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Cucumber Recipes

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Collage of cucumber dishees

These deliciously easy cucumber recipes are just what you need if you're struggling to know what to make with an abundance of cucumbers.

Obviously you can pickle them - and I have top tips on pickling cucumbers at the bottom - but first off I have for you here super tasty recipes for :

  1. Cucumber salads with a twist.
  2. Classic gazpacho soup.
  3. Ever popular tzatziki and raita sauces to add a zing to your fave middle eastern and Indian dishes.
  4. PLUS surprisingly delicious fried and stir fried cucumbers with punchy harissa and peanut sauces.

There's also recipes for the best cucumber sandwiches, lovely cucumber canapes, cucumber smoothies and even cucumber sorbet!

So if you love cucumber, or like me have got a bumper harvest of huge cucumbers, read on. And do bookmark or save on Pinterest for later.

Cucumber Salads

Creamy Cucumber & Dill Salad

Creamy Cucumber & Dill Salad

This creamy cucumber & dill salad is super quick to make but seriously delicious and goes with just about any meal you could be serving.

Time To Table : 10 minutes

Ingredients : cucumbers, red onion, sour cream, lemon juice, dill, garlic

Cucumber Noodle Salad

Cucumber Sesame Noodle Salad

This lovely cucumber noodle salad is tasty enough to be the centre of a light meal with just a quick protein side dish. You don't need a fancy spiralizer to make the cucumber noodles, I just use my super cheap julienne peeler.

Time To Table : 15 minutes

Ingredients : cucumbers, snow peas, spring onion, mint, sesame oil, ginger, coconut aminos/soy sauce, honey/maple syrup, sesame seeds.

Asian Cucumber Salad

Asian Cucumber Salad

This Asian cucumber salad takes a little longer to make but has a wonderful combination of flavours that perfectly complement the cucumbers.

Time To Table : 25 minutes

Ingredients : cucumbers, scallions/spring onions, ginger, garlic, rice vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, maple syrup/honey, chilli garlic sauce, toasted sesame seeds.

Thai Cucumber Salad

Thai Cucumber Salad

This Thai cucumber salad makes the perfect quick side dish for your favourite Thai dishes. My one gripe with this recipe is the sugar level - it has more than 30g per person. That is more than the recommended daily maximum for an adult in a salad, crazy!! Personally, I think it's great with barely 2 teaspoons per person.

Time To Table : 15 minutes

Ingredients : cucumbers, shallots, chilli peppers, cilantro/coriander, white vinegar, kosher salt, sugar.

Cabbage & Cucumber Salad

Green Cabbage & Cucumber Salad

This green cabbage & cucumber salad recipe is something a bit different combining the freshness of cucumber with cabbage crunch which makes it filling enough to be the base of a low carb or Keto meal served with pork ribs or your other favourite pork cuts.

Time To Table : 15 minutes

Ingredients : cucumbers, green cabbage, green onions/spring onions, dill, sunflower oil, distilled white vinegar/white wine vinegar

Cucumber Greek Salad

Cucumber Greek Salad

A big cucumber greek salad is a great quick lunch in its own right with just just some bread on the side for mopping juices!

Time To Table : 15 minutes

Ingredients : cucumbers, tomatoes, red onion, feta, green bell pepper, olives, mint leaves, olive oil, red wine vinegar, garlic, oregano, dijon mustard.

Tzatziki Sauce

Cucumber Tzatziki Sauce

A classic tzatziki sauce is an incredibly easy way to add some extra zing to your favourite Greek and middle eastern meals or leftovers and a perfect accompaniment for :

  • Grilled fish
  • Grilled meat
  • Lamb kebabs
  • Roast vegetables
  • Pitta bread
  • Falafel etc

Time To Table : 15 minutes

Ingredients : cucumber, yoghurt, lemon juice, garlic, dill, olive oil.

Cucumber Raita

Cucumber Raita

Ready in barely 10 minutes this cucumber raita is the perfect quick partner for all your favourite Indian recipes or again a great way to pad out and freshen up leftovers.

Time To Table : 10 minutes

Ingredients : cucumber, yoghurt, cumin, black pepper, coriander/cilantro, chaat masala/curry powder, mint, green chilli pepper.

Cucumber Gazpacho

Cucumber Gazpacho

This cucumber gazpacho is a lovely way to use up garden cucumbers and green tomatoes. It's ideal for hot summer days but also delicious as summer fades in September.

Time To Table : 30 minutes

Ingredients : cucumbers, tomatillos/green tomatoes, onion, garlic, jalapeno pepper, olive oil, cilantro, lime juice, honey/maple syrup, yoghurt, mint, seeds

Fried Cucumber & Harissa

Fried Cucumber Harissa

Who knew you could fry cucumber? Well you can and this fried cucumber & harissa truly is a fantastic way to use up big garden cucumbers. We love it combined in mezze with lamb, Greek yoghurt, falafel, houmous etc.

Time To Table : 10-15 minutes

Ingredients : cucumbers, harissa, olive oil

The recipe cuts the cucumbers into slices but I think it's quicker to cut them into slabs length wise, especially if like me you've got some huge late season cucumbers!

Cucumbers In Spicy Peanut Sauce

Cucumbers In Spicy Peanut Sauce

This recipe for cucumbers in spicy peanut sauce is another great way to serve cucumbers with a real big punch of flavour. It looks like it takes a bit longer but 60 minutes of your prep time is just leaving the cucumbers in a colander to lose some of their excess moisture.

Time To Table : 75 minutes

Ingredients : cucumbers, peanuts, soy sauce, rice vinegar, peanut butter, honey, garlic, chilli flakes, coriander

Stir Fried Cucumber

Stir Fried Cucumber

This brilliant stir fried cucumber from Ken Lom makes a wonderful low carb or Keto side for your favourite Chinese meat or fish dishes.

Time To Table : 30 minutes

Ingredients : cucumbers, groundnut oil, garlic, ginger, spring onions, chilli flakes, sesame oil, sugar (optional)

Cucumber Sesame Noodles

Cucumber Sesame Noodles

These spiralized cucumber sesame noodles tossed in sesame oil and roasted sesame seeds make a simple and elegant low-carb alternative to your usual noodles.

Time To Table : 40 minutes

Ingredients : cucumbers, salt, rice vinegar, sesame oil, sesame seeds, sugar (option)

Cucumber & Pineapple Smoothie

Cucumber & Pineapple Smoothie Recipe

Cucumbers work well in all sorts of smoothies but this cucumber & pineapple smoothie has a wonderfully refreshing tropical flavour to it.

Time To Table : 5 minutes

Ingredients : cucumber, pineapple, banana, coconut milk, lime, spinach/kale.

Cucumber Canapes With Salmon Mousse

Cucumber & Salmon Mousse Canapes

These pretty cucumber canapes with salmon mousse need a little patience to cut and fill but are really not tricky. If you are making them from home grown cucumbers, do check the skins aren't too thick and tough.

Time To Table : 20 mins preparation, 5 hours chilling

Ingredients : cucumbers, smoked salmon, cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, dill, garlic, lemon.

Cucumber Sandwiches

Cucumber Sandwiches

It is easy to be dismissive of cucumber sandwiches but they really are a refreshingly mouth cleansing start to afternoon tea and the perfect segue to scones and jam!!

Time To Table : 15 minutes

Ingredients : cucumbers, white bread, cream cheese, mayonnaise, dill, chives, garlic powder (optional)

Cucumber Sorbet

Cucumber Sorbet

Sadly cucumbers don't typically freeze well when you've got an abundance to use up BUT they do freeze well transformed into a mouth wateringly simple cucumber sorbet!

Time To Table : 6 hours

Ingredients : cucumbers, lemons, sugar.

Equipment : ice cream maker

Pickling Cucumbers

Pickled Cucumbers

Pickled cucumbers are a brilliant and very simple way to use up an abundance of homegrown cucumbers but there's also an over abundance of pickled cucumber recipes out there which over complicate the process!!

So I have here basic rules for pickling cucumbers to keep in the fridge safely for a few months and a quick recipe you can easily adapt using the rules.

Pickled Cucumber Basics

  1. Pickling Brine
  2. Pickling Vinegar
  3. Vinegar - Water Ratios
  4. Pickling Salt
  5. Heating The Brine
  6. Cooling The Brine
  7. Do You Need Sugar?
  8. How Long Do Fridge Cucumbers Last?
  9. Do Jars Need Sterilising

Pickling Brine

Cucumbers are pickled in a preserving brine made from :

  • Vinegar
  • Water
  • Salt.

You can add all sorts of flavours to your brine to give your cucumbers a real zing.

Pickling Vinegar

Cucumbers are typically pickled in distilled white vinegar or white wine vinegar but you can use other vinegars e.g. apple cider vinegar as long as the acidity is greater than 5%. The acidity stops bacteria growing in your pickles.

Vinegar - Water Ratios

Adding water to brine stops the vinegar being crazily tangy. But do NOT dilute the vinegar too much. You must have at lease equal parts of vinegar and water e.g. 1 cup of vinegar to 1 cup of water.

Pickling Salt

You can pickle your cucumbers with plain table salt but it can make the brine cloudy. Cumbers are typically pickled with Kosher or pickling salt in the USA or with rock salt in the UK.

Heating The Brine

You don't have to heat the brine for fridge pickles - you must if canning - but the added flavours will be much better if you do.

Cooling The Brine

Some recipes cool the brine before pouring over cucumbers. Cooled brine will keep your cucumbers crunchier but the flavourings will take long to penetrate the cucumber. If you want to start eating cucumbers the same day or next day hot brine is better if not let the brine cool.

Do You Need Sugar?

