Limes are delicious and can be used in various sweet and savory dishes, including salsa verde and avocados, tacos, enchiladas, and key lime pie. people also love to make coconut lime popsicles to enjoy with friends.
It is always handy to have a few limes around. You might want to make a key lime pie or invite friends for drinks. You can make a soft drink from your limes or a slice of lime to complement a gin-and-tonic.
You can buy limes almost all year, but would you want to go to the grocery store to buy a few limes? You might find a sale and get limes for half the price. What’s the solution? It’s simple, freeze the limes for future uses.
Take a look to learn more!
How do you store limes?
Whole limes can be stored in a fruit bowl on your kitchen counter for up to 7 days or in the crisper drawer for 3-4 weeks.
Lime slices should always be kept in the refrigerator. There are many opinions on how long lime slices can be kept in the refrigerator. Some suggest storing the limes in the fridge for 3-4 days, while others recommend storing them for 6-7 days.
You must dispose away any spoiled or bruised limes.
Can you Freeze Limes?
Yes, it is possible to freeze limes. It has very little effect on flavor and almost no impact on texture. The shelf life of frozen food will depend on how fresh it was when first placed in the freezer.
They keep well in the fridge, and once they have defrosted, they will be just as fresh. They will not be fresh if they have already begun to deteriorate before being placed in the freezer.
You can keep limes in the fridge for up to two months after you purchase them. You can freeze them for up to six months.
What are some of the benefits of freezing limes?
- When you already have fresh limes in your freezer, you can save money on purchasing them!
- It is easier to grate frozen limes than fresh ones. This is especially true regarding desserts such as Key Lime Pie, Margaritas, or any other recipe that requires lime zest like add punch of lime to blueberry pie etc.
- It is a great tool in your arsenal if you need to make margaritas. Just take some from the freezer before your guests arrive to ensure that the limes are cold when you add them to your drink.
Freezing Whole Limes
If you are short on time and don’t mind spending a little more later to thaw the whole limes, freezing them can be a great option. You can use whole frozen limes any way you want, making them the best long-term storage option.
Package: Frozen limes can be packaged in a freezer bag, but you can also use cling wrap and Tupperware. You should seal the container tightly and get as much air as possible. After you have sealed the container, locate a safe place in your freezer where you can store them.
Freeze: You can freeze whole limes for up to six months. Remember that they will lose their texture and flavor if you leave them out for too long. It might be better to refrigerate them if you only plan on freezing them for one week.
Thaw: It is easy to defrost a lime by simply taking it out of the freezer and then putting it in the refrigerator overnight. This method takes about six hours to defrost the whole limes fully. Make sure you plan ahead. Submerging them in cold water will speed up the process. This will reduce the time by about two hours.
It is a good idea if you plan on zesting a lime before it thaws, making it easier to grate the skin.
Freezing Lime Wedges
Lime wedges or slices are best for garnishing food or decorating drinks. If you freeze slices, ensure they are at least 1/4 inch thick. Otherwise, they may break.
- To reduce sticking, cut the limes into small wedges and place them on a tray.
- Keep the tray in the freezer for at least 30 minutes to set the lime slices.
- After they have frozen, you can take the wedges out of the freezer and put them in a bag.
- Place the bag in the freezer.
How to Thaw Frozen Limes?
First, soften the limes in cold water to thaw them. Place the limes into a bowl. Then, fill the bowl with cold water. The limes can also be placed in a zip-top bag and then submerged in cold water. Let them sit for around 30 minutes or until they become soft enough to be cut.
After they have thawed, you can remove the top and bottom from each lime and cut them in half. You can use a citrus juicer/reamer to extract the juice from the limes. You can squeeze the juice from the limes with a fork if you don’t own one of these tools. Strain any.
3 Tips to Freeze Limes
We’ve got three tips to help you freeze limes.
Zest directly from the Freezer: A whole lime can be taken out of the freezer and grated immediately. You can thaw the lime almost immediately by grating it. It’s a great way of keeping zest longer.
Freeze in Ice Cubes: Lime juice and zest can be frozen in ice cubes. Mixing with other spices and herbs can create flavor cubes that you can add to many dishes. Garlic, ginger, and chili are all good options for Thai-inspired curry.
Don’t Cut Frozen Whole Limes: Lime wholes are not suitable for cutting at a later time. The inner flesh will turn mushy and dry. If you prefer frozen slices or wedges, cut them beforehand.
How does freezing affect the limes?
Freezing whole limes won’t cause any damage. The inner lime juice is protected by the thick skin of the. The exterior peel of lime is not affected.
Don’t worry if you want to zest the limes for a pie recipe or another dish. After the lime has been frozen, you can still use its zest. You can also put the lime back in the freezer to preserve the juice.
You can use frozen whole limes just like fresh limes.
Can You Refreeze Limes?
Refrigerating limes is safe, but they can become drier if they are not fully defrosted.
You can also take one lime out and quickly zest it.
Other Ways to Store Whole Limes
There are other packaging options for freezing limes. Still, they don’t have the same practicality or space-saving properties as plastic freezer bags.
You can use a freezer container, but it won’t store many limes and will take up lots of freezer space.
You can also wrap each lime individually in aluminum foil and plastic wrap, which is time-consuming and wasteful. The limes can be wrapped in one bag of freezer wrap.
How do you know when limes go bad?
Bad limes can have a soft texture or discoloration. Usually, a lighter brown color will replace the green skin. The inside of the lime will dry out faster than the outside.
What are the side effects of lime?
Let’s now discuss the side effects of lime juice on your health. Toothache: Lime juice can cause tooth enamel damage due to high levels of citrus extract. Lime juice contains high levels of acid, which causes enamel to dissolve. This causes pain and sensitivity.
Why do limes get hard?
Left out at room temperature, limes will lose their moisture over time and become dry. Place the limes in a bag and let them air dry.
Why should you always freeze your lemons?
It is easy to zest frozen lemons and limes and oranges. Once thawed, they release their juices more easily because freezing and thawing, like any vegetable, weaken the cell walls. The fruit can be quickly thawed in a microwave for 15-20 seconds or under warm water for just a few seconds.
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