Preserving fruits is an excellent way to prolong their shelf life and enjoy their flavour year-round. So, in this article, we will be providing you with tips on how to preserve lemons and extend their storage life.

As a result, whether you have a surplus of lemons from your garden or you were gifted a large amount of lemons, knowing how to preserve lemons is a great skill in itself. This preservation skill would help you to harness the vibrant taste in these citrus fruits and help you achieve great culinary creations.

So, let’s quickly explore the proven methods to preserve lemons.

How to Preserve Lemons – 5 Effective Methods to Try Out

Lemons offer numerous outstanding benefits. Hence, allowing these nutrient-dense fruits to go to waste due to not knowing how to preserve them can be disappointing.  But now, with the methods listed below, you’d be able to enjoy your lemons in season and out of season.

Some of these listed methods on how to preserve lemon are more common or popular than others. However, the fact remains that all of these methods are effective and can get the job done.

Here are the common ways to preserve lemons:

By Freezing

This is a convenient and straightforward way to preserve lemons. Some people even consider this method the best way to store lemons. This is due to the fact that freezing your lemons helps to retain their flavour and nutrients that would have been lost through other methods. Here’s how to store your lemons in the fridge:

1. Select the right lemons: Choose lemons that are firm, ripe, and free from blemishes or mould
2. Cleaning and slicing: Wash the lemons thoroughly, wipe them to dry, and then slice them into thin rounds or wedges.
3. Flash freezing: Place the sliced lemons on parchment paper, ensuring that they do not touch. Freeze them for about two hours.
4. Storage: Now transfer the frozen lemons into Ziploc bags or any airtight bags/containers. Label them with the date and store them in the freezer for up to six months.

The long shelf life that can be achieved from freezing is why many people think this is the best way to preserve lemon

Lemon salt

Another method of how to preserve lemons successfully is achieved by preserving them with lemons salt. This method is especially useful in places with epileptic power supply, whereby the freezing method cannot be relied on.

To start, you will need sea salt, a sterilized jar, and a zester or grater. Wash the lemons thoroughly and remove the zest using a zester or grater. Be careful to avoid the bitter white pith.

Layer the lemon zest and sea salt in a sterilized jar. Do this until the jar is full. Ensure that the final layer is salt.

Seal the jar tightly and store it in a cool, dark place for a month or even longer. Ensure to shake the jar regularly to distribute the flavours.

When you want to use preserved lemons, rinse them very well to reduce saltiness. The lemon-infused salt can be used to season various dishes, from vegetables to grilled meats.

Lemon syrup – How to Preserve Lemons

Turning your lemon into lemon syrup is one of the best ways on how to keep your lemon from ripening too fast. It is a wonderful way to preserve lemons while creating an amazing drink for beverages, desserts, and sauces. Here’s how to go about it:

Gather fresh lemons, sugar, water, and a saucepan. Squeeze the lemons to get the required amount of lemon juice.

Combine equal parts of the lemon juice, sugar, and water in a saucepan. Heat the mixture over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves completely.

Reduce the heat level and allow the syrup to simmer for about 15-20 minutes until it thickens a bit.

Allow the lemon syrup to cool completely before transferring it to sterilized jars. You can store the lemon syrup in the fridge for up to three months.

Through dehydration

Dehydration is another way of preserving your fresh lemon. This method removes moisture from the lemons resulting in concentrated flavours that can be used in teas, spices, blends, or desserts. Here’s how to preserve lemon using dehydration:

Wash and slice the lemons into thin, even rounds.

Arrange the lemon slices on a dehydrator (or oven) using a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Through canning

This is a simple way to preserve lemons using the principles of canning. Canned lemons usually have a shelf life of up to 6-9 months.

Here’s how to preserve your lemons through canning:

Start by removing the lemon peel along with the white pith. Separate the lemons into segments, throwing away the seeds and the inner membrane. To reduce the tartness of the lemons, make a syrup. Once the syrup is hot, add the lemon segments to the mixture and cook for 5 minutes.

Next, pack the lemons into sterilized jars, topping them off with syrup while leaving a small space. Screw the lid very firmly and process in a water bath canner for about 10 minutes.

Remove the jars from the canner and let them cool on the countertop overnight.

Conclusion on How to Preserve Lemons

Finally, preserving lemons is a wonderful way to savour their vibrant flavour long after their peak season has passed. By following the simple steps on how to preserve lemons outlined in this guide, you can enjoy your lemons all year round.

So, whether you prefer the salted lemon method or the convenience of frozen lemons, there is a preservation method that suits your preference and culinary needs. Don’t allow those excess lemons from your grocery shopping to go to waste next time.

Meanwhile, you can read this article on how to preserve fruits in general.