Sugar is not needed to preserve pickled cucumbers in the fridge. If can help keep cucumbers a tiny bit crunchier but is mostly just there because we are all addicted to sugar!!.

How Long Do Fridge Cucumbers Last?

Cucumbers pickled in vinegar and salt brine should last up to 2 months in the fridge as long as the cucumbers stay covered by the brine.

Do Jars Need Sterilising?

Jars just need hot washing in soapy water and air drying rather than sterilising if you are going to keep cucumbers in fridge.

Picked Cucumber Ingredients

Pickled Cucumber Ingredients

Brine per 1 large cucumber weighing roughly ~7 oz / 200 g :

  • 5 US fl oz (150 ml) distilled white vinegar or white wine vinegar with > 5% acidity.
  • 4 US fl oz (120ml) water.
  • 2.5 teaspoon (14g) of kosher salt (rock if kosher not available).

If your family loves tangy cucumbers up the vinegar to 6 US fl oz (180 ml).

Brine flavouring extras per cucumber :

  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon pepper corn
  • 1 teaspoon of e.g. mustard seed, coriander seed, fennel seed, dill seed or a combo thereof.

Other optional extras to pickle with cucumbers per cucumber :

  • 1 jalapeno pepper sliced
  • 1 spring / green onion sliced
  • 1-2 garlic cloves crushed

Pickling Equipment

Glass pickling jars

Equipment needed per cucumber :

  • 12-16fl oz / 350-500 ml jar

You will also need a stainless steel pan that won't react with vinegar.

Pickled Cucumber Recipe

  1. Make Brine : bring brine ingredients to boil in pan and simmer for 5-10 minutes until the salt has dissolved.
  2. Cool Brine : for at least 30 minutes to keep cucumbers crunchy.
  3. Prep Cucumbers : thinly slice cucumbers or cut into spears. Big home grown cucumbers may need peeling if they have thick skins.
  4. Crunch Cucumbers : place cucumber in a colander over a bowl either lots of ice or ½ teaspoon of salt for 20 minutes to make super crunchy.
  5. Hot Wash Jars : leave to air dry.
  6. Prep Extras : slice e.g. jalapeno pepper or spring onion and crush garlic cloves.
  7. Pack Jars : with cucumbers and extras until 75% full.
  8. Pour Brine : pour over brine and seeds leaving ½ inch space at top.
  9. Submerge Everything : push down cucumbers & extras to ensure submerged in brine.
  10. Store In Fridge : ready to eat in 24 hours but peak flavour in 3-5 days. They will last up to 2 months.

And there you go, loads of simple but super tasty ideas for what to make with an abundance of cucumbers.

For more seasonal food ideas do check out my other real food recipes and follow my seasonal food and food storage boards on Pinterest.

Luscious Pear Recipes

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Collage of pear recipes

Summer pear recipes too often lose out to all the scrumptious peach and plum recipes out there but pears have a secret weapon and that is chocolate!!

Pears and chocolate are a match made in heaven and chocolate can transform the saddest of backyard pears - mine aren't great - into a delicious dessert.

So I have for you here a collection of the best easy but luscious pear and chocolate recipes covering :

  1. Poached Pears & Chocolate
  2. Chocolate Pear Tarts
  3. Chocolate Pear Cakes
  4. Chocolate Pear Puddings

PLUS classic chocolate-free pear recipes that come into their own with perfectly ripe fresh pears including :

  • Pear Tarte Tatin
  • Red Wine Poached Pears
  • Tarte Bourdaloue (the traditional French pear frangipane tart)
  • Pear Clafoutis
  • Pear Sorbet
  • And more ....

If you have fresh market pears or a huge load of pears from a farm or backyard tree, there are pear recipes here for you!!

Do bookmark or save and enjoy!!

Poached Pears & Chocolate

Poached pears and chocolate - or Poire Belle Helene as the French call it - looks glamorous and tastes amazing but is actually surprisingly simple.

This Poire Belle Helene recipe has nice, easy to follow steps but I would slash the sugar to 3 teaspoons per pear.

For a luxurious twist try this poire belle Helene recipe with white wine.

Chocolate Pear Tarts

Caramel Pear & Chocolate Tart

Caramelised Pear & Chocolate Tart

This delicious caramelised pear & chocolate tart is much simpler than you'd think. You basically just :

  1. Blind bake crust for 20 minutes
  2. Caramelise pears in a sugar, water & butter syrup in a skillet.
  3. Add pears to cooled crust to cool.
  4. Top with chocolate ganache.
  5. Cool in fridge for 2 hours.

Classic Chocolate Pear Tart

Chocolate Pear Tart

This classic chocolate pear tart is another crowd pleaser that is much simpler than it looks. It is a slightly spongey crust plus an incredible chocolate, almond & Amaretto filling topped with sliced pears. The crust doesn't need blind baking - or even chilling - so you can have the tart ready for the table in just over an hour.

Pear & Chocolate Bakewell Tart

Pear and Bakewell chocolate tart

This pear & chocolate tart recipe is based on a traditional British Bakewell tart. Melted chocolate is knifed through an almond sponge mixture to create a gorgeous marbled effect and then topped with pears and almonds.

Chocolate Pear Cakes

Easy Chocolate Pear Cake

Chocolate Pear Cake

This super easy chocolate pear cake isn't a fancy-pants dessert for entertaining but makes a scrumptious family teatime treat or dessert with just 15 minutes of preparation.

Chocolate Pear Crumb Cake

Chocolate Pear Crumb Cake

This pretty chocolate pear crumb cake is made with ricotta, sour cream or yoghurt for a beautifully moist chocolate and pear sponge base with a hazelnut streusel crumb topping.

Chocolate Fudge Pear Cake

Chocolate Fudge Pear Cake

This gorgeously decadent chocolate fudge pear cake has a dark chocolate base and more dark chocolate on top but is not crazily high in unnecessary sugar compared with many recipes having less than 3 teaspoons per slice.

Chocolate Pear Layer Cake

Chocolate Pear Layer Cake

This chocolate pear layer cake is a real show-off cake for special occasions. The pears are poached in brandy and the poaching syrup added to the sponge for an extra boozy boost.

Personally, I'd ditch the sugar from the poaching brandy as you risk losing the flavour of the pears. And if like me you are a dark chocolate kind of girl, try replacing the butter cream with more dark chocolate - and brandy! - ganache.

Chocolate Pear Bundt Cake

Chocolate Pear Bundt Cake

If you love bundt cakes, you'll love this chocolate pear bundt cake. It is a spicy chocolate and pear sponge flavoured with cinnamon and nutmeg and covered in cinnamon sugar and a glaze.

Secret Pear Chocolate Cake

Chocolate Pear Cake

This fabulous secret pear chocolate cake would make a delightful surprise dessert when you are entertaining.

It is a perfect recipe for slightly over ripe pears that are just baked in a chocolatey cake mixture in a loaf tin. The cake is cooled slightly for better slicing and then served with hot chocolate sauce.

The recipe defaults to French but you can tab to English at the top

Chocolate Pear Desserts

Easy Chocolate Pear Pudding

Chocolate Pear Pudding

This easy chocolate pear pudding is a great way to use up lots of ripe pears from the market or garden at the end of the pear season in autumn.

You can also whip up the pudding as a stomach warming family dinner dessert in winter with either canned or frozen pears.

Pear & Chocolate Crumble

Pear And Chocolate Crumble

This pear and chocolate crumble is another deliciously kid-friendly way to use up lots of pears and could not be easier. A lovely alternative is to make a plain pear crumble - leave out the cocoa powder & chocolate chunks - served with hot chocolate sauce.

More Pear Tarts

Pear Tarte Tatin

Pear Tarte Tatin

The skillet caramelised pears in this gorgeous pear tarte tatin are beautifully rich and oozing with flavour.

Don't be scared off by the idea tarte tatins are tricky - they're not and this pear recipe and these for plum tarte tatin and peach tarte tatin are great ways to use up lots of seasonal fruit.

Tarte Bourdaloue (Pear & Almond Tart)

Pear Frangipane Tart

The French are such experts at seasonal fruit tarts they have a special name - Tarte Bourdaloue - for a pear and almond or frangipane tart.

This classic French Tarte Bourdaloue recipe combines :

  1. Sweet short crust pastry shell
  2. Lemon poached pears
  3. A very light almond sponge filling
  4. And flaked almonds
  5. With a light syrup topping.

It's not the quickest of recipes as the sweet crust is better for chilling and blind baking but none of the stages actually involve much effort.

Pear Galette

Pear Galette

Galettes and crostatas are a deliciously quick and easy way to use up lots of seasonal fruit from a market or orchard or your own backyard.

This wonderfully spicy pear galette recipe needs just 15 minutes prep and 20 minutes in the oven. It is an ideal rough and ready recipe for family dinners but looks stunning and tastes scrumptious if you are entertaining.

If you love galettes do also check out this peach crostata and plum galette.

More Pear Desserts & Puddings

Pear Clafoutis

Pear Clafoutis

A clafoutis is another classic French dessert for using up lots of seasonal fruit. It is basically a crust-free custard tart baked with fruit.

This lovely pear clafoutis is made with pears marinated in white wine, kirsch or brandy and has some great tips on how to make sure your fruit don't sink to the bottom of your clafoutis.

If you are a clafoutis fan do check out this easy plum clafoutis recipe.

Pear Crumble

Pear Crumble

I usually make pear and chocolate crumble, as my garden pears are not marvellous but this simple oaty pear crumble is lovely with good ripe pears.

I would serve with cream rather than ice cream for just that right balance of sweetness and tart fruity flavour.

Pear Cobbler

Pear Cobbler

A stomach warming pear cobbler is a great way to use up lots of autumn or frozen pears or even canned pears.

