Knowing how to properly store lemons is important, particularly if you cook often with this ingredient, or if you bring in a harvest of lemons! [1]
How to Store Lemons?
The best way to store lemons – whole or sliced – is in the fridge, although there are some things you can do to keep them fresh and flavorful for even longer.
If you have fresh lemons, many people simply leave them on the counter until they are ready to be used. While this is fine for lemons that you intend to use in the next few days, leaving them out for longer than a week will result in the lemons slowly drying out, losing their juiciness, and also fading in flavor.
If you buy lemons in bulk or want to store them for the long term, you want to store them in the refrigerator. To prevent the lemons from drying out, it is best to put the lemons in a plastic storage bag, press the air out of them, and then seal them. There is no need to freeze lemons, but you should keep the bag of fresh lemons in the crisper.
A couple of fresh lemons in a bowl Photo Credit: Shutterstock
If you have a lemon that has already been sliced, the best way to save it is to wrap the exposed side in plastic wrap and then place that into an airtight container. Once the flesh is exposed to air, it will begin to dry out much faster, so you want to avoid this.
Some people also believe that storing lemons in a bowl of fresh water in the refrigerator will help to keep them fresh for up to 3 months. While this is a less convenient option for storing lemons, anecdotal evidence says that it is an effective form of long-term storage. If you have ever struggled with deciding how to store lemons, the most reliable approach is to bag, seal, and store them in the refrigerator until you’re ready to use them!
