Can you freeze lemons?
Lemons can be frozen for up to 3 months, either whole or zested and juiced. Frozen lemon juice or zest is ideal for adding to recipes that call for fresh lemon, from bars, bread, muffins, sauces, cocktails, and more. You can use frozen lemon zest in cooked or blended dishes without thawing it, though you’ll need to defrost the juice. We often have fresh lemons on hand, since the fresh juice is so crucial for recipes and cocktails (no bottled substitutes here!). So these preservation tips have changed the game for us. Here’s what to do! Freezing lemons works for long-term storage. But if you’re simply trying to extend the life of lemons for a few weeks, there’s an easy trick: the refrigerator.
Lemon recipes
Frozen lemon zest and juice works in so many lemon recipes! Here are a few ways to use them:
Zest: You can use the frozen zest without thawing. Juice: Defrost frozen lemon juice by placing the container in the refrigerator overnight. Or place the ice cubes in a bowl and microwave for a few second bursts at a time. Whole lemons: To defrost a whole lemon, place it in the refrigerator overnight or for a faster method, microwave the lemon in 20 second bursts until it is thawed. To zest a whole frozen lemon, rinse it with warm water first, then dry it and zest it. Whole lemons become mushy after thawing, so only use the zest and juice (not slices).
Bake Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins or Lemon Blueberry Muffins. Try Lemon Bread, Lemon Blueberry Bread, or Lemon Cake. Start the day with Lemon Ricotta Pancakes or Lemon Blueberry Pancakes. Whisk up a Lemon Vinaigrette or whiz up a Lemon Smoothie. Make Lemon Pasta, Lemon Ricotta Pasta, or mix up Lemon Butter Sauce. Make a Lemon Drop Martini or other Lemon Cocktails.
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