This traditional pear cobbler recipe can be on the family dinner table in just an hour with 20 minutes prep. It's delicious served with cream which keeps the sugar hit to 3 teaspoons per person compared with ice cream which can easily double that!!

Easy Pear Crisp

Easy Pear Crisp

This easy pear crisp with oat and pecan topping is another wonderful recipe for lots of fall or frozen pears.

The recipe does work out at 6 teaspoons of sugar per person - even without ice cream - so it's worth cutting it down a bit if you don't want to overload the family with insulin spiking sugar in an everyday dessert.

More Pear Cakes

Italian Pear Cake

Easy Italian Pear Cake

The French may make the best pear tarts but I reckon the Italians make the best pear cakes!

This fabulously easy Italian pear cake which needs just 10 minutes preparation is made with yoghurt for a wonderfully moist sponge.

Pear & Ricotta Cake

Ricotta Pear Cake

This alternative Italian ricotta pear cake is just as gorgeously moist made with sour cream as well as ricotta and is again very easy needing only 15 minutes preparation.

Pear & Ricotta Cheesecake

Pear Ricotta Cheesecake

If you love pears and ricotta do try this ricotta & pear cheesecake recipe. It's crust free so is super light and luscious with fresh pears.

French Pear Cake

French Pear Cake

This classic French pear cake made with sour cream and a crackly sugar topping is another lusciously light recipe that is more pear than cake.

Upside Down Pear Cake

Upside Down Pear Gingerbread Cake

Pears just like peaches and plums make great gooey upside down cakes.

This upside down pear cake recipe is rich and spicy with ginger, cinnamon and molasses and would make a great late autumn or Halloween dessert as the winter nights draw in.

Poached & Baked Pears

Poached Pears

Poached Pears

Pears truly are heavenly with chocolate but good pears are also exquisite poached simply with :

  1. Water
  2. Alcohol
  3. Sugar (but not too much!!)
  4. Plus your favourite spices e.g. cinnamon, ginger, cardamom.

This guide to easy poached pears has got great tips on how to work with whatever you've got into to produce perfectly poached pears.

Sugar Free Stewed Pears

Stewed Pears

My garden pears are short on sun and not amazing but even they are good poached and caramelised with just water, butter and spices and served sugar-free with dollops of cream.

I just peel and chop them and chuck in the pan but for more tips use this recipe for easy stewed pears.

Red Wine Poached Pears

Poached Pears In Red Wine Recipe

This recipe for pears poached in red wine is another absolute French classic. You just poach firm pears in red wine with spices, orange slices and a little sugar and honey.

Baked Pears

Baked Pears

These baked pears caramelise beautifully roasted in the oven sugar with butter, brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. The natural sugars in the pears will caramelise in the butter so you don't even need added sugar if you are trying to cut back.

Pear Sorbet

Pear Sorbet

Pear sorbet has a lovely clean refreshing flavour and this easy pear sorbet, which you can whip up without an ice cream maker, is a great way to use up ripe pears going spare.

Pear Butter & Jam

Pear Butter

Pear Butter

Lashings of homemade pear butter on a toasted English muffin are a delight on cooling autumn days and this spicy pear butter recipe rich with ginger, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg is super easy to make with lots of ripe pears.

Do remember fructose in fruit butters and sauces and the honey in this recipe spike blood sugar as much as added sugar. So start the recipe with half as much honey and only add more to taste if you really think it needs it.

Pear Jam

Pear Jam

Pears truly do blend beautifully with ginger and cinnamon and bring a gorgeous flavour to this chunky pear jam recipe.

Savoury Pear Recipes

Pear & Blue Cheese Galette

Savoury Pear Galette

Pears other big super power in the seasonal fruit stakes is that they are amazing in savoury recipes and this savoury pear galette with blue cheese is a brilliant example of that.

Savoury Baked Pears

Savoury Baked Pears

These savoury baked pears with gorgonzola, walnuts and cranberries would be lovely as part of an autumn buffet meal with cold meat or as a no sugar dessert if you swapped out the honey with butter.

Pear Salad With Balsamic & Walnuts

Pear Salad

This pear salad with balsamic, walnuts and pecorino cheese is another great fall recipe but it is one you need to save for great, perfectly ripe pears.

Roasted Pear Salad With Gorgonzola

Roasted Pear Salad

If your pears aren't quite ripe or totally amazing, this roasted pear salad is a great choice. The pears are quickly roasted in olive oil and served with rockets, walnut, gorgonzola and a balsamic and honey dressing.

The recipe suggests serving the salad with farro but it is also great without. If you are keeping an eye on sugar, drop the honey from the dressing.

And there you go a must save collection of luscious pear recipes including :

  1. Chocolate Pear Tarts
  2. Chocolate Pear Cakes
  3. Chocolate Pear Desserts
  4. More Pear Tarts
  5. More Pear Desserts
  6. More Pear Cakes
  7. Poached & Baked Pears
  8. Pear Sorbet
  9. Pear Butter & Jam
  10. Savoury Pear Recipes

Do save for later and for more inspiration check out these other seasonal fruit recipes.

Deliciously Easy Peach Recipes

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Collage of peach recipes

These deliciously easy peach recipes are your answer to what to make with

  • Perfectly ripe fresh peaches.
  • Lots of peaches from the backyard, pick your own farm or market.
  • Frozen peaches in winter
  • Or even that random can of peaches you need to declutter from the back of the pantry!!

The collection includes all sorts of easy peach recipes for the best :

  1. Peach tarts, pies & crostata
  2. Peach cakes
  3. Peach cobblers & crisps
  4. Snack size peach bars & scones
  5. Simple baked & grilled peaches

PLUS some slightly longer but totally scrumptious recipes for :

  • Peach meringues
  • Peach ice cream!!

So however big your peach haul there are recipes here for you - do bookmark or save for later ...

Peach Tarts & Pies

Peach Crostata

Peach Crostata

This peach crostata is scrumptiously easy. It really is a go to recipe - just like this plum galette - when you want an amazing dessert without any faff!!

All you do is :

  1. Roll a rough round of pastry.
  2. Toss cut peaches with lemon juice, brown sugar & vanilla essence
  3. PLUS optionally rum & cinnamon!!
  4. Dump fruit in centre of pastry.
  5. Fold over an inch or so of pastry to make a crust.
  6. Sprinkle with sugar.
  7. Bake for 30-40 minutes.

If you do want a slightly fancier look try this peach crostata recipe with a proper tart crust and enjoy the time taken to carefully arrange your peaches.

Baked Peach Crostata

Custard Peach Tart

Custard Peach Pie

This custard peach tart truly comes into its own with slightly under ripe, frozen or canned peaches. You still get all the lovely peach flavour but with a bit of lift from the custard filling. Don't be put off by the idea custard is complicated - this peach recipe still only needs 20 minutes prep.

Peach Tartlets

Peach Tartlets

Pretty peach tartlets make lovely tea time treats and this peach tartlet recipe is super easy with frozen puff pastry and a quick almond & glaze topping.

But great fresh peaches don't even need the extra topping and these alternative peach tartlets are amazing with nothing more added than brown sugar and vanilla extract.

Mini Peach Tarts

White Peach Tart

The French really do win at simple classic fruit tarts - whether peach, plum or pear - and this French inspired white peach tart is a perfect example.

White Peach Tart

If you have firmer, less juicy white peaches try this alternative white peach tart recipe with a cakier base that doesn't need chilling.

Peach Frangipane Tart

Peach Frangipane Tart

The very best seasonal fruit shines in the simplest of recipes but I have to confess, I cannot resist frangipane tarts whether the plum frangipane we made with plums from our garden this week or this amazing peach frangipane tart recipe.

Peach Tarte Tatin

Peach Tarte Tatin

Tarte tatin's are one of those French fruit tarts that look super impressive and tricky but with simple recipes like this peach tarte tatin are actually incredibly easy - you just have to master flipping them over at the end!!

No Bake Peach Tart

Peach Tart

Perfectly ripe - bordering on soft - fresh peaches are ideal for this peach tart which is just a baked crust filled with a mix of mascarpone, cream cheese, heavy cream and confectioner's sugar and topped with fresh peaches.

It can be a good option if you want to cut down on added sugar as neither the crust nor the lusciously creamy filling truly need sugar to taste amazing.

Peach & Berry Tart

Peach & Berry Tart

If you are after a beautifully easy peach recipe with a bit less added sugar try this peach & berry tart which has only just over 1 teaspoon per helping.

Peach Pie

Peach Pie

A peach pie with a pretty lattice topping is a great way to use up lots of peaches from the freezer as the weather cools in autumn and winter.

The lattice does take a little more time but somehow I think peaches need that extra air to caramelise a bit and so aren't so good - unlike apples - under a plain flat crust.

Peach Cakes

Easy Fresh Peach Cake

Easy Peach Cake

I honestly think tarts are the very best way to enjoy fresh ripe peaches but peach cakes are amazing if you've got a haul of peaches from the back garden, market or pick your own farm.

This super easy fresh peach cake with yoghurt which manages to be both cakey and creamy really does do fresh peaches justice!

Peach Skillet Cake

Peach & Blueberry Skillet Cake

Alternatively try this simply gorgeous peach skillet cake which combines peaches with blueberries and a sour cream cake mixture.

Peach Upside Down Cakes

Mini Peach Upside Down Cakes

These adorable mini peach upside down cakes make lovely tea time treats or sweet individual deserts but are again super easy. If you did want to make them fancy for dinner guests you could add a tiny splash of brandy or bourbon in the base.

