Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Preserve the lemons
• Tips
• Necessities

Although lemons are sour, they can rot like any other fruit. If a lemon becomes wrinkly, if there are soft or hard spots and the lemon turns a dull color, then the lemon is losing its moisture and flavor. Prevent this by learning how to keep lemons at the right temperature.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Preserve the lemons

1. Store lemons for immediate use. If you plan to use the lemons within a few days of purchase, keep them out of direct sunlight. They usually stay fresh for about a week if you keep them at room temperature. After a week, they become wrinkly, they lose their bright color, and they develop soft or hard spots.
2. Store lemon juice in the refrigerator. Despite the acidity, lemon juice can accumulate bacteria if kept at room temperature. After 2-4 days in the refrigerator, the juice will be less flavorful. Discard if it starts to look cloudy or dark, or if most of the flavor is gone, which is usually after 7-10 days.
   • Do not store lemon juice in transparent bottles, as light will spoil the juice more quickly.
   • Juice bought in the supermarket usually contains preservatives, which means that it can be stored for several months.
3. Freeze leftover grater. If you have a lot of grater, place small, heaped spoons of grater on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Freeze this, then put the frozen grater in a freezer suitable drum.

Tips

• Lemons are susceptible to ethylene and can spoil more quickly, so it is best not to store lemons near products that release ethylene, such as apples.
• When buying lemons, choose the lemons that have a thin skin and that give a little when you squeeze them. This contains more juice than lemons that are hard.
• Green lemons can be stored for four months at 12ºC (54ºF).

Necessities

• Plastic bags that you can seal
• Refrigerator
• Freezer