Lemons are versatile citrus fruits that can be used in many sweet or savory preparations, as decorations and as a main ingredient. Unfortunately, like most fresh fruit, they spoil quickly and only last 2-4 weeks or less if you cut them. Instead of letting this precious vitamin-rich food rot, you should consider freezing it to increase its "longevity".
Steps
Method 1 of 5: Freezing Whole Lemons
Step 1. Store them in an airtight plastic bag
Slide the closure for ¾ of the length and force the air out; when you have disposed of it, close the bag completely. In this way, the lemons retain their freshness and at the same time save space in the freezer.
Step 2. Transfer them to the freezer
Put the bag with the lemons in the freezer until they are completely frozen; a couple of hours or even overnight may be enough, depending on the temperature the appliance reaches. Use fresh lemons for the meals you have planned over the course of the week, and freeze the rest well in advance of when you plan to use them.
Step 3. Soak them in cold water to thaw them
Whole lemons that have undergone the freezing process often become mushy and difficult to slice; they are so soft that they are not suitable for use as a garnish, but you can use the zest or juice.
They can be stored in the freezer for up to 3-4 months
Method 2 of 5: Prepare the Frozen Slices
Step 1. Cut the citrus into slices or wedges
In this way, you can get around the problem of the soft consistency typical of defrosted lemon and you can use it for cocktails and garnishes; proceed on a cutting board and slice the lemon into 0.5 cm thick pieces. To obtain wedges, make a first incision in the length direction and the second in the width; this trick allows you to get four pieces of equal size.
If you wish, you can divide the slices in half to give them a crescent shape
Step 2. Arrange them on a baking sheet and transfer them to the freezer
Make sure they are well spaced. This technique allows you to freeze each piece individually; if you don't respect it, you'll end up with a single frozen block of lemon slices. Keep them in the freezer for 2-3 hours or until they are completely hard.
You can tell that they are frozen when they get hard and no juice comes out of the pulp when you squeeze it
Step 3. Put the lemons in a zip lock bag
Once frozen, you can store them in such a container to save space in the appliance; you can only take the slices you will need.
Method 3 of 5: Freeze the Zest
Step 1. Use a cheese grater, rigalimoni or other similar tool
The zest is the peel of the citrus fruit that contains the natural oils; use an appropriate kitchen tool to peel off only the yellow part of the fruit's surface.
You can do this even after freezing whole lemons
Step 2. Transfer the zest to a zip lock bag
After detaching it, place it in an airtight container or in a common bag for frozen foods. You can use the rest of the fruit within a week or slice and freeze it.
Step 3. Put the bag in the freezer
Let the peel freeze for a couple of hours or overnight; when you need to use it, you can take only the necessary dose and put the rest back in the appliance.
By removing the zest from the frozen lemons, you prevent the oils from splashing on the cutting board
Method 4 of 5: Freeze the Lemon Juice
Step 1. Squeeze the lemons
Use a manual or electric juicer. These are tools available in all household stores; if you don't have them, you can cut the fruit into four parts and mash the pulp with a fork to extract the juice. The goal is to squeeze the pulp and get the liquid.
Step 2. Dose approximately 250ml of juice
Carefully pour it into a measuring cup over the sink. This small detail allows you to know exactly the doses for your future preparations. Remember to get rid of any seeds that fell off while squeezing the fruit.
Step 3. Pour the juice into the ice cube trays
During the procedure count how many compartments you can fill with 250ml of juice; in this way, you know exactly what a cube corresponds to when you need to use the liquid in a particular recipe.
Frozen lemon juice cubes are perfect for flavoring water
Step 4. Put the trays in the freezer and wait for the liquid to harden
If you don't freeze freshly squeezed juice, it spoils within two to four days; By storing it in the form of ice cubes, you can extend its shelf life a lot.
If you need to use the cube trays, you can transfer the hardened juice into airtight bags
Method 5 of 5: Prepare Lemons for Freezing
Step 1. Wash your hands before handling food
Use warm soapy water to scrub your hands and sanitize them, otherwise you could contaminate food with toxins and bacteria. alternatively, you can wear disposable gloves.
Step 2. Rub the citrus fruits
Use a toothbrush, nail brush, or vegetable brush and clean the surface of the fruit. Choose a tool that you will use from now on only for washing fruit and vegetables. This process removes soil and potential chemicals.
Step 3. Wash the lemons
Before freezing them, you need to put them under cold running water to get rid of the pesticides. You can also use a specific electrical device or a sanitizing product for fruit and vegetables; once clean, dry them with a cloth or kitchen paper.
Step 4. Make a vinegar solution to get rid of pesticides
Lemons and other fruits can be coated with dangerous chemicals, such as pesticides. You can eliminate them by immersing citrus fruits in a solution with 10% vinegar and 90% water for 15-20 minutes; when finished, rinse them with cold running water and dry them with a cloth.