Peach Cobbler, Crisp & Crumble

Peach Cobbler

Peach Cobbler

A simple classic peach cobbler is an easy no-brain-effort way to use up lots of peaches. Personally I prefer peach cobbler in the winter when its great with peaches from the freezer or a forgotten can you need to declutter from the kitchen.

This peach cobbler recipe peels the peaches but when you're cooking them for 40 minutes I am not convinced you need to and there's real goodness in them there skins!! Your call.

Peach Crisp

Peach Crisp

This crunchy peach crisp recipe with a cinnamon flavoured oat, almond flour and walnut topping can be prepared in just 15 minutes and is very flexible. You could easily use pecans, macadamia, pistachios or whatever nuts you have to hand in your cupboards.

Peach Crumble

Peach Crumble

There's endless debate about the differences betweens cobblers and crumbles and crisps but for me this easy peach crumble recipe is the classic British crumble with a simple streusel like topping over loads of super juicy peaches.

Peach Bars

Peach Crumb Bars

These scrumptious little peach crumb bars are stuffed full of fruit but fuss free! They are basically a shortbread-like base and streusel crumb topping with peaches and and sour cream custard in between. They are heavenly with fresh peaches but frozen will do.

Peach Crumb Bars

This alternative peach bar recipe is very similar but skips the custardy centre.

My only caveat with these recipes is they have way more added sugar than they need i.e. 6-8 teaspoons per bar!!

You can easily slash the sugar - e.g. boost the butter in the base - without losing the lovely peach taste.

Peach Scones

Peach scones

If you love peaches and you love scones, you will love these peach scones or rather peaches & cream scones as the scone dough has both Greek yoghurt and heavy cream!

With beautiful fresh peaches and all that cream, I would skip the glaze, which will bring each scone in with less than 2 teaspoons of added sugar.

Peach Ice Cream

Peach Ice Cream

Peaches and cream are a match made in heaven and so is homemade peach ice cream. This simple peach ice cream recipe doesn't use eggs and can be made quickly in a blender.

Alternatively, try this traditional peach ice cream recipe with eggs if you do have an ice cream maker.

Peach Ice Cream

Grilled & Roast Peaches

Grilled Peaches

These gorgeous grilled peaches with honey, thyme and mascarpone take just 5 minutes to prepare and less than 10 minutes to transform under the grill!

Grilled Peaches

Personally, I think the peaches are delicious just brushed with the butter and without the added sugar - the butter lets the amazing natural sweetness of the peaches come through without overwhelming it.

And let's be honest - we could all do with seriously slashing our sugar intake!

Roast Peaches

Baked Peaches

Roasted or baked peaches are a wonderful option if you have fresh peaches to use up but no time to bake and already have the oven on. Just arrange cut peaches cut side up in a baking dish and fill with some combination or another of :

  1. Butter or olive oil
  2. Brown sugar
  3. Honey or maple syrup
  4. A tiny pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves or all spice
  5. A splash of brandy, rum or whisky.

Roast for 30 minutes and serve them straight from the oven with cream, Greek yoghurt, creme fraiche, mascarpone or whatever you have.

Peach Meringues

Peach Meringue Pie

Peach Meringue Pie

Great fresh peaches are so delicious on their own and we really do need to avoid gilding the lily but ... if you are looking for a serious show stopper for a special occasion this peach meringue pie is stunning!

Peach Pavlova

Peach and cream pavlova

Or for an equally stunning but slightly simpler option go for this peach pavlova recipe - big meringues look impressive if you've never made them before but are super easy, as long as your eggs are fresh.

And there you go, a must save collection of easy peach recipes covering :

  1. Peach Tarts
  2. Peach Cakes
  3. Peach Cobblers, Crisps & Crumbles
  4. Peach Bars
  5. Peach Scones
  6. Peach Ice Cream
  7. Grilled & Roasted Peaches
  8. Peach Meringues

I do hope you enjoy them as much as I have - let me know which you love best and do save to come back to make more with your precious peach haul!!

Simply Stunning Plum Recipes

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Collection of plum recipes

If you are are wondering what you can make with lots of plums from a bumper backyard plum harvest or huge plum haul from the market or farm, the deliciously simple plum recipes I have for you here are the answer.

There are plum recipes galore for :

  1. Plum tarts, flans & pies
  2. Plum cakes
  3. Plum cobblers
  4. Fancy plum desserts
  5. Plum bars for snacks
  6. Plum jam & jelly
  7. And even super simple plum sorbet and ice cream!

So do bookmark or save these stunning plum recipes for later and enjoy!!

Plum Tarts, Flans & Pies

Plum Galette

Plum galette

A galette is the very simplest no fuss way to make a quick a fruit pie. You don't even truly need a full on plum galette recipe to make one. Simply :

  1. Roll out a round of plain pastry.
  2. Smear on a thinnish circle of jam, leaving an inch or so of extra pastry around the edge.
  3. Sprinkle with ground almonds or other nuts if you have any.
  4. Plonk plums on top.
  5. Roughly fold over your extra pastry.
  6. Sprinkle with brown sugar.
  7. Bake at 350f/175c for 45 mins.

But if you do want a slightly fancier recipe try this rustic plum galette ...

Almond Plum Tart

French Almond Plum Tart

This beautiful French almond plum tart is much simpler than it looks. It is an easy shortbread crust base, covered in an almond and butter mixture topped with plums and some jam or jelly.

It is a perfect recipe for freshly sliced plums but tastes just as good with roughly cut plums from the freezer.

Easy Plum Tart

French Plum Tart

If you want an even easier recipe try this French plum tart. It is just made from :

  1. Plain pastry crust.
  2. Sprinkling of almond flour or ground almonds.
  3. Cut plums sprinkled with sugar.

Plum Frangipane Tart

Plum Frangipane Tart

This plum frangipane tart recipe is a great choice if you want a real show stopper plum dessert that is as stunning as it is scrumptious!!

But the only tricky bit here is the thin slicing and arranging of the plums. The sweet pastry and almond sponge can be made quickly in a mixer and you could speed things up by just cutting your plums into eights rather than thin slices without losing anything in flavour.

Plum Pie

Plum Pie

There is something so beautiful about a proper old fashioned plum pie with lattice pastry topping and this plum pie recipe is otherwise so wonderfully quick and simple you'll easily have time to gently weave the lattice on top.

Plum Custard Tart

Plum Custard Tart

Plums and real egg custard are a match made in heaven and easily combined in this plum custard tart recipe which is made from :

  1. Sweet pastry crust.
  2. A sprinkling of ground walnuts.
  3. Layer of cut plums.
  4. Cinnamon flavoured custard made eggs & sour cream.

Plum Tarte Tatin

Plum Tarte Tatin

Plum tarte tatin is another of those French desserts that look fancy and complicated but aren't. All you do is :

  1. Caramelise plums in a skillet.
  2. Put a pastry crust over the top.
  3. Pop skillet in the oven for 25 mins.
  4. Carefully flip the tarte once done.
  5. Serve with cream, ice cream etc.

This plum tarte tatin flavours the plums with bay leaves, cinnamon and vanilla whilst this spicy plum tarte tatin makes the tart a bit more fancy with a spiced wine glaze you pour over the plums just after flipping the baked tart ...

Plum tarte tatin

Plum Tartlets

These mini plum tartlets are another super pretty option that would look lovely when you are entertaining but are still very simple to make.

Plum Tartlets

The pastry cups are just filled with a mixture of cream cheese and powdered sugar, topped with sliced plums and baked for 15 minutes.

Plum Cakes

German Plum Cake

German Plum Cake

This super easy traditional German plum cake recipe really, really could not be easier. All you have to do is :

  1. Make a basic sponge base.
  2. Cover it with finely sliced plums.
  3. Sprinkle the plums with a quick classic streusel / crumble mix.

Austrian Plum Loaf

Austrian plum cake

This is an incredibly easy Austrian plum loaf recipe. You add sour cream - or milk - to a basic sponge recipe and then place your plums, cut side up, on top of your cake batter before baking. Simply dust with icing sugar when cooled.

Spiced Plum Custard Cake

Spiced Plum Cake

This spiced plum custard cake recipe is special enough to serve dinner guests but still stress free as it is basically a spicy plum cake with a baked custard topping that you can bake well ahead and serve chilled.

Plum Upside Down Cake

Plum Upside Down Cake

This show stopping plum upside down cake superbly shows off the gorgeously rich colour of the plums but is again a no-fuss recipe option.

You just put your cut plums at the bottom of your cake tin and then cover with a ground almond and sour cream cake batter before baking for an hour.

Plum Cobbler

Plum Cobbler

This super easy plum cobbler recipe is a simple stomach-warming way to use up a load of plums in the freezer. You can give it a little extra punch by adding a splash or two of brandy to the plums.

More Plum Desserts

Plum Clafoutis

Plum Clafoutis

Plum Clafoutis looks lovely and sounds pretty grand but is actually the very easiest of plum desserts - it is just a classic French crustless custard tart.

In this plum clafoutis recipe you do nothing more than :

  1. Chop up your plums and chuck into a tart or pie dish or plate.
  2. Pour over a simple egg custard with a little vanilla and nutmeg.
  3. Bake for roughly half an hour.
  4. Serve slightly cooled and dusted with powdered sugar.

Plum Pavlova

If you do want a grander plum dessert, make a plum pavlova.

Plum pavlova

If your plums are perfectly ripe, stew just a few to make a syrup. Once the syrup is cool, pour over the top of your meringue and cream and then decorate with the rest of your sliced plums.

If you've got slightly under ripe plums, lightly stew them all until soft and then cool before serving on top of your meringue and cream.

For something even grander still, try this plum & saskatoon berry pavlova.

