced
- 1 red onion, thinly sliced
- 15 ounce can grapefruit segments, juices reserved
- 4 ounces blue cheese crumbles
Dressing
- 3 tablespoons reserved grapefruit juice
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 2 drops grapefruit essential oil
- pinch of salt and pepper, each
Directions
Toss the watercress and baby spinach together in a large mixing bowl. Add the red onion, grapefruit segments and diced avocado. Toss in the blue cheese crumbles. In a glass container, mix together all of the dressing ingredients and shake to combine well. Pour over the salad and toss lightly.
Note: When cooking with essential oils, always make sure that your chosen brand is labeled GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe).
Cleaning
Grapefruit oil is great to use in the kitchen. Most citrus oils have the power to cut through layers of grease on the stove and remove sticky fingerprints with ease from appliances. Grapefruit oil in particular leaves behind a sweet scent that will leave your home feeling naturally clean instead of chemically cleaned.
Grapefruit General Purpose Cleaner
Ingredients
- grapefruit peels
- 1-gallon bucket
- distilled white vinegar
- 1-gallon sealable bottle
- 32-ounce spray bottle
Directions
Place grapefruit peels (as close to 1 pound as possible) inside of the bucket. Pour distilled white vinegar in the bucket until the peels are completely covered. Don’t add extra or the solution will be too diluted. Set the bucket in a cool spot that is out of direct sunlight. Keep it there for two weeks. Stir it occasionally with a wooden spoon. After two weeks, strain the liquid and pour into the sealable bottle for storage. When ready to make your cleaner, pour a ½ ounce of the grapefruit oil liquid into a spray bottle and fill with water. Shake the bottle well to initially combine and before each use. Use throughout the home to disinfect multiple surfaces. While it is safe for almost any surface, always do a small test patch to make sure there is no risk for damage. If you don’t have enough grapefruit peels, add a couple of drops of grapefruit oil to your final solution to increase the strength.
Grapefruit Air Freshener
Ingredients
- ¾ cup water
- 2 tablespoons rubbing alcohol
- 5 drops orange essential oil
- 4 drops lemon essential oil
- 5 drops lime essential oil
- 5 drops grapefruit essential oil
Directions
Add all ingredients to an 8 ounce spray bottle. Shake well to combine and before each use. Spray as needed to eliminate odors and add a burst of freshness to the air.
Body Care
Grapefruit oil is a great ingredient to keep in your medicine cabinet. With its antibacterial properties, it’s great for the surrounding skin of wounds and prevents bacterial growth. When used in a homemade shampoo or condition, the oil can eliminate excess oil, prevent dandruff and promote healthy hair growth. It’s a much safer alternative to over the counter products for a variety of body care needs.
Grapefruit Shampoo
Ingredients
- ½ cup liquid castile soap
- ¼ cup canned coconut milk
- ¼ cup honey
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- 1 tablespoon vitamin E oil
- 20 drops lavender essential oil
- 30 drops grapefruit essential oil
Directions
Mix all ingredients together in a container with a lid. Shake well to combine and use like any other shampoo. If you don’t want to make your own shampoo, you can simply add the grapefruit oil to your existing shampoo.
Grapefruit Body Butter
Ingredients
- ½ cup shea butter
- ½ cup cocoa butter
- ½ cup coconut oil
- ½ cup fractionated coconut oil
- 15 drops grapefruit essential oil
- 15 drops orange essential oil
Directions
Measure out the butters and place in a double boiler. Once melted, remove from heat and stir in the oils. Stir well and place into the refrigerator to chill. Once set, mix with a hand mixer until the lotion becomes light and fluffy. Store in a glass jar and keep in a cool place. Use as desired. If the solution sits for a long period of time and separates, simply whip up again with a mixer.
