Images like that of a refreshing pitcher of lemonade or a lemon slushy are iconic of summer, but they are somewhat contradictory. The lemon is a typically Mediterranean citrus fruit and its season starts in fall, being the winter the high point of its harvest. This means that the lemons we find in summer are probably more expensive and won’t be as tastyso we better keep them like gold cloth.
Inflation is not the only culprit that fruit is very expensive; sometimes we forget that each product has an optimal season, and pretend to buy it all year round it involves scratching your pocket a little more. The last lemons from Spain were harvested months ago, and if they reach the shelves it is because they are imported from other countries, or because they have been kept in camera.
There are some exceptions; the luckiest will have lemon trees within reach where they will still be able to find fruits left behind among the green leaves, but the rest of us will have to make do with the citrus fruits that reach the stores, and try to not waste not a drop of its juice.
How to keep lemons at home
A fresh, luscious seasonal lemon will last for many days at room temperature in the fruit bowl when temperatures are soft or lowthe typical autumn or winter ones, away from apples and other products that can speed up their ripening.
In summer, however, unless it is not very hot at home or we are going to consume them in a few hours, it is better to refrigerate them. Professional cameras maintain a 90% minimum humidity and a temperature between 10 and 12º Cto prevent cold damage, slow down ripening and keep the fruit juicy.
Our fridge should cool below that range, so we will have to store the lemons in the least cold part, preferably specific fruit cratesbetter if they are well isolated from the rest of the refrigerator. If these drawers were also very cold, we can consider the gate of the appliance. Again we will avoid sharing space with other climacteric fruits or vegetables.
And so that they last more than a few days without drying out too much, we can apply some tricks that add moisture. It is as simple as moistening each lemon and wrapping it in plastic film to deposit them in an airtight container or zip bag, or directly place them in a taper with a little water.
Don’t forget about lemons for too long either, as they could rot; It is advisable review them each day and discard any that show signs of poor condition or possible mold or mildew marks.
If we have the cut lemon we can apply this avocado trick, placing the exposed half submerged in waterfor a couple of days, or use some special utensil for its conservation, such as the reusable silicone bells that we find in Ikea and other stores, or even more specific devices.
OXO Good Grips Cut Keep Silicone Lemon Saver Preserving Container, White, One Size
Fackelmann Food&More Lemon Keeper in polypropylene. Yellow. 11x8cm. 1 u.
In any case, it is best to use them sooner and wait until they are in season to enjoy them in their splendor, and at a better price.
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