Plum Bars

Shortbread Plum Bars

Shortbread Plum Bars

These lovely shortbread plum bars are perfect for picnics and tea time treats. All you do is :

  1. Make a super quick 10 minute plum jam in a saucepan.
  2. Spread cooled jam over a shortbread base.
  3. Sprinkle additional shortbread crumbles over the jam.
  4. Bake for half an hour or so.

Plum Bars With Oat Topping

Homemade plum bars.

These alternative plum bars with oat topping are a bit crumblier so won't stand up to transport to picnics but are still scrumptious snacks.

Plum Jam & Jelly

Plum Jam

This recipe for plum jam - or plum jelly to US readers - couldn't be easier. You just need plums, lemon and granulated sugar and can be all done in an hour.

The recipe uses over 4 pounds of plums so is a good way to use up lots of plums but you can easily make with 2 pounds of fruit if you have less.

Plum Sorbet & Ice Cream

Plum Sorbet

Plum Sorbet

Rich red scoops of this plum sorbet make a stunning light dessert but the recipe again could not be simpler.

Plum Ice Cream

Plum Ice Cream

This roasted plum ice cream recipe sounds like it will be tricky but isn't.

You just roast, roughly blend and cool the plums before making the ice cream with eggs, sugar and heavy cream in a mixer and then combining the two.

You do need to thoroughly cool the blended plums so it can be easier to make over 2 days.

Plum Ice Cream

This even simpler plum ice cream recipe blends the plums - skipping the roasting - and uses condensed milk with the cream rather than eggs.

How To Get Rid Of Fruit Flies

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Homemade trap for fruit flies on kitchen counter

We can get rid of fruit flies easily in the summer with quick DIY fruit fly traps PLUS a few simple practical tips for :

  1. Repelling fruit flies
  2. Storing fruit properly
  3. Keeping on top of food waste.

And in this guide to getting rid of fruit flies I'll show you how to do all of these naturally with basic kitchen supplies and NO toxic chemicals!

For quick action jump to the DIY Fruit Fly Traps but do read the fruit storage tips to stop fruit flies coming back.

These tips are just about fruit flies. For all other flies check out my guide to getting rid of flies naturally.

What Actually Are Fruit Flies?

Fruit flies are tiny (2-4 mm) light-brown Drosophilidae with distinctive red eyes. Critically for us they are drawn to fermenting sugars, ethanol and acetic acid in ripe or decaying fruit.

Fruit flies lay 50-100 eggs a day - 500 in a lifetime - under fruit skin. The eggs hatch in just 12-24 hours. So in barely a day we can have an infestation!!

When Do Fruit Flies Breed?

Optimal temperatures for fruit flies are 25-30°C (77-86°F) so they are typically a problem in high summer.

They can breed between 20-35°C (68-95°F) but more slowly so it is easier to keep them under control. Under 20°C and above 35°C numbers drop right off.

What Fruit Attracts Fruit Flies?

Plate of strawberries with knife

Fruit flies love all sugary fruit that ferment rapidly but are super attracted to fruit with soft skin or skin that damages very easily. They are only attracted to hard skin fruit once cut.

Soft Skinned Fruit

Fruit flies adore the following soft skinned fruits as soon as they are ripe so store these fruit - once ripe - in the fridge and not the fruit bowl :

  1. Peaches
  2. Nectarines
  3. Strawberries
  4. Raspberries
  5. Blueberries
  6. Blackberries
  7. Figs
  8. Persimmons

Guava also have soft skin but can't be stored in the fridge so eat up fast.

Unripe fruit won't ripen in the fridge, so use the fruit storage tips below to keep fruit flies away whilst ripening.

Easily Damaged Fruit

White bowl of cherries on a tablecloth

Sadly, fruit flies also love all of these fruit once their skin is even slightly split or bruised or punctured :

  1. Apples
  2. Bananas
  3. Cherries
  4. Grapes
  5. Mango
  6. Papaya
  7. Pears
  8. Plums
  9. Tomatoes

In the summer fruit fly season it is again best to store most of these fruit - once they are ripe - in the fridge.

However bananas, mango, papaya and pineapple don't keep well in the fridge so in summer buy on the day you'll eat them or flash freeze for smoothies etc.

Hard Skin Fruit

White bowl of lemons.

Drosophilidae fruit fly can't penetrate hard skinned fruit. The Medfly - a different fruit fly - can but it is rarely found in the US (outside Hawaii) or UK.

So these fruit can all be stored in a fruit bowl unless the skin is damaged :

  1. Grapefruit
  2. Lemons
  3. Limes
  4. Oranges
  5. Pineapples
  6. Watermelon

Watch out for the top of big oranges where a hole may be left by the stem and fruit flies can sneak in.

Other Food Fruit Flies Love

Bowl of onions

Other foods that attracts fruit flies are :

  1. Alcohol
  2. Bread
  3. Corn
  4. Cucumbers
  5. Onions
  6. Potatoes
  7. Squash
  8. Zucchini / courgettes
  9. Anything else yeasty or fermenting.

Fruit flies also love rotting food in drains and compost bins and breed in both.

Quick & Easy DIY Fruit Fly Traps

Collage of photos about fruit fly traps

The best quick and easy DIY fruit fly traps draw the fruit flies in with the fragrance of fermenting fruit sugar.

Apple cider vinegar is without doubt the top ingredient to do this but I also have traps here made with other ingredients in case you don't have ACV.

Apple Cider Vinegar Fruit Fly Traps

Effective fruit fly traps mimic the way fruit flies sneak through damaged fruit skin. The two best traps for this are :

  • Bowl & Clingfilm Traps
  • Jar With Lid Traps

Bowl & Clingfilm Trap

Blue and white bowl covered in cling film

This apple cider vinegar fruit fly trap could not be simpler. All you need is :

  • Apple Cider Vinegar
  • Dish Soap / Washing Up Liquid
  • Very Small Bowl
  • Cling Film
  • Elastic Band (optional)

To quickly make the trap :

  1. Put 2-4 tablespoons of ACV in a small bowl (the smaller the bowl the less you will need).
  2. Add a few drops of dish soap.
  3. Cover bowl with cling film.
  4. Poke tiny holes in the cling film.
  5. You can secure the cling film with an elastic band if you like.

The fruity fermenting smell of the ACV will tempt the fruit flies to squeeze through the tiny holes as they do fruit skin. But the dish soap breaks the surface tension of the ACV so when they land on it they drown.

Jar With Lid Trap

Bottles of apple cider vinegar and dish soap on a white work top with a jar

This second fruit fly trap with apple cider vinegar is just as easy and effective and a good zero waste option.

All you need to make the trap is :

  • Apple Cider Vinegar
  • Dish Soap / Washing Up Liquid
  • Jar With Lid - the slimmer the jar the less ACV needed.
  • Hammer & Nail

To make the trap :

  1. Punch small holes in the lid using the hammer and nail.
  2. Pour ¼ cup of ACV into jar.
  3. Add a few drops of dish soap.
  4. Put the lid on.
Empty jar, hammer, screw, jar lid with holes punched in it.

You can boost the effectiveness of the trap by adding a small piece of fruit e.g. banana to the ACV. Refresh the traps weekly to keep them working.

Fruit Fly Traps Without Apple Cider Vinegar

If you don't have apple cider vinegar you can make both fruit fly traps with :

  1. Other Vinegars
  2. Fruit Juice
  3. Milk

Fruit Fly Traps With Other Vinegars

Bottle of red wine vinegar on kitchen worktop

Three common vinegars to use in your trap instead of ACV are :

  1. Red wine vinegar
  2. Raspberry vinegar
  3. White wine vinegar

Red wine and raspberry vinegar have the right fruity smell to tempt fruit flies. White wine vinegar won't work on it's own but will with addition of:

  1. Small pieces of fruit
  2. Small pieces of bread
  3. Yeast and sugar.

Balsamic and plain vinegar are unlikely to work even with fruit or yeast added.

Fruit Juice Fly Traps

A small bottle of apple juice with apples

Fresh fruit juice won't have the fermenting alcohol smell of over ripe fruit that fruit flies love BUT we can easily fake it for our fly traps!!

All you need is :

  • ¼ cup of fruit juice, ideally apple
  • Pinch of yeast
  • Teaspoon of sugar
  • Teaspoon of warm water
  • Dish soap.

To make your trap :

  1. Combine 1st 4 ingredients above (not the dish soap) in bowl or jar.
  2. Leave for 15 minutes until the mixture starts bubbling.
  3. Add 1 to 2 drops of dish soap.
  4. Cover with clingfilm or lid.

Alternatively any open juice past it's best for drinking may well work as is.

Milk Fruit Fly Traps

Bottle and glass of milk on kitchen worktop

If you don't have ACV, other vinegars or fruit juice and have a fruit fly problem, you can make a fruit fly trap with milk.

Milk may not be as effective but was a traditional way to trap fruit flies. All you need for a fruit fly trap with milk are :

  • ¼ cup of milk, the older the better
  • Pinch of yeast
  • Teaspoon of sugar
  • Teaspoon of warm water
  • Dish soap.

To make your trap :

  1. Combine all ingredients except dish soap in bowl or jar.
  2. Leave your mixture for 15-30 minutes to start bubbling.
  3. Add 1 to 2 drops of dish soap.
  4. Cover with clingfilm or jar lid.

These DIY fruit fly traps really do work but we still need to store fruit properly.

How To Store Fruit Properly To Stop Fruit Flies

The three key key ways to store fruit properly to stop fruit flies are :

  1. Fruit bowl covers
  2. Flash freezing
  3. Fridge.

These may sound blindingly obvious options but the top tips I have for you here will help make sure they work.

Fruit Bowl Covers

Collage of food covers

We can store unripe soft fruit, undamaged fruit like apples and hard skinned fruit in a fruit bowl but in the summer we must use a food cover.

