When adding acidity to any dish, lemons are the ideal go-to ingredient. For many recipes, lemon lends a delicious and tangy tart note. So, it makes sense to have a bag of lemons on hand. Lemons last for a couple of weeks, especially when stored properly. But, when people need a long-term storage solution for lemons, they start wondering Can You Freeze Lemons?
Can You Freeze Lemons? Yes, you can freeze lemons as it is the perfect long-term storage solution for lemons. Freezing helps them to extend their viability and shelf-life by months. So, freezing is the perfect solution when you have a bag of excessive lemons or the tree in the backyard has yielded surplus lemons.
Lemons can be frozen for up to three months. But, there are other vital basics you must learn to freeze them properly. The guide below will help you know how to freeze, thaw, and identify spoiled lemons.
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How to Freeze Lemons?
Lemons freeze well for up to three months. But, you can only enjoy its tangy notes when you freeze them aptly. Lemons can be frozen in slices or whole. You can also freeze the lemon juice. It is straightforward to freeze lemons as it needs minimal preparation before freezing.
- If you want to freeze a whole lemon, scrub it on the outer shell. You may also cut them into halves and freeze them.
- Take a zip lock bag or sealable container and transfer the lemons into it. Squeeze the excess air from the freezer bag before sealing it.
- Place the bag filled with lemons into the freezer and allow them to freeze properly. Avoid overfilling the bag with excessive lemons as they may stick with each other.
Please note that frozen lemons can only be used for juices after thawing them. Freezing impacts the texture and makes the lemons hard to slice.
How Long Can You Freeze Lemons For?
Lemons can freeze well and sustain their lemony taste and tart notes for three months. So it is still okay to use the frozen lemons after three months. But the solid lemony flavor and taste will change.
If you want to freeze lemon zest, ensure to use them within 30 days of freezing. It won’t last for more than one month in a freezer.
Lemon slices, juices, and whole lemons can keep their peak quality for three months.
How to Thaw Frozen Lemons Safely?
Lemon zest needs no thawing as you may directly sprinkle them on the dish you are cooking. The same is also applicable to the lemon slices. If you use lemon slices to garnish a drink, you may use them directly without thawing. It will act as the ice to keep the beverage cool.
However, thawing a whole lemon for juice is different. First, you have to run the whole frozen lemon under warm water before slicing it into pieces to extract its juice. The frozen whole lemon needs some time to melt, and running them under warm water ensures it is properly thawed.
For the frozen lemon juices, you may use them directly out of the freezer as frozen juice. If you want to use it for salad dressing, thaw the juice by keeping it outside the freezer for some time. It is best to thaw the juice overnight by placing it in a fridge.
How to Know If Frozen Lemons Have Gone Bad?
Unfortunately, lemons have a shelf-life of three months when stored in a freezer. The shelf-life reduces when it is left outside inaptly. So, you must always keep checking the lemons when they stay in your freezer.
Below are some crucial signs that help you know when the frozen lemons have gone bad.
- Color – A smooth and brighter yellow color of the lemon indicates that it is still good and edible. Don’t discard them if you see a bright green color as it results from temperature change. A brighter brown spot on the lemon means it has gone bad.
- Texture Change – As the frozen lemon goes rancid, it becomes moist, squishy, and soft with slimy skin. It loses the water content and gets firm, small, and wrinkled.
- Taste and Smell – If you get a fermented or foul smell from the thawed lemons, discard them because it has gone bad. It will lose all its citric aromas and taste.
- Mold Formation – A dusty dark green surface means mold has started growing in the lemons. You must discard it because it is a sign of spoilage.
FAQs
Can Lemons Be Frozen for Drinks?
Yes, you can freeze lemons for drinks. But, it is suggested that you freeze them in slices so that when you need them, you can toss them freshly to make lemonade, tonic, or gin. In addition, the frozen lemon slices will give a tart note of zingy lemon and keep the drink cool.
Can You Freeze the Preserved Lemons?
Frozen lemons keep their peak quality for up to three months. But, a jar of preserved lemons can last for up to six months or a year. But, you will gain no benefit from freezing the preserved lemons.
Can You Freeze Lemons Without Peel?
Yes, you can freeze the lemons without the peel. But you will lose the chance of getting zest out of the lemons after you thaw them. You can only use them as slices after melting. So, depending upon your needs, you can freeze the lemon without the peel.
Can You Freeze Lemon Wedges?
Yes, you can freeze whole lemon or lemon slices and wedges. You have to freeze it in a freezer bag and ensure to wash the whole lemon before cutting it into wedges for freezing.
Can You Freeze Lemons Summary
You can easily prepare the lemons for freezing properly since you know the answer to Can You Freeze Lemons. Constantly wash the lemons before freezing and use the freezer-friendly sealable bags to free the lemons safely.
Besides, you must thaw them properly by refrigerating them overnight. You must also look for the spoilage signs before using the frozen lemons. They may develop bacterial growth and make you sick if you accidentally consume the spoiled lemons.
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