You squirt it on your burgers. You dunk your fries in it. And if you eat fast food regularly, you likely have a stash of packets housing this ubiquitous condiment.
Ketchup is an everyday, low-cost pantry item, yet it turns out it has plenty of applications outside of mealtime.
13 Creative Ketchup Uses
1. Loosen Burnt-on Food From Cookware
We’ve all faced it. After dinner you’re doing the dishes and encounter stubborn, baked-on residue that won’t budge. Try spreading some ketchup over the scorched areas. Cover and leave it overnight — the acid in the ketchup helps break down the stuck-on bits so you can scrub the pot or pan clean the next morning.
2. Shine Copper
If your copper pots and pans are beginning to look dull, you don’t need to buy special metal polish. Smear ketchup over the copper and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse it off and your cookware should regain its luster.
3. Eliminate Rust From Your Cast-Iron Skillet
Cast-iron isn’t the easiest to maintain. It can rust if you accidentally wash it in the dishwasher or soak it in soapy water and let it air-dry. Fortunately, you can remove rust buildup by coating the surface with ketchup, letting it sit for around 15 minutes, then scrubbing with a Brillo pad or wire brush. You may need to re-season the skillet afterwards, but the rust should come off.
4. Remove Bugs Stuck on Car Headlights
Bugs often meet their end against cars on the highway. If you see insects caked on your headlights or grille, reach for the ketchup. Apply some to the headlights for about 15 minutes, scrub with a brush and rinse clean.
5. Brighten Car Rims
Refresh grimy-looking rims without paying for a professional detail. Spread ketchup over the rims and let it sit for about 15 minutes. Wipe with a cloth and rinse to reveal shinier wheels.
6. Restore Tarnished Jewelry
Have jewelry that has lost its sparkle? Rub a small amount of ketchup on the pieces, wait 15 minutes, then rinse and dry. That should help bring the jewelry back to its previous sheen.
7. Buff Brass or Silver
If your brass or silver fixtures need a polish but you don’t have a commercial cleaner, try ketchup. Put on a layer, allow it to work for 10 to 15 minutes, then wipe off to restore shine.
8. Revive Rusty Outdoor Furniture
After exposure to rain, outdoor furniture can develop rust spots. Apply ketchup to the affected areas and leave it for about half an hour before wiping it away.
9. Make Mini Ice Packs
All those ketchup packets from takeout? Freeze them to create tiny ice packs. They’re handy for small bumps and bruises, especially on kids. Because the packets don’t freeze rock-solid like ice cubes, they conform better to areas that need a softer cold compress.
10. Remove Green Tint From Blonde Hair
Putting ketchup in your hair might sound like something you’d be scolded for as a child — yet it can serve a purpose. If your blonde hair has taken on a greenish tint from chlorinated pool water, ketchup can help neutralize the discoloration. Apply some to your hair, cover with a shower cap for about 30 minutes, then rinse and shampoo as usual.
11. Create Fake Blood
Upgrade a Halloween costume with homemade fake blood using pantry items instead of purchasing it. Mix equal parts ketchup and light-colored syrup (such as corn syrup) and stir in a bit of cocoa powder for a darker, congealed blood appearance. Add water to thin it if you want a runnier effect. This produces realistic-looking faux blood that’s safe for use on the face as long as you avoid ingesting it.
12. Soothe Insect Bites
If you have an itchy bug bite, dab a little ketchup onto the irritated spot. Ketchup is said to help calm some of the itching from mosquito bites or bee stings.
13. Use It in a Facial Scrub
You can whip up a simple DIY facial scrub using leftover ketchup and sugar packets from restaurants. The acidity in ketchup aids gentle exfoliation while tomato antioxidants can help reduce inflammation. It’s better to use an artificial sweetener or very fine sugar rather than coarse white sugar, since finer granules are less harsh. Patch-test your homemade scrub on a small area of skin before applying it to your entire face to check for any reaction.
Bonus: Repurpose the Bottle
This tip doesn’t involve ketchup itself. An empty squeeze bottle can be useful in many ways. Once thoroughly cleaned, fill it with pancake batter for neat, mess-free pancakes, or use it to dispense paint for children’s crafts.
Nicole Lane is a senior writer at Savinly.