You can get a variety of food covers - as in the collage above - to keep fruit flies out including :

  1. Fold up tents
  2. Elasticated covers
  3. Traditional bamboo baskets with retractable covers
  4. Collapsable umbrellas
  5. Classic mesh domes.

Whatever you pick, use these rules:

  • Mesh not most fabric e.g. not linen as the fruit needs to breath.
  • Very fine mesh with at most 2mm and ideally smaller holes.
  • Complete coverage with no gaps.

Do shop around. Classic issues are domes and umbrellas that don't sit flat on bowls and tables, elasticated covers leaving gaps and mesh that's too big!

A final option is fine cheese cloth - grade 90 or higher - which you can buy cheaply to cover all sorts of food.

Flash Freezing

Flash frozen pineapple on a baking sheet

Flash freezing is a great method to store ripe fruit you're not ready to eat that can't go in the fridge including :

  1. Bananas
  2. Mango
  3. Papaya
  4. Pineapple.

It allows you to freeze small pieces of fruit separately so they don't all get stuck together in a big blob. You can then use as needed in desserts etc.

All you need for flash freezing is a baking sheet that fits in your freezer :

  1. Remove any inedible part of fruit e.g. skin, core, unwanted seed.
  2. Cut fruit into pieces of a size you will use in desserts or blender.
  3. Spread out on a baking sheet.
  4. Put in the freezer for 1 to 2 hours.
  5. Transfer the frozen pieces into a freezer storage container.

It is as simple as that and really will help keep the fruit flies away.

Storing Fruit Properly In The Fridge

White refrigerator and freezer

Most ripe fruit - excepting bananas, mango, papaya, pineapple, guava - can be stored in the fridge but we need to follow these basic fruit storage rules.

Fridge Storage Rules

  1. Don't wash uncut fruit before storing in fridge unless foraged / just harvested and there are bugs.
  2. Pat damp fruit or fruit that has to be washed dry before storing.
  3. Split fruit types if you can to slow spoiling from ethylene gas.
  4. Most fruit - not berries - keep best in a perforated plastic bag in crisper or bottom fridge drawer.
  5. Good air flow is key, bags & containers need perforation and should not be sealed.

Some fruit lasts months in the fridge, others barely a week. Check below for timings and extra rules for each fruit.

How Long Fruit Lasts In The Fridge

  • Apples & Pears : 1-2 months.
  • Berries : 3-5 days. Store in single layer in breathable container lined with paper towel or cotton napkin to absorb moisture.
  • Citrus Fruit : 2-3 weeks. Keep in mesh bag in crisper or veg drawer.
  • Grapes : 2-3 weeks.
  • Peaches, Plums & Cherries : 1-2 weeks but flavour drops.
  • Tomatoes : 1 week. Avoid coldest parts of the fridge e.g. back wall as can turn texture mealy.
  • Cut Watermelon : 1 week. Keep in airtight container or clingfilm.

Storing Other Food Properly

Potatoes in storage

Other food that attracts fruit flies also needs to be stored properly to prevent horrible fruit fly infestations.

Alcohol and bread are easy to store. Simply put stoppers in open wine bottles and keep bread in a bread bin.

But veggies that release fruit-fly attracting sugars as they soften need more care. Some can go in the fridge, others need a pantry cupboard:

  • Corn : 3-5 days. Keep husks on. Wrap in damp paper towel or cotton napkin in fridge vegetable drawer. Loses sweetness quickly.
  • Cucumbers : 1-2 weeks. Wrap in paper towel, place in a perforated bag in fridges veggie drawer.
  • Onions : 1-2 months. Cool, dry, dark but ventilated spot e.g. mesh bag in pantry. Not fridge.
  • Potatoes : 1-2 months. Cool, dry, dark but ventilated spot e.g. paper bag with holes in pantry. Not fridge. Read these tips for more on the best ways to store potatoes.
  • Squash : 1-2 months. Cool, dry, dark spot e.g. pantry.
  • Zucchini / Courgettes : 1-2 weeks. Wrap in paper towel, place in a perforated bag in fridge’s veggie drawer; max 1-2 weeks.

Keep On Top Of Food Waste

Woman emptying food waste into a kitchen compost crock.

Sadly, food waste attracts fruit flies and a whole bunch of other household pests we don't want including :

Charcoal filters on compost crocks can cut the smell of fermenting food but ideally they need emptying daily.

Do watch out for squidged berries and smears of jellies and jams on worktops, tables and floors as these are a beacon for fruit flies and ants.

Smells Fruit Flies Hate

Growing mint for kids and beginners - the easiest way to propagate and grow mint in containers indoors and outdoors. An awesome plant science experiment for kids. And provides a ready supply of fresh mint for herbal tea, cool mint drinks and all your favourite mint recipes #mint #herb #herbgarden #gardening

You can back up DIY fruit fly traps and fruit storage hacks with the fragrance of natural repellents that fruit flies hate.

The two best fruit fly repellents are :

  • Lemongrass & Citronella : contain strong fast action fragrances that disrupt the fruit flies' senses so they can't find fruit.
  • Mints : again overload sense of smell and disrupt fruit fly behaviour so they stop breeding.

Other natural fragrances that repel many different flies including fruit flies and mosquitoes are :

  1. Basil
  2. Lavender
  3. Rosemary
  4. Eucalyptus
  5. Lemon Balm
  6. Cloves.

You can use essential oils but there are growing concerns they may not be great for us in our homes. Alternatively, you can make DIY infusions from fresh or dry herbs or just grow cut mint in water next to fruit bowls.

Mint cuttings growing in a jar of water

And there you go, everything you need to know about fruit flies covering:

Plus other key ways to stop fruit flies:

I do hope these help. For more tips check out my other natural pest control posts and follow me on Pinterest.

How To Grow Chives As Companion Plants

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Chive flowers in the garden.

Pretty chives are a must grow companion plant amongst your vegetables as they have huge natural health benefits for us and our gardens.

Power houses for all round gut health little chives in the garden can also :

  1. Protect plants from pests
  2. Improve soil quality
  3. Fight bacterial infections
  4. Fight fungal infections
  5. Attract pollinators.

So in this guide I'll show you how to grow chives easily covering :

  1. Chives As Companion Plants
  2. Growing Chives In Pots
  3. Growing Chives Indoors
  4. When To Plant Chives
  5. Caring For Chives Plants
  6. Harvesting Chives

I hope these tips help you enjoy the benefits of this pretty pest control in your garden. Do shout with questions.

Chives As Companion Plants

Chive plants in the garden

Chives have big benefits for flowers, fruit and vegetable gardens if you want to garden more organically and cut down on pesticides & herbicides.

In this section I'll dive down into:

  1. Benefits Of Chives
  2. What To Plant With Chives
  3. What Not To Plant With Chives
  4. Interplanting Chives

Benefits Of Chives

Chives in your garden are able to :

  1. Repel Aphids & Beetles
  2. Repel Mosquitoes
  3. Camouflage Plants From Pests
  4. Control Bacterial Infections
  5. Control Fungal Infections
  6. Attract Pollinators

Repel Aphids & Beetles

The smell of chives repels aphids and beetles from nearby vegetables reducing the need for pesticides.

Underplanting roses with chives help repel green fly that attack new buds.

Repel Mosquitoes

Chives are a natural mosquito repellent that can discourage mosquitoes from your vegetable garden where they can spread disease and from patio areas. Small pots of chives are a pretty addition to patio tables.

Camouflage Plants

The smell of chives can camouflage the fragrance of carrots and so "hides" carrots from pesky carrot flies, again reducing the needs for pesticides.

Recently harvested carrots

Anti-Bacterial & Anti-Fungal

Chives - like garlic - help to protect root vegetables and brassicas from fungal disease by feeding soil with anti-bacterial and anti-fungal nutrients such as sulphur, nitrogen & trace minerals.

These nutrients also protect roses from black spot, cutting the need for chemical soil improvers and treatments.

Attract Pollinators

Pretty chives attract bees and butterflies into your garden to increase pollination of flowering vegetables such as tomatoes and courgettes.

What Grows Well With Chives

Collage of chive flower and rose and lettuce companion plants.

These garden favourites all do well planted with chives nearby.

Chive Friendly Vegetables & Fruit

Ripening tomatoes on vine

Chive Friendly Fruit

  • Strawberries
  • Apple Trees
  • Grapes

Chive Friendly Flowers

  • Roses
  • Marigolds
  • Alyssum
  • Cosmos
  • Calendula
  • Nasturtiums

What Not To Plant With Chives

It is generally advised to keep your chive plants away from :

  • Peas
  • Beans
  • Asparagus

Some people also keep chives away from spinach and brassicas like collards as they may reduce growth. But personally I find the aphid and cabbage white repelling benefits outweigh any downsides.

Collard greens growing in vegetable garden against a wall with garden peas in background.

Interplanting Chives

As they are so small, chives can be easily interplanted amongst other vegetables so you get the full whammy of all the companion plant benefits.

But you can also grow chives in pots as roaming companion plants to help out around the garden as needed.

Growing Chives In Pots & Containers

Chives flowers in garden

Chives will grow well in both :

  • Small 10 cm / 4 inch pots and
  • Bigger 15 to 20 cm / 6 to 8 inch pots with about 20 cm depth.

To plant chives in pots simply :

  1. Sow 2 to 3 seeds in a small 4 inch pot with good drainage.
  2. Multiply up for larger pots.
  3. Seeds are happy growing close together and will have more visual impact planted snugly.
  4. Lightly cover seeds with soil at no more than ¼ inch deep.
  5. Place pots in full sun or light shade. Ideally they need a good 6 hours of direct light daily.
  6. Keep soil moist not soggy.

