How To Keep Lemons Fresh for Months—Seriously

Easy methods to preserve entire lemons contemporary

If you happen to bought entire lemons in bulk and wish to preserve them contemporary, retailer them in your fridge’s crisper drawer. “Fruits naturally ripen slower within the fridge because the cooler temperature slows every thing down,” Natalie Alibrandi, meals scientist and CEO of Nali Consulting, previously told Well+Good. When sealed in a plastic bag or container, lemons can keep contemporary for a couple of month. Simply watch out to not retailer them with produce that releases ethylene, equivalent to apples and bananas, as it might hasten the lemons’ ripening course of.

Easy methods to preserve reduce lemons contemporary

When you’ve reduce right into a lemon, they’ll solely keep contemporary for as much as every week within the fridge, in line with celeb chef and nutritionist Serena Poon. That’s as a result of when the fruit is uncovered, they rapidly lose moisture and are left vulnerable to micro organism, versus entire lemons which have the rind totally intact to function a protecting barrier for the fruit’s edible insides. With this in thoughts, Poon recommends storing them in the identical manner you’ll entire lemons—in a plastic bag or container in your fridge’s crisper drawer to guard from oxidation and rotting.

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Are you able to freeze lemons?

Kristen Carli, MS, RD, founding father of Camelback Diet & Wellness, says sure, including that lemons can keep contemporary for a number of months within the freezer, no matter whether or not they’re entire or reduce. “I’d suggest freezing them within the kind you intend on utilizing them,” says Carli. Take into account that whereas lemons gained’t lose their taste when frozen, they may flip comfortable or soggy when thawed. Nonetheless, they might make a nice addition to your dishes. When storing within the freezer, use a freezer-safe bag to safeguard in opposition to freezer burn, and should you plan on storing reduce lemons, think about freezing them stable on a plate or pan earlier than transferring them to a bag to stop them from sticking collectively. Once you’re prepared to make use of your lemons, merely allow them to thaw at room temperature or submerge them in a bowl of water to hurry up the method.

Extra recommendations on the way to preserve lemons contemporary

Abbey Thiel, PhD, a meals scientist and the founding father of the Abbey The Meals Scientist weblog, says there are three essential issues to think about in terms of maintaining lemons contemporary with out sacrificing their taste or texture.

The precise temperature

First, you wish to take into consideration the temperature at which you retailer lemons. She says that ideally, the fruit needs to be saved at about 48°F—which is hotter than a fridge’s typical inside temperature however cooler than a room-temperature surroundings. To hit that candy spot, Dr. Thiel, together with different specialists, reiterates the significance of sealing contemporary lemons in an hermetic container should you’ll be storing them within the fridge. She says that this methodology helps preserve the lemons insulated and prevents chilling damage, which occurs when the fruit is saved in too chilly of an surroundings for a chronic time. In the case of storing lemons within the freezer, Dr. Thiel says chilling damage isn’t a problem, however freezer burn is—both manner, storing them in a container may also help mitigate these dangers.

Relativity excessive humidity

Dr. Thiel additionally says that it’s vital to retailer lemons in an surroundings with comparatively excessive humidity. “If there’s extra water within the air, then the water is not going to go away the fruit, which might trigger the fruit to wilt or soften,” she says. Storing lemons in an hermetic container may also help foster a extra humid surroundings as a result of it helps stop the water from escaping into the encompassing air.

Restricted oxygen publicity

Lastly, Dr. Thiel recommends limiting lemons’ publicity to oxygen. “You wish to seal it to maintain air out,” she says. Dr. Thiel additionally recommends including a paper towel to the underside of an hermetic container you’ll be utilizing for lemons. “Typically, if the fruit respirates an excessive amount of, water is produced,” she says, “and also you don’t need the water to condensate on the fruit.” An excessive amount of water could be a breeding floor for microbes—and including a paper towel will assist soak up extra wetness. If utilizing a paper towel, simply be sure you change it when it turns into damp.

3 merchandise that assist preserve lemons contemporary

Whether or not you intend on chilling or freezing your lemons, they keep contemporary longer when sealed, be it in a zip-top plastic bag, or if you wish to keep away from utilizing single-use plastics, a reusable silicone pouch or hermetic container. They will all assist prolong produce’s life by retaining moisture and defending delicate fruits and veggies from the quick-ripening results of ethylene gasoline. Plus, these containers can even assist preserve your fridge or freezer organized and tidy.

A pair of hermetic containers with snap-on lids

Rubbermaid, Leak-Proof Brilliance Food Storage Set (2-Pack) — $25.00

That includes silicone linings and snap-on lids, this pair of BPA-free plastic containers are hermetic, leak-proof, and secure to make use of within the fridge or freezer. They’ve a modular design that neatly stacks collectively, making it splendid if you wish to save on treasured actual property in your kitchen. When it comes time to wash, they’re simple to scrub by hand or throw into the dishwasher. Every of the large-sized containers featured above can maintain virtually 10 cups’ value of produce, however in addition they are available small- and medium-sized choices and in units of 4 and 5 to fit your wants.

A reusable silicone pouch that’s fridge and freezer secure

Stasher, Silicone Reusable Storage Bag — $16.00

If you happen to’re in the marketplace for a sustainable different to zip-top plastic baggage, the Stasher silicone pouch is a well-liked choice that’s beloved by Amazon reviewers. It boasts a near-perfect 4.7-star total score after greater than 30,000 reviewers weighed in. Made out of food-grade silicone, this fridge- and freezer-safe pouch incorporates a easy press-close lock that stops leaks and can preserve your lemons contemporary. Between makes use of, you’ll be able to throw it into the dishwasher for straightforward cleansing. The model pictured above holds half a gallon’s value of meals, however Stasher additionally makes baggage in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colours, plus promote multipacks for many who wish to top off on their pouches.

Meals huggers to lengthen the freshness of reduce lemons

Hoan, Silicone Food Huggers (Set Of 4) — $15.00

If you wish to save half of a lemon, these meals huggers will turn out to be useful. They function a protecting barrier between the uncovered fruit and air, which may suck the lemon of moisture and go away it vulnerable to spoilage. To make use of it, merely stretch the meals hugger over the uncovered fruit to create a leak-proof seal. The huggers are constructed from BPA-free silicone and are available a set of 4 in numerous sizes. As a bonus, they’re dishwasher-safe, making them a cinch to wash.

Ceaselessly requested questions

How lengthy do lemons final?

Lemons will normally final anyplace from a number of days to a number of months, relying on the place you retailer them. Preserving them within the fridge as an alternative of in your kitchen counter can usually lengthen their freshness. Their shelf-life can even range in line with whether or not a lemon is entire or reduce—and sometimes, entire lemons will last more than already-sliced lemons.

Easy methods to inform if lemons are dangerous?

There are a number of methods to inform if a lemon has gone dangerous. For one, it’s going to have seen mould, both on the peel or the fruit itself. One other indicator of a rotten lemon is that if it’s significantly squishy or bruised. And should you’re nonetheless not sure, give it a whiff—and if it smells “off” or downright rancid, it could be time to toss it.

Easy methods to preserve lemons contemporary for months?

If you wish to preserve lemons contemporary for months, think about freezing them. As talked about, nonetheless, lemons lose their texture after a protracted stint within the freezer, turning comfortable and soggy—a trade-off for many who wish to lengthen the fruit’s shelf-life. With that mentioned, they’re nonetheless completely edible, if rather less agency than you’re used to.