The second life of frozen lemons
Some life hacks have been around for centuries and yet we aren’t aware of them. Freezing lemons is definitely one of them. You have probably never tried to freeze the lemons you freshly bought from the supermarket. But that should definitely change and we will explain to you why!
Lemons are amazing
It’s no surprise that lemons are one of the most popular fruits from around the globe. Adding a few drops of lemon juice makes food taste fresher and creates a more interesting flavor profile. Needless to say, lemon juice is also very popular as a drink when combined with other juices or alcoholic beverages. And then there is also lemon pie and lemon curd, delicious treats that combine sweetness with the refreshing sourness of this lovely citrus fruit.
Freezing lemons
People do often use cooked lemon rinds in cakes and muffins but the cooking process can cause the lemon to lose up to 40 per cent of its properties. Freezing the lemon ensures that that all of the goodness lemons have to offer is conserved, plus lemon ice cubes taste pretty good.
Lemons can be frozen whole but they will be mushy when defrosted although the juice will be fine. You can also freeze lemon slices the same way. The juice can be frozen in ice cube trays for use layer as well as the zest.
Although freezing keeps juices safe indefinitely, quality begins to decline after a few months. Vitamins in frozen juices degrade during storage, and the longer you freeze the juice, the greater the loss.
Eating lemons
Lemons are typically not eaten as a snack as they are quite sour and tart. Freezing them makes them much more suitable for snacking as the cold temperatures reduce the sourness of the fruit considerably.
As you probably already know, lemons are super healthy and offer plenty of medical benefits as the Vitamin C they contain boosts your immune system and helps your body fight infections. They also contain substances that help prevent cancer, regulate blood pressure and they are even considered to be helpful for mental health, as they help against stress and depression.
The lemon peel
The reason why frozen lemons taste different than lemons stored at room temperature is the level of acidity. Freezing lemons reduces this acidity, which is why they taste significantly less sour. The acidity will only return when the fruit thaws. Please be aware that the lemon peel contains 5 to 10 times (1) more vitamins than lemon juice which is why you should definitely make use of it and not just throw it away. Frozen peel tastes amazing, just make sure to wash the lemon properly before storing it in the freezer!
Lemon peel
Lemon peel adds a uniquely refreshing taste to food and drinks. Just sprinkle some of it on salads, ice cream, or even spaghetti and enjoy the flavor. Make sure the lemon is completely frozen before applying it to your food as frozen peel tastes way better than regular peel. More and more families make use of this cooking hack so don’t miss out and try it for yourself!
How to freeze them:
The first thing to do is disinfect and wash the lemons. So, soak the lemons for couple of minutes in some baking soda or apple cider vinegar.
Rinse them with water and put the lemons in the freezer.
When they are fully frozen grate them including everything: peel, pulp and even the seeds.
Put the grated lemons in ice cubes trays and freeze them.
You can use the cubes of grated lemons every time you need a citrus flavor for your meals. You can add them in salads, yogurt, ice cream, pasta sauces and soups. As well as adding some grated lemons into tea, juice or shakes. By creating these lemon ice cubes it also makes it a lot easier to just pop a few in your morning glass of water and sip away while enjoying all of the health benefits, easy peasy.
So throw a few lemons in the freezer and sit back and enjoy the health benefits.