In subsequent years chives can be easily split if they are overgrowing pots.

Growing Chives Indoors

Chive flower

Chives will grow happily indoors all year round for use in the kitchen. They just need a bright spot like a sunny window so they get plenty of light.

Starting chives indoors in late winter and early spring can give your spring vegetables early protection from aphids and beetles as you can plant out ready grown chives from early April.

Germination temperatures for chive seeds vary. Some seeds germinate happily at 15 degrees (59F) whilst other seeds only germinate at 20-25C/68-77F so need a warm spot to get going.

Remember chives grown indoors will need to be gently acclimatised to outdoor weather over a week to 10 days being brought in at night.

When To Plant Chives

Chive flower

Chives can be sown outdoors in the first weeks following the last frost date (UK) wherever you are living.

Most chive seed varieties will struggle to germinate above 25c/77f so don't hang around too long after last frost to get them sown in case of a hot spring.

But it is worth planting chives indoors in February or 4 to 6 weeks before your last frost date so you can get them straight out working hard as companion plants in April.

Best Soil For Growing Chives

Flowering Chive Plants

Chives do like constant moisture - unlike oregano and thyme who will grow in any old ground - so they do need fertile soil that holds moisture.

The soil does not however need to be over rich. Bog standard potting compost is fine and I manage to grow mine in marginal soil on path edges.

Growing Chives From Seeds

Chive flowers

Chives are easy to grow from seed and if you want to grow veggies on a budget, it is a no brainer to sow your own: one tiny chive plant will cost the same as a packet of 500 chive seeds!!

My only caveat is that chive seeds are not always quick to germinate. They can take up to 3 weeks to get going which may way be too slow if you want urgent organic pest control!!

If you are sowing seeds directly outdoors after your last frost date, simply sow them in :

  1. Clusters of 2 to 5 seeds
  2. Good sunlight
  3. Moisture retaining soil
  4. ¼ inch deep.

How Long Chives Take To Grow

Chives growing in the garden

After their slightly slow germination - see above - chives do grow quickly.

Typically within 8 to 12 weeks of sowing chives will :

  • Grow to 15-40 cm /6-16 inches
  • Start flowering.

You can start harvesting the chive blades for cooking before the chives flower but it's usually best to wait at least 8 weeks from planting.

Once chives flower you should harvest regularly to ensure the chives grow back after cutting and keep flowering.

Caring For Chive Plants

Chives are incredibly easy plants to care for. It basically boils down to :

  1. Plenty of sunlight but some shade in temperatures above 80f/26c.
  2. Moist but not soggy soil. In warmer climates you may need to mulch to retain moisture.
  3. Take pots in or protect plants if temperature falls below 40f/4c.
  4. Keep harvesting regularly for more growth and flowers.
  5. Split clumps in spring every 2 to 3 years to prevent over crowding.

Chives are perennials and in most of the USA and UK chives will die back over winter to re-emerge next spring.

How To Harvest Chives To Grow Back After Cutting

Chopped chive blades with chive floers

Chives are a lovely light garnish for everything from soups and salads to mains so we want to harvest little and often rather than all in one go.

Chives are ready to harvest 8 weeks from planting or as they start to flower.

You can actually eat the whole of the chive but the best parts are the :

  • Blades (the non-flowering leaves)
  • Flowers.

The bulbs and flowering stems are a bit tough and would need cooking.

When your chives are ready to harvest :

  1. Cut 2 or 3 blades
  2. 2 or 3 times a week
  3. Leaving roughly 2 inches/5 cm of blade above soil.

The chive blossoms have a delicate onion-garlic flavour and make a pretty and tasty addition to anything from salads to omelettes.

To prepare the chive flowers simply :

  • Rinse gently
  • To remove any little bugs
  • Allow to air dry before serving.

Regular harvesting will keep your chives flowering for optimal performance as organic pest control and soil improver. So if you have more than you can eat simply cut regularly for pretty little vases of indoor flowers.

Chive flowers in a vase

And there you go, everything you need to know about growing chives for cooking and as organic companion plants.

Do drop me any feedback, queries or questions in the comments.

For more simple backyard gardening tips check out my other grow your own posts and follow me on Pinterest.

Cradle Cap Remedies

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Newborn baby sleeping

Ugly cradle cap on our new baby's scalp can be incredibly distressing, but do not fear. You have NOT failed parenting 101 and let your baby down!

Cradle cap is common and usually disappears by itself before 12 months.

However, some cradle cap remedies may make it worse and it can hang around into childhood as seborrheic dermatitis for some babies.1

So in this guide I'll share everything I learned about easing cradle cap gently :

  1. What Is Cradle Cap?
  2. What Triggers It?
  3. How Common Is Cradle Cap?
  4. When Does It Appear?
  5. How Long It Usually Lasts
  6. Gentle Cradle Cap Remedies

And then look at over treatment and what to do if cradle cap sticks around.

NB I am not a doctor. This is not medical advice. Talk to a doctor if you have any concerns about cradle cap.

What Actually Is Cradle Cap?

Cradle cap is basically clumps of scaly white or yellow skin flakes that stick together and build up in crusts on our baby's skin. They are unsightly but not usually itchy or irritating for our child.

Cradle cap flakes are a mix of excess :

  1. Sebum : our natural scalp oil
  2. Malassezia : a scalp fungus.2

Scalp fungus sounds horrid but Malassezia is meant to live on everyone's scalp. The problem in cradle cap is there is too much of it.

What Triggers Cradle Cap?

Malassezia fungus feeds on scalp sebum. More sebum means more fungus which means more cradle cap.

So why do our babies have so much sebum? Again, it is completely natural.

Adrenal androgens fuel rapid newborn growth and these hormones trigger extra scalp oil as they do in puberty.3

How Common Is Cradle Cap?

Cradle cap is very common. Up to 70% of babies will have cradle cap in the first year of their life. You are NOT doing something horribly wrong!

When Does Cradle Cap Appear?

Mother holding newborn baby

In the majority of babies cradle cap :

  1. Appears between 0 and 3 months
  2. Continues until 6 months
  3. Vanishes by itself after 6 months.

By 12 months, it is estimated that less than 10% of babies have cradle cap.

So most young babies only need the gentle cradle cap remedies we'll look at next. (For older babies still suffering jump ahead to Persistent Cradle Cap).

Gentle Cradle Cap Remedies

Baby shampoo, baby oil and baby brush

At the first signs of cradle cap in your young baby all you need to do whilst shampooing baby's hair is :

  1. Very gently rub at clumps of cradle cap with a soft cloth
  2. To ease away the flakes
  3. Remembering to watch out for your baby's soft spot.

Remember it is natural. Try to stay on top of it, not clear every last flake.

If the flakes get crusty we need to up the ante a little using the supplies and treatment below but still keep it gentle.

Cradle Cap Supplies

The only supplies you need to ease your baby's cradle cap gently are :

  1. Soft baby brush.
  2. Mild baby shampoo with pH 4.5-5.5 free from fragrance & sulfates.
  3. Oil to rub gently into scalp e.g. :
    • Coconut oil
    • Olive oil
    • Baby oil
    • Mineral oil
    • Petroleum jelly

There's much debate about safe oils for babies. Go with what you prefer.

Test Oil Sensitivity

Test chosen oil for tolerance if not used on baby before. Standard advice is :

  1. Apply tiny amount i.e. 1-2 drops behind ear or on inner arm.
  2. Leave for 2-5 minutes.
  3. Wait 24 hours before using fully.
  4. Do NOT use further if any signs of rash or redness suggest sensitivity.

Treating Cradle Cap

Young baby having a bath

To treat cradle cap gently :

  1. Apply a little oil to cradle cap, 1-2 teaspoons for whole scalp.
  2. Very lightly rub in.
  3. Leave initially for 5 minutes building subsequently to 15 and if needed 30 minutes.
  4. Gently move flakes with soft brush.
  5. Don't use force at all or pick at the cradle cap, just let whatever will come away easily come away.
  6. Wash gently with mild shampoo.
  7. Rinse scalp.
  8. Repeat at very most twice a week and ideally just once.

Do not leave oil on overnight as it makes hair greasy which requires more shampooing, which we want to avoid.

How Long Will Cradle Cap Last?

Gentle cradle cap remedies typically let us keep on top of cradle cap whilst it naturally persists until 6 months.

They may not clear all flakes but that's OK. We're giving the scalp a helping hand in a tricky period that will pass. Harsh treatments will clear all the cradle cap but risk making it worse.

90% of cradle cap clears by 12 months but that still leaves 1 in 10 babies suffering. So let's look now at why it persists and how to treat it if it does.

Persistent Cradle Cap

Baby sitting up with hand to mouth

Persistent cradle cap may, rarely, be tied to genetics or gut issues but more often the culprit is over treatment.

Over treatment of scalp dermatitis - grown up cradle cap - stops the scalp healing naturally and creates a vicious cycle of worse symptoms. This also seems to happen in babies.

To understand why, we need to look at what is living on our baby's scalp!

(For quick action, jump straight to the persistent cradle cap remedies).

Baby's Scalp Microbiome

You will have heard about the gut microbiome but we also have a scalp microbiome made up of skin cells, hair follicles and sebum PLUS :

  1. Fungi
  2. Good bacteria
  3. Antimicrobial agents
  4. And even helpful little bugs!!

Scalp Microbiome Balance

A well balanced scalp microbiome4 can keep Malassezia - the cradle cap fungus - on a tight rein :

  1. pH 4.5-5.5 : slows growth as Malassezia prefers neutral or alkaline conditions.
  2. S. epidermidis : a bacteria which competes for space and nutrients.
  3. Demodex mites : like Malassezia they eat excess oils and dead skin so compete for food.
  4. LL-37 : peptides produced by S. epidermidis that kills Malassezia directly with antimicrobial powers.

