If you use limes or lime juice in a recipe or creating your finished product, you know how much of a kick that citrusy fruit gives. It gives a subtle punch to your key lime pie, as well as being a must in your Corona beer.
So what happens if you live in a city that does not have limes all season or you got a good deal on a dozen or more of this fruit? Will you be able to freeze them for use later? the answer is yes and we will show you how to go about storing limes.
The good thing about freezing limes is that you will have some available when the time calls for it. This is extremely helpful, as you can always just go into the freezer and get some when you need it.
Can You Freeze Limes?
Yes you can and there are many reasons why people may opt to freeze limes. Maybe you need lime juice, slices/wedges, zest or whole limes to be used sometime in the future. Instead of having the fruit sitting around and possibly spoiling, you can always just freeze it for use at a later time.
Limes hold up pretty well in the freezer. The juices, slices, wedges and whole limes can last up to 12 months in the freezer, while lime zest will hold up anywhere from 1-2 months before drying out.
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How to Freeze Lime Juice?
Freezing lime juice is really one of the better ways of storing this citrus fruit. If you need the juice to be used in recipes or juices at a future date, you can always squeeze out the juice and store it in the freezer till you are ready to use it.
Steps
- Cut limes in two
- Squeeze out the juice, remove any seeds.
- Pour the lime juice into ice cube trays and then place in the freezer.
- Once solid, remove the lime juice cubes and place in an air-tight container or freezer bag.
- Label the container or freezer bag, so that you can have an idea as to how long they have been sitting in the fridge.
- When ready to use, take out a cube and let it sit in a container at room temperature till it is defrosted.
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How to Freeze Limes Slices and Wedges?
Lime slices and wedges make for excellent decoration for food and beverages. Will you be able to freeze slices and wedges of this citrus fruit? Yes, you can and the process is pretty easy.
Steps
- Cut your lime into the slices or wedges that you want.
- Places the cut pieces on a cookie/baking sheet
- Place in the freezer and allow the lime slices/wedges freeze fully.
- Remove the frozen pieces and wrap them with plastic wrap.
- Put the wrapped lime slices/wedges in an air-tight container or freezer bag.
- Store in the freezer and remove individual slices/wedges when you are ready to use them. These frozen pieces can defrost pretty easily, once you let them sit at room temperature for a couple of minutes.
How to Freeze Lime Zest?
There are times that you might need lime zest to be used in a recipe. Can lime zest be frozen? Yes, it can, but it will dry out quickly, so it is best to use it within a month or two after first putting it in the freezer.
Steps
- Wash lime
- Use a zester or grater on the lime to get the zest.
- Once you have the desired amount, wrap in plastic wrap.
- Place plastic wrap in an air-tight container or freezer bag.
- Use within the month, as lime zest will dry out in the freezer in about 1-2 months.
Note: If you need to use the lime zest further in the future, it is a better idea to freeze whole limes.
How to Freeze Whole Limes?
As we mentioned in the lime zest section, freezing whole limes is a better option if you are looking to keep limes for a longer time. There is nothing special that needs to be done, other than putting them in a proper container or freezer bag.
You should be aware than when the limes start to thaw out, they might become a bit mushy. This is ok if you need the juice, but if you are looking to get slices/wedges or zest, it is best to cut or grate the lime while it is still tough.
