Do you like beer? Most people do! Recently beer has been voted one of the most popular drinks in the world. But what do you do with left over beer? Well, it turns out there are a lot of uses for it other than just getting drunk!
Today, I’m going to cover 10 fascinating unexpected uses for beer. From cleaning your house to making beer bread, beer can do it all!
So the next time you have some extra beer lying around, don’t drink it – put it to use!
Marinate Meat in Beer
Beer is an excellent marinade for meat! The hops and malt in beer help to tenderize the meat, while the yeast adds flavor.
Now, this is so easy to do, soak your favorite piece of meat in beer from 2 hours up to overnight, depending on how strong of a taste you’re looking for, before cooking it, and you’ll be in for a treat!
Great Grass Fertilizer
Ever wanted a fix for those irritating brown spots on your lawn? Without having to reseed, I’ve got the solution for you.
Just grab a can of beer and pour it on the spots! The yeast in beer helps to stimulate growth, so your grass will be green and healthy in no time.
Slug & Snail Deterrent
There’s an easy fix if you’re having trouble with slugs and snails eating your plants.
Just put a bowl of beer out near your plants, the slugs, snails and other garden pests will be attracted to it; they won’t be able to resist! They’ll crawl in and drown, leaving your plants safe and sound.
A Great Rodent Catcher
Like dealing with slugs and snails in your yard, beer can help rid your home of rodents, specifically mice.
Place bowl of beer in an area where you’ve seen mice, and they’ll be attracted to the scent. Just like the slugs and snails, they’ll crawl in and drown; they won’t be able to get out, leaving your home mouse-free.
Ease a Stomach-Ache
If you’re feeling a little queasy, beer can help to ease your stomachache. The carbonation in beer helps to settle your stomach, and the alcohol acts as a numbing agent, so you won’t feel the pain as much.
Just be careful not to drink too much, or you’ll make yourself sicker and potentially very, very drunk!
Polishing Gold
Beer is also excellent at polishing gold! The hops in beer contain lupulin, which is a natural polish.
To make your gold shine again, soak a cloth in beer and rub the gold gently (without stones).
Use a second cloth to dry it, and your gold will look better than ever.
Bathing In Beer
You won’t believe this one; for beer lovers out there, it’ll sound too good to be true.
But yes, bathing in beer is actually a thing! The yeast in beer helps to soften skin while the hops act as an anti-inflammatory.
So if you’re looking for a way to relax and pamper yourself, why not try a beer bath?
Wood Furniture Polish
Similarly to polishing your gold, beer is an excellent wood furniture polish.
To make your furniture shine, simply pour some beer on a soft cloth and wipe down your furniture.
The alcohol in the beer will help remove dirt or grime, while the hops will add a nice shine.
You’ll get the best results from this process if you let the beer go flat, open the beer up and let it sit for a while.
Rust Removal
If you have any rusty tools lying around, beer can help to remove the rust!
The acidity in beer helps to break down the rust, making it easy to remove.
Just soak the rusted item in beer for a few hours (or even overnight), and the rust will come right off.
Baking Beer Flavoured Bread
Last but not least, beer can also be used in baking! There are all sorts of recipes for beer bread out there, so if you’re feeling adventurous, why not give it a try?
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of beer (flat is best)
- 3 cups of all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon of sugar
- 1 tablespoon of baking powder
- 1 teaspoon of salt
Instructions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. In a bowl, mix together the ingredients listed above.
3. Add the beer and mix until everything is well combined.
4. Place the dough on a lightly floured surface and knead for about 10 minutes.
5. Place the dough in a greased loaf pan and bake for about 50 minutes or until the bread is golden brown.
6. Let the bread cool before slicing and serving.
The beer gives the bread a nice, subtle flavor and makes it extra moist. So if you’re looking for a new twist on your usual bread recipe, give beer bread a try!
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can I use expired beer for cooking?
Yes, you can! The alcohol in beer will evaporate during the cooking process, so there’s no need to worry about expired beer making your food taste bad.
Can I pour old beer in the garden?
Beer is a great way to attract slugs and snails, which can then be used as fertilizer for your plants. Just make sure that you don’t use too much, as too much beer can actually harm your plants.
Does beer go bad?
Yes, beer does go bad eventually. However, it takes a long time for beer to go bad – usually around 2 years. So if you have some old beer that you’re not sure about, give it a smell before you pour it out. If it smells fine, then it’s probably still good to drink.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are all sorts of uses for beer – not just drinking it! So the next time you have a beer, think about all of the different ways you could use it. From cleaning to cooking, there’s bound to be a use for beer that you never even thought of before.