Love beer? Today we're sharing 19 alternative uses for beer (that don't involve drinking) to give you even more reasons to love the stuff.
If you already thought beer was great, wait till you read these. Beer's carbonated and diuretic properties make it useful for loads of weird and wonderful things. Discover how you can use beer for everything from beauty to DIY in the list below.
1. Use beer to revive wood
Is your wooden table looking dull and lacklustre?
Beer can fix that! It's also a great way to use up any dregs.
Wet a clean cloth in flat beer, and wring it out thoroughly. Wipe over your wooden furniture to revive its former colour and give it a deep shine.
2. Beer can chicken
Want to get a little experimental during this year's BBQs?
'Beer can chicken is a modern and rustic way to cook a whole chicken that guarantees tender and juicy meat.
Plus, it's super easy!
Find out how to make Beer Can Chicken over on the BBC Good Food site - it's a real crowd pleaser.
3. Put out a fire with beer
You can never be too prepared, especially when it comes to fires.
Having a can of beer on hand could prove to be an unexpected lifeline if one ever occurs in your house or car. Although not quite as effective as a traditional fire extinguisher, the foam works in a similar way.
If this isn't a reason to always have beer in the house, we don't know what is!
4. Deter slugs & snails
We've all heard of the salt method, but if you have leftover beer hanging around, this can prove just as effective.
Pour some beer into a container, and leave outside in a slug-ridden area. Slugs and snails will be attracted to the sweet smell, climb over the sides to have a sip, and be unable to get back out again.
Learn other ways to deter bugs in our other article.
5. Treat brown lawn spots with beer
Yes, really! Beer contains fermented sugars, which will help the grass to regain strength, colour and growth.
It also neutralises nitrogen found in pet urine - which may well be the cause of your brown spots - and kills off fungi, resulting in a healthy, plush lawn.
Just pour or spray a generous amount of beer over brown lawn spots to revive them.
6. Beer hair treatment
Is your hair looking dull and drab? There's no need to invest in expensive hair treatments or products - a glass of beer is all you need!
Beer is high in proteins and vitamins, and the alcohol works to cleanse, shine and soften your untamed mane.
Pour a flat beer over your hair after shampooing, leave to sit for 4 minutes, then wash out and condition as normal.
7. Lift coffee/tea carpet stains
The carbonated properties in beer also make it a handy cleaning product, especially on tea and carpet stains.
Pour some fresh beer onto the stained area, and lightly massage it in. Blot to remove, and repeat as necessary.
8. Beer could calm your upset stomach
If you needed another reason to have a beer with dinner, this is it. According to one study, beer was found to 'significantly accelerate gastric emptying' aiding in digesting.
If a can of pop is something you find works for you, beer's carbonation could provide similar effects. The addition of alcohol also acts as a mild pain-reliever.
9. Beer can massage
What's better than a back massage after a long, hard day? An ice-cold beer massage!
Similarly to an ice pack, the cold temperature will reduce any muscle tension and swelling, and the cylindrical shape will glide seamlessly over skin, rolling out knots and tightness.
10. Loosen-rusty bolts with beer
Another of the uses for beer is removing rust from bolts and screws.
This is again thanks to the carbonation, which breaks down rust and leaves things shiny and clean.
Want to loosen a rusty bolt? Pour a bit of beer over the fitting, wait 15 seconds, and wipe clean.
11. Butterfly food
Have you seen a butterfly yet this year? Now's your chance!
Butterflies love anything sweet, including beer. Mix together the ingredients below and wipe onto trees, fence posts and rocks to entice beautiful butterflies into your garden.
- 450g sugar
- 1/2 cans stale beer
- 3 mashed overripe bananas
- 1 cup syrup/molasses
- 1 cup fruit juice
- 1 shot rum
Who knew there were so many unusual uses for beer?! Keep reading for more...
12. Beer marinade
Why not try something a little different for dinner this week? When cooked, a beer marinade adds a rich, caramel taste to meats - sounds pretty delicious, right?
Food Network have a really easy beer marinade recipe that will give a new life to your tired 'chicken and veg' dish. Try it today and impress your family or guests!
13. Polish copper with beer
If you've read our uses for coca-cola, you'll already know that the carbonation can provide amazing cleaning results when used on copper pans.
Well, beer can be used in the same way.
Don't believe us? Watch the video above to learn how to use beer to clean and shine everything from old coins to your favourite copper frying pan. The results are amazing!
If you need more tips, like how to clean a burnt pan, check out our other article.
14. Could beer help you pass a kidney stone?
Kidney stones are deposits of sodium and other minerals that crystalise to form hard, painful lumps.
If you suffer from kidney stones, you may want to consider drinking more beer - yes, you read that right!
Beer has been shown to lower the chance of kidney stones by an impressive 41%. Time for a beer? Don't mind if we do!
15. Trap mice using beer
The love of beer has stretched far and wide - it turns out even mice love to have a tipple.
This is great news for anyone dealing with a mice infestation. Pouring some beer into a deep container, and using either a plank of wood or ruler to create a 'ramp' will result in an effective but humane mouse trap.
Just be sure not to use too much beer - you don't want to drown the little critters.
16. Uses for beer to treat sport injuries
Pulled a tendon? You need to get some ice on that thing, fast!
If you haven't got any, don't fret - a cold can or bottle of beer will work just as well to reduce swelling and ease pain.
17. Put beer in your bread
Beer and bread are more similar than you may think - both contain both water, cereal and yeast - it's actually only the process of making them that differs. Given that, it's no wonder they work so well together!
If you're an avid breadmaker, now's the time to experiment! Try Genius Kitchen's Beer Bread recipe for a gloriously hearty, flavoursome loaf you won't be able to get enough of.
18. How to trap fruit flies with beer
There's nothing like relaxing on a hot Summer's day - until the buzz of the fruit flies start, that is.
Fruit flies love anything sweet, which is why they'll never leave you or your BBQ spread alone.
Luckily there's a way to use their sweet tooth to your advantage - with a beer can trap.
Take a Mason Jar and remove the lid. Create holes in the top using a hammer and nail. Then, fill the jar halfway with beer, and place outside - they'll be no escape once those fruit flies are inside.
Check out our other blog post for more unique uses for Mason Jars.
19. Beer-battered cod
Last but certainly not least on our list of uses for beer is an all-time favourite: it's delicious; it's a classic - it's beer-battered cod.
Why spend money on fish and chips when you can make a cheaper, more nutritious and delicious version at home? The fizziness of beer adds a lightness to batter along with additional flavour.
Hungry? Get a classic Beer Battered Fish and Chips recipe that the whole family will love on the Food Network site.
Which of our uses for beer will you be trying first? Let us know if you have any of your own beer tips in the comments below!
I’m just wondering can you use lager instead of beer ?
Hi Susie! Both should work great.
Don't throw alcohol on fire. I would have thought that was common sense.
Hi there Malcolm! Beer doesn't respond to flames in the same way vodka and whiskey might. The foam is really good for putting out fires if that's all you have to hand! Give the can a good shake to maximize the amount of foam.
Can you use beer in batter for Yorkshire puddings as well as cod? Matthew
Yes, you can use beer for Yorkshire puddings and cod in the batter. The beer can add flavour and lightness to the batter. When using beer in the batter, choosing the right type of beer to complement the dish you're making and balancing the flavours appropriately is essential.
I don't think that is a good idea to encourage people to have beer to hand in a car!!
It could be in the boot after a visit to the supermarket! Always handy to know.