But baby shampoos and cradle cap treatments throw our scalp off balance!

Harsh Baby Shampoo Problems

Many baby shampoos have an alkaline pH of 6.5-7 which lets fungus flourish5 causing more cradle cap. We then wash baby's hair more often to clear it.

Cartoon of cradle cap fungus

But frequent washing dries out sebum and sweat which leaves Malassezia hungry but also depletes S. epidermidis and Demodex who struggle for food.

Our scalp ups sebum levels for the dryness which means more food for everyone but Malassezia regrows faster6 so gorges on sebum whilst the others get their act together.

Diagram about frequent hair washing and cradle cap

And that means more cradle cap!! You can see how this works can't you?

Unfortunately, it gets worse.

Harsh Cradle Cap Treatments

Cradle cap treatments typically contain ketoconazole which is great at killing Malassezia and clears cradle cap fast.

But it is a scorched earth strategy - ketoconazole unfortunately also :

  1. Kills S. epidermidis bacteria7
  2. Which takes out production of those critical Malassezia fighting LL-37 peptides!!8
Cradle cap treatment diagram.

Other ingredients dry out sebum too much so again starve Demodex mites of food and the treatments also make baby's scalp more alkaline.

So you know what happens don't you?

Malassezia races back first and hosts a house party for all its Malassezia mates before the balancing bacteria, peptides & mites can get in the door!

Cradle cap gets locked into a cycle of short term relief followed by ever-spreading crusts of flakes, i.e. long term seborrheic dermatitis.

So how can we tackle severe cradle cap?

Persistent Cradle Cap Remedies

Baby wrapped in blue towel

Four surprisingly simple remedies can together help you tackle persistent cradle cap in toddlers :

  1. Shampoo Detox
  2. Sunshine
  3. Nutritional Scalp Boosters
  4. Hormone Tamers

Shampoo Detox

Smiling baby with head wrapped in blue towel

Research shows a gentle shampoo detox can break the cycle of chronic over treated seborrheic dermatitis.9

Over a 4-8 week period :

  1. Gentle Swap: Switch to a mild, sulfate-free, pH-balanced baby shampoo (pH 4.5-5.5).
  2. Reduce Frequency: Each week extend the gaps between washes by an extra day. Your child's scalp will slowly adjust sebum levels.
  3. Spot Clean: Between washes, use lukewarm water or a damp cloth to lift excess oil/dirt.
  4. Moisturize Lightly: Post-wash, dab 1-2 drops of a non-clogging oil (e.g. jojoba) to calm dryness without feeding Malassezia.
  5. Monitor: Keep an eye on flakes adjusting pace if scalp irritated.

Less shampoo should let your child's scalp microbiome rebalance itself naturally but the next three remedies can also give a big helping hand.

Sunshine & Scalps

Toddler sitting on grass on sunny day

Surprisingly sunshine can really help to keep the scalp microbiome of kids - over 12 months - healthily balanced.

UVB rays from the sun can - in spring and summer - directly suppress Malassezia fungus. Lab tests showed an almost instant 30-60% reduction!

Scalp skin cells also directly convert UVB rays into vitamin D which stays in the skin, boosting local defences including those little LL-37 peptide warriors who fight Malassezia.

So in spring and summer help your kid's scalp suppress cradle cap naturally with hatless outdoor play between roughly 10am and 2pm for :

  1. 10 mins if skin fair on sunny days
  2. 20 mins if skin dark on sunny days
  3. 60 mins if cloudy.

A gentle rinse or spot clean after blast of sun can remove cradle cap clumps.

Be careful of sun. Do not let skin get red. Do NOT ever expose heads of babies under 12 to midday sun.

Nutritional Scalp Boosters

Mother, father and two young children eating a meal

Other nutrient power players can also help to boost scalp health :

  1. Zinc
  2. Omega 3
  3. Iron
  4. Vitamin A

Zinc

Kids are more likely to have seborrheic dermatitis and fungal conditions if their zinc levels are low and symptoms are more likely to be worse.10

Omega 3

Malassezia thrives in the inflamed, scabby scalp that comes with long term dermatitis. Omega 3 eases inflammation and tweaks the nature of sebum to make scalp more friendly to our old mate S. epidermidis.

Iron

Low iron levels are tied to inflamed scalps and high sebum production.

Vitamin A

Healthy vitamin A levels helps keep a healthy cycle of new cells pushing through as dead cells fall away, when vitamin A is low, dead cells pile up for Malassezia to feed on.11

Scalp Nutrient Food

Great food for boosting these scalp nutrients in our kids' diet include :

  1. Red meat - good value chuck steak in a stew is great for zinc & iron.
  2. Oily fish - e.g. salmon steak.
  3. Shellfish - e.g. crab sandwich.
  4. Poultry - pasture raised.
  5. Eggs - pasture raised.
  6. Nuts & seeds - e.g. walnuts, sesame, chia, flax in a trail mix.

For more ideas check out these guides to iron rich food and zinc rich food.

Hormone Tamers

Toddler crying

We saw at the beginning that baby hormones trigger excess sebum and cradle cap. Well as babies become toddlers other hormones kick in :

  1. Insulin driven by sugar
  2. Cortisol driven by stress

If these new hormones go haywire they can also cause excess sebum making it harder to clear persistent cradle cap.

So we need to tame these hormones.

Sugar & Insulin

Crying toddler eating a cookie

Research shows sugar-heavy diets and erratic insulin trigger excess sebum in teens with scalp dermatitis. It is very possible the same happens in young kids with high-sugar diets, though no studies have directly studied it to date.

Simple ways to slash the sugar load in the diet of young kids include :

  1. Ease right up on fruit juice.
  2. Make lower sugar cookies.
  3. Stock sugar free snacks e.g. cheese, cold meat slices, good yoghurt, hard boiled eggs.
  4. Slowly swap out cereals for cooked breakfasts e.g. meat, fish, eggs, mushrooms, tomatoes, beans.
  5. Only eat candy outdoors when running around so burned off.
  6. Keep cakes etc for dessert.

Little by little reducing the sugar can really help tame insulin and keep it calm.

Stress & Cortisol

Young girl crying

We know from research into teens with scalp dermatitis that erratic cortisol levels caused by stress can trigger 4 things that help Malassezia flourish :

  1. Excess sebum production
  2. Skin barrier damage
  3. Inflammation
  4. Reduced vitamin D.

Again, it's not been studied directly in under-5s but it is likely the same thing happens when cortisol keeps spiking!

Simple ways to lower stress and cortisol spikes in young kids are :

  1. Loads of outdoor play.
  2. Balancing activities.
  3. Plenty of sleep.
  4. Much less sugar.
  5. Much less screen time.
  6. Clear behaviour boundaries.
  7. Loads of love & cuddles.

Key Take Aways

Mother holding baby wrapped in towel

So there we go, everything I learned about cradle cap that will hopefully help you relieve it naturally and break the cycle of persistent scalp dermatitis.

As a quick recap key take aways are:

  1. Cradle cap is natural and common.
  2. It flourishes from 0-6 months.
  3. It vanishes by itself in 90% of babies between 6 and 12 months.
  4. Always treat cradle cap gently in babies to avoid over treatment.
  5. Harsh over treatment can cause persistent cradle cap.

To relieve persistent cradle cap in toddlers and older kids:

  1. Detox from harsh shampoos.
  2. Safely boost sunlight to scalp.
  3. Feed a diet rich in enough:
    • Iron
    • Zinc
    • Omega 3
    • Vitamin A
  4. Cut right back on sugar to stabilise erratic insulin levels.
  5. Ease stress to balance cortisol.

I really hope these tips and remedies help you relieve cradle cap for your baby or toddler. Do shout with questions.

For more simple family health tips check out my other natural remedies and follow me on Pinterest.

Research References

1) Schwartz, R. A., et al. (2006). “Seborrheic Dermatitis: An Overview.” American Family Physician, 74(1), 125-130
2) Hay, R. J. (2011). “Malassezia, Dandruff and Seborrheic Dermatitis: An Overview.” British Journal of Dermatology, 165(Suppl 2), 2-8.
3) Zouboulis, C. C., et al. (2007). “Sebaceous Gland in Human Skin—The Fantastic Lipid Factory.” Dermato-Endocrinology, 1(2), 85-91.
4) Grice, E. A., & Segre, J. A. (2011). "The skin microbiome". Nature Reviews Microbiology, 9(4), 244–253. 
5) Schwartz, J. R., et al. (2013). "A comprehensive pathophysiology of dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis" Dermatologic Clinics, 31(4), 547–553 
6) Saxena, R. et al. (2021). "Longitudinal study of the scalp microbiome ..." Frontiers in Microbiology, 12, 626599. 
7) Findley, K. et al. (2013). "Topographic diversity of fungal and bacterial communities in human skin." PLoS Pathogens, 9(6)
8) Nakatsuji, T. et al. (2017). "Antimicrobials from human skin commensal bacteria protect against Staphylococcus aureus and are deficient in atopic dermatitis." Science Translational Medicine, 9(378)
9) Trüeb, R. M. (2010). Shampoos: Ingredients, Efficacy and Adverse Effects. Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 23(Suppl 1), 16-22.
10) Bilen, H., et al. (2015). "Zinc Deficiency and Seborrheic Dermatitis: A Case-Control Study." Postepy Dermatologii i Alergologii, 32(4), 267–270
11) Reichrath, J., et al. (2007). "Vitamin A and Skin Health: Retinoids in Dermatology." Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 127(9), 2067–2075