Admit it: it happens to you too (more or less often) to find yourself with that moldy lemon that not only makes the refrigerator or pantry stink, but that affects all the other lemons stored with it!
It’s a classic in the kitchen.
Why does this happen? First of all because we often buy more lemons than we actually need , buying the nets already composed instead of selecting just one or two lemons at a time.
And then because lemons are actually treacherous: for days and days they sit there, quiet and immature, only to ripen all of a sudden!
So follow these tips and you will see that the risk of finding yourself with moldy lemon will halve.
How to store lemons
- In the fridge or out of the fridge?
- Where to keep the cut lemon?
- Do you store juice in the fridge or outside the fridge?
In the fridge or out of the fridge
The answer is: outside the fridge. Yes: even if it is normal to believe that the cold extends the conservation (because that is actually how it works), in reality lemons are fine outside too. In fact: they are actually better if stored in a dry and temperate place, outside the fridge.
The fridge, in fact, is a humid place and the risk of mold , especially with lemons, is just around the corner .
If the lemons are not too ripe, then keep them in a fruit bowl or in the pantry. If instead you think they are “left over”, store them anyway – watching them carefully to avoid them going bad! – in the bottom drawer of the fridge, together with the vegetables.
Where to keep the cut lemon?
The lemon cut in half is a different story.
If you want to preserve the other one, you will have to keep it for a few days in the refrigerator, but covering it well with film or with reusable wax sheets (more sustainable) to prevent it from drying out.
Another method involves keeping the lemon – always in the refrigerator – with the live part immersed in a trickle of water . Also in this case the intent is to not let the lemon dry out, to have it nice and fresh even the day after cutting.
Save the juice
Another trick is to sharpen your eyesight: once a day, when you open the fridge, take a look at the lemons. If there is one that seems particularly yellow and ripe, don’t risk it going bad. Use it immediately, or, if you don’t need it, just keep the juice.
Squeeze it with a juicer, then distribute it in an ice cube tray . This way you can keep the juice in the freezer, defrosting it when needed.
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