In spite of turmeric’s vibrant golden hue, its flavor is beautifully subtle. Perhaps that’s why the benefits of turmeric have flown under the radar. Aside from adding a splash of color to food, the spice is currently being researched for potential benefits in cancer and Alzheimer’s disease cases thanks to its anti-inflammatory qualities and high levels of antioxidants.

Although its medicinal effects are still conjecture, there are a ton of things we do know it can do. Here are 18 ways to use turmeric throughout your home, starting, of course, in the kitchen.  

1. Money-saving spice: Experiment by swapping this into most any recipe that calls for the far more expensive saffron.

2. Dash of color (and flavor): Add visual interest to rice, mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, soups, salad dressings, and other dull-looking foods without overpowering their flavor profiles.

3. Tea: Add a few pieces of peeled, minced turmeric root to boiled water with your choice of spices and fruits, simmer, strain, then add milk and sweetener to taste.

4. Baked goods: The mild taste accents not-too-sweet baked goods such as lebanese semolina cake and patoleo, a turmeric-leaf cake.

5. Wraps: Wrap meat, rice dumplings, or other dishes in turmeric leaves to imbue them with a flavor that’s more potent than that of powdered turmeric.

6. Pickling: Toss a tuber or two into pickling jars to spice up your veggies.

7. Caramelizing: Add a little to your oil and onions next time it’s burger night.

8. Meat preservation: When you’re on an epic camping (or glamping) trip and don’t have access to a refrigerator, turmeric can help prevent meat from spoiling.

9. Skin salve: Fresh turmeric juice or powder mixed with aloe vera is great for chicken pox, scabies, shingles, allergy rashes, eczema, and even sunburns.

10. Growing-pain relief: One part salt, two parts turmeric, and a little water rubbed into joints works to relieve aches. But be sure to wrap the area in a bandage, as this one’s a little messy.

11. Tummy aches: Mixed with milk or juice (if your kid will drink it), turmeric helps calm an upset stomach.

12. Arts and crafts: Turmeric isn’t the most colorfast dye, but it gets the job done for Easter eggs, tie-dye T-shirts, DIY play dough, and other kid-friendly crafts.

13. Tinted moisturizer: Actress Thandie Newton loves to mix the spice into her BB cream to balance out too-cool tones. Plus, it’s anti-inflammatory, so can be great on acneic skin.

14. Bronzer: We’ve experimented with spice-rack bronzer before, and now we know that turmeric lends a yellowish hue to the powder.

15. Foot cream: Mix turmeric with coconut oil, smear it on cracked heels for 10–15 minutes, then rinse it off in the tub or shower.

16. Moisturizing face mask: As we learned last year, a mixture of turmeric, rice or gram flour, and milk can soften skin and calm breakouts. (Just don’t do this too often or for too long, as it can yellow your skin. Once a week for 15 to 20 minutes should do it.)

17. Spot treatment: Make a paste with a little turmeric powder, water, and lemon juice. You should be OK to leave it on overnight as long as you only apply it to the pimple—not the surrounding skin, and don’t sleep on your best linens.

18. Scalp soother: Remember how turmeric helps with rashes and chicken pox? Well, it has a similar effect on dry, itchy scalps. Blend it with coconut or jojoba oil, then massage the mixture into your scalp. After 15 minutes, rinse and shampoo it out.

Arroz Amarillo con Maiz by Bryan Ochalla via CC BY-SA 2.0; easter eggs by jriede via CC BY 2.0

Learn all the life hacks with these other all-purpose ingredients:

One Jar of Coconut Oil Equals 16 Household Staples Across Three Rooms

Nine Ways That Apple Cider Vinegar Can Help Around the House and in Your Body