How to store lemons so you can have them all year round

The peel can be grated or dried. Lemon juice can be frozen in ice cube trays.

How to preserve lemons for a long time

How many lemons we waste, every day. And yet, especially those Made in Italy, they don't cost little: but we forget that Lemon, like any other citrus fruit, goes bad, or in any case, if we don't know how to preserve it in some useful way, it is no longer usable.It changes color and appearance, and then rots. It loses juice and flavor, that is, quality. It becomes covered with moldy spots. Therefore, considering that we use lemons, and not just in cooking, all year round, It's good to learn how to store them correctlyLemons arrive frequently throughout the year, and we don't need to stock up on them. However, if we haven't cut them and started eating them, we don't need to refrigerate them (unless they're very ripe): just keep them in a cool, airy place. They'll last a long time, and when we eat them, they won't have lost any of their freshness.

Cut lemon

You may have noticed that if you cut a lemon in half and use only a part of it, the remaining half, even if stored in refrigeratorWhen exposed to air, it tends to mold. To solve this problem, place the cut lemon, core side upside down, in a glass of cold water and leave it in the refrigerator. This way, the lemon will stay fresh for a week. Another good method is to cut the lemons into segments and then freeze them in special bags. Another option is to place the leftover lemon on a ceramic plate, cut side down, and store in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh for a very long time.

how-to-preserve-lemons-for-a-long-time (1)

Lemon peel

To preserve the lemon peel, It's up to you whether to grate it or dry it:

  • Grated lemon peelAfter grating the peel, preferably removing the slightly bitter white pith, place it in an airtight container and store it in the freezer. When you need it, simply scoop out the required amount and return the container to the freezer.
  • Dried lemon peel: to dry the peelings To make lemon juice, simply bake them in the oven at 60°C (140°F) for about 2 hours. This will help them lose their water content. Store them in appropriate food-safe bags.

how-to-preserve-lemons-for-a-long-time (2)

Lemon juice

Storing lemon juice is very simple: just place it in ice cube trays. This perfect "Don't Waste" system also allows you to use just the right amount each time, without wasting anything.

How to store lemons in the freezer

Contrary to popular belief, storing lemon peels and juice in the freezer, using the very simple method we've indicated, means not losing their nutritional properties. Starting from Vitamin CRemember, lemon peel contains 10 times more vitamin C than its pulp. By freezing it, we can use it and benefit from its vitamin C content year-round.

Why lemons don't go in the refrigerator

Year-round, lemons don't need a refrigerator. They just risk losing their authentic aroma and flavor. However, in the summer, things are different: high temperatures and the difficulty of finding fresh lemons suggest storing them in the refrigerator, where they can certainly last a couple of weeks.

Read also:

Sign up for our newsletter to stay up-to-date. Click here!

Want to see a selection of our news?