The best ways to store lemons at home

Lemon has gained recognition for its medicinal properties. A cup of tea with it invigorates, compensates for the lack of vitamins in winter, and increases the body's resistance to infections. Citrus is available in stores all year round, but when buying for future use, the question arises about how to store it. In unfavorable conditions, it loses moisture, dries out or becomes moldy. We will tell you in detail how to store lemons at home.

Features and basic rules for storing lemons

Citrus is stored at a temperature of +6...+8°C. At room temperature, shelf life decreases sharply. The necessary conditions:

• dry, cool room;
• lack of sunlight.

The fruits are protected from drying out and excess moisture. Air humidity is about 85%.

Selection and preparation of fruits

For storage, choose ripe, firm, intact, brightly colored fruits. To preserve moisture and freshness, fruits are prepared:

• lubricate with vegetable oil;
• wrapped in parchment paper.

These measures protect the lemons from drying out and prevent the spread of rot and disease.

Reference. An indicator of fruit maturity is the shine of the peel. In unripe fruit it is matte.

How to properly store lemons

It is important to choose the right temperature regime. Cool, dark rooms and a refrigerator are ideal. If there is a lack of moisture, the fruits dry out; if there is too much, they spoil and become moldy.

To maintain optimal moisture, fruits are wrapped in parchment paper or greased with vegetable oil, placed in a plastic bag and left at low temperature. Under such conditions, citrus fruits remain fresh for several months.

Where to store

Lemons hold:

• in a refrigerator;
• in the cellar;
• in an apartment at room temperature;
• in the freezer.

Large volumes of citrus fruits are stored in the cellar:

• in sand, which protects against drying out;
• in boxes with sawdust, pre-wrapped in wax paper.

At room temperature, the fruits can be stored for up to two weeks. You can increase the storage time by a week by lubricating the fruit peels with vegetable oil.

Important! When stored at room temperature, lemons should not be placed in plastic bags.

The fruits are stored in the freezer for several months. The slices, zest, grated lemon, and squeezed juice are frozen.

What to store in

Storing fruits in a jar is popular:

1. The jar of lemons is filled to the top with water and placed in the refrigerator. The water is changed daily.
2. A jar of peeled fruits is sterilized in a water bath, and new fruits are added as needed. The container is hermetically sealed with a lid. Store in a cool place.

Storage methods

Fruits are stored in different states. To choose a convenient way to preserve them for a long time, we offer several options.

Entirely

For short-term storage, the fruits are wrapped in parchment paper and placed in the refrigerator in the fruit compartment.

For long-term storage, the following methods are used:

• place the lemons in a container, lower a burning candle into it to remove oxygen, and seal it with a lid;
• the fruits are wrapped in tracing paper and covered with sand;
• Lubricate the peel with melted wax.

Cut

The cut fruit dries out in a short time. There are several ways to store such a product:

• Place cut side down on a plate, after pouring a few drops of vinegar there;
• brush the cut with whipped egg white;
• put the lemon on a saucer, cover it with a glass on top to stop the access of oxygen, or place it in a glass with cling film pulled over the edge;
• place cut side down on a plate with salt or sugar;
• Place the product, cut side up, into a container of water; the water should not cover the cut.

With sugar

Lemons can be candied at home. For this:

1. Whole fruits are peeled or cut into slices with peel.
2. Place in a jar, generously sprinkled with sugar.
3. Cover with a polyethylene lid.

Fill the container with fruits to the brim. Sugar is taken in a 1:1 ratio. Store in a cool, dark place.

Important! The dishes with fruit are kept for a week at room temperature to dissolve the sugar.

With salt

Lemons are stored with salt and then used for main courses:

1. Cut the fruits into thin slices.
2. Place in jars, sprinkle with salt.
3. Add spices as desired.

Cover with a lid and place in the refrigerator.

Without zest

Methods for storing lemon without zest:

• a glass jar is filled with fruits to the brim and stored in the refrigerator without access to air;
• preserve in sugar or honey;
• add salt;
• placed in the freezer.

In the form of juice

For long-term storage, dishes and lids are sterilized. The juice is poured to the top and sealed tightly. Olive or almond oil is poured onto the surface of the juice. Store in a cool, dark place or freezer.

Attention! Do not squeeze juice from lemons with metal devices - this destroys vitamins.

Dried

Lemons are cut thinly and dried in air or in the oven.In the first case, the process lasts up to five days, in the second – 6 hours.

Recycled storage

In the absence of a cellar, basement or similar places for storing a large volume of fruits, it is more convenient to store lemons in processed form:

1. Freezing. The fruits are cut thinly and placed in a small layer in the freezer for 5 hours. Pour into a container for storage without defrosting.
2. Conservation is popular without access to oxygen: Place clean lemons in a sterilized jar, light a candle stub in it, and seal it with a lid. The oxygen burns out, the vacuum ensures the freshness of the fruit.
3. Whole or cut fruits can be candied. The cut lemon is crushed with a meat grinder, mixed with sugar, and placed in a jar. The mixture is stored for several months.

Shelf life

In a cool, dry room, the fruits are stored for up to two weeks.

Whole lemons will keep in the refrigerator for up to three months. Candied lemon will keep for up to six months.

Wedges sprinkled with sugar keep in the refrigerator for 3-4 weeks. Lemons in a bowl of water stay fresh for up to three months.

Grated zest and lemon juice can be stored in the freezer for 6 months.

In the freezer, sliced ​​​​fruits last up to a year, dried - from 6 to 9 months.

A cut lemon on a saucer under a plate in the cold remains usable for a week.

Helpful tips to help keep lemons fresh longer

To increase shelf life:

• dried lemon is immersed in boiling water for 1-2 minutes;
• prevent damage to the skin;
• do not store lemons in the refrigerator along with other products, but use a separate container, box, compartment;
• use lemongrass, which keeps cut lemons fresh for up to a week;
• Avoid high or low humidity in the storage area.

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Conclusion

The choice of storage method depends on the condition of the fruits and their quantity. Large volumes are placed in the cellar, small volumes - in the refrigerator, at home. Choose a suitable method of canning or freezing and enjoy the taste and aroma of vitamin fruits all year round.