Lemons, limes, oranges, or grapefruit, citrus fruits are so refreshing and alkalizing. We know how good they are for us, because they are loaded with Vitamin C. One way to make sure you never run out of these goodies is to freeze your lemons. And there is more to it!
In fact, every part of the citrus can be consumed. Even the rinds. This is actually where you will find most of the health benefits, in the peel of lemons and other citrus fruit. Unfortunately, the peel is usually the part that gets wasted!
Citrus fruits have been found to boost DNA repair and protect us against some cancers like breast cancer and skin cancer. However, the citrus compounds that are responsible for such a miracle are only found in the peel. Within 2 hours of eating citrus peels, our DNA starts to become more resistant to damage.
Supplements and citrus juice do not seem to have that effect. Only zesting your citrus fruits will do it. So why not freeze lemons with their peels and always have some zest to add to your food!
How to freeze lemons
Every part of the fruit can be frozen and consumed later, even the juice. However, when defrosted, lemons will be squishy and will not be suitable for decorating. You will only be able to use them for juices and other recipes. But that’s ok.
Before you freeze your lemons, make sure to wash them properly. If not organic, they will be covered with god knows what pesticides. So soaking them in a mixture of water and white vinegar will remove a lot of the crap that sprayed on the fruits.
If you are freezing whole lemons, place them in plastic freezer bags and remove the air before sealing. When you need them, soak them in cold water for about 10 minutes. You can then use them at your convenience.
If you zest your lemons while still frozen, the rind oils will defrost in your recipe bowl and you will not lose any unlike when you grind a fresh lemon.
If you prefer the juice of freshly squeezed lemons, then freezing the peels might be a better option for you. You should do the same with your orange and grapefruit peels. Keep them in a plastic freezer bag. Freeze them and use them whenever you need them. You can toss them in a drink or grind the zest for a recipe. You can also use whole rinds for cooking. It will give flavours to any stir fry, pasta or soup.
You can also freeze lemon wedges to flavour drinks. Just slice the lemons and spread them on a baking sheet. Place them in the freezer for a day and transfer them into a freezer bag or a container. You can just toss 1 or 2 slices of frozen lemons into your drinks whenever you need it.
Freezing lemon juice can also be very handy for recipes and flavouring cocktails. Squeeze the juice of the lemons and pour it into ice cube trays. Freeze them and transfer them into a freezer bag or a container. This will make perfect ice cubes for your lemonade or ice tea.
Make sure to measure how many tablespoons are in one ice cube. That way, you will be able to use them easily in your recipes, knowing exactly how many ice cubes you need.
