Not Just for French Fries! 9 Surprising Ways to Use Ketchup

America's favorite condiment, ketchup, delights our taste buds on burgers and fries, but did you know that there are lots of other uses for the tomato-based topping? Take a peek.

The acidity in the tomatoes makes ketchup perfect to clean our copper pots and pans and your silver. Simply pour it into a dinner dish, place the copper pot or silver item in the sauce, wait a few minutes then rinse.

Ketchup is a key ingredient in meat marinades, say top chefs. The acid helps break down tough fibers to hold more moisture — making meat more tender and juicy!

Slathering a layer of ketchup on chicken will make your bird tender and sweet as the sauce bakes and caramelizes.

To clean a smelly pooch who loves rolling in stinky dirt — or other substances — simply massage ketchup into the fur, wait 30 minutes and rinse as you normally would.

Who doesn't have plenty of takeout-order ketchup packets in the kitchen drawer? Toss them in the freezer to make mini ice packs you can use if you get a small burn from an oil splatter or other minor boo-boo.

To dissolve rust from your cast iron cookware, simply coat it in ketchup, let it sit for 15 minutes and then scrub with a wire brush.

Combine 1 tablespoon of ketchup with 3/4 cup of white vinegar, 2/3 cup water, 1/4 cup soy sauce, and 2 tablespoons of cornstarch in a medium saucepan, bring to a boil and mix until thick to create a sweet and sour sauce as tasty as the one from your favorite Chinese restaurant.

Many people with blond hair find their strands turn green after swimming in a pool due to the reaction with the chemicals in the water. But ketchup will neutralize the green!

Mix ketchup and caster sugar to make a scrub that exfoliates and soothes inflammation.