Do you have more lemons than you know what to do with? Are you tired of throwing away lemons that have gone bad before you could use them? If so, freezing lemon juice and zest is the perfect solution for you. It’s a simple and effective way to preserve these valuable ingredients, ensuring you always have them on hand when you need them.
Why Freeze Lemon Juice and Zest?
- Prevent Waste: Freezing is an excellent way to prevent homegrown or organic lemons from going to waste.
- Convenience: Many recipes call for small quantities of lemon juice or zest. Freezing ensures you always have the right amount ready to go.
- Preserve Freshness: Frozen zest retains its fresh flavor, allowing you to use it in the same way you would use fresh zest.
- Save Money: Instead of buying lemons every time you need juice or zest, you can buy in bulk and freeze them for later use.
How to Freeze Lemon Zest
Freezing lemon zest is a straightforward process that takes just a few minutes. Here’s how to do it:
- Wash and Dry: Thoroughly rinse the lemons and allow them to dry before zesting. Supermarket lemons often have a coating of wax and pesticide residue, so washing them is essential.
- Zest the Lemons: Use a microplane, zester, or vegetable peeler to remove the zest. Be careful not to grate into the pith (the white part of the peel), as it can be bitter.
- Quick Freeze: Place the zest in a single layer on a piece of parchment or waxed paper and quick freeze it.
- Transfer to a Freezer Bag: Once frozen, transfer the zest to a zip-top plastic bag.
- Label and Store: Label the bag with the date and type of citrus zest, and store it in the freezer for up to six months.
Alternative Methods for Freezing Lemon Zest:
- Ice Cube Trays/Chocolate molds: Press the zest firmly into ice cube trays or chocolate molds and freeze overnight. Once frozen, transfer to a freezer bag or jar.
- Ziplock Bags: Measure out 2 tablespoons of zest, put it in a ziplock bag, and freeze it.
- Veggie Peeler: Use a veggie peeler to make long strips of zest and freeze them. Chop them fine with a knife when needed.
How to Freeze Lemon Juice
Freezing lemon juice is just as easy as freezing zest. Follow these steps:
- Zest First: Make sure you zest the lemons before juicing them.
- Juice the Lemons: Juice the lemons and remove any seeds. You can use a hand juicer or simply squeeze the juice into a jug.
- Pour into Ice Cube Trays: Pour the lemon juice into ice cube trays.
- Freeze Overnight: Freeze the ice cube trays overnight.
- Transfer to a Freezer Bag: Once frozen, pop the lemon juice cubes out of the ice trays and store them in a freezer bag or container.
Using Frozen Lemon Zest and Juice
- Lemon Zest: It is not necessary to thaw the zest prior to use. Since it’s frozen, it will retain the fresh flavor that it originally had. Overmeasure it slightly to compensate for any ice crystals. For instance, when a recipe calls for 1 teaspoon of fresh orange zest, measure out 1 1/2 teaspoons of frozen zest.
- Lemon Juice: Add the frozen lemon juice cubes directly to your recipes or drinks. You can thaw them if you prefer, but it’s not necessary.
Tips for Freezing and Using Lemon Zest and Juice
- Use organic lemons: If possible, use organic lemons, especially for the zest.
- Dewax lemons: If you have non-organic or waxed lemons, consider dewaxing them first.
- Use a glass mason jar: Fresh squeezed lemon juice will keep in the refrigerator up to 2 weeks before it loses its vibrance and freshness. Keep it in a glass mason jar.
- Mix zest with sugar: You can mix lemon zest with sugar and store it in a jar in the fridge. The sugar will pull out the essential oils and keep the zest fresh for a long time.
- Freeze lemon slices: Rinse, pat dry, and slice your lemons. Arrange them on a plastic wrap-lined baking sheet and freeze. Once they are frozen solid, transfer the slices to a freezer-safe bag.
Frozen vs. Dried and Candied Zest
There are a variety of ways to preserve citrus zest. You might see recipes that call for fresh, dried, or candied zest, and each has a specific use in cooking and baking. They can, however, be used as substitutes for one another in certain applications.
- Freshly grated zest: Should be used as decoration on iced breads, cakes, and cupcakes.
- Drying grated citrus zest: Is just as delicious as fresh zest when added as an ingredient to baked goods, marinades, and drinks. Either option can also be used to make lemon sugar.
- Candied citrus peel: Long, thin strips of citrus peel are boiled twice to remove any bitterness before being added to a mixture of water, sugar, and corn syrup for about 1 hour. The peels are then dried out to use in baked goods or dipped in chocolate for a special treat.
What to Do With Lemons
- Lemon slices can be used in summer and winter drinks. You can also preserve lemon slices in sugar, but frozen will last longer.
- Lemon zest is not just for flavor; it contains vitamin C and other goodies.
- Fresh squeezed lemon juice makes the best lemonade.
- Add zest to cakes & icing, risotto, roast chicken (add before cooking) , pasta dishes, vinaigrettes, fish cakes etc.
Conclusion
Freezing lemon juice and zest is a simple yet effective way to preserve these versatile ingredients. By following the steps outlined above, you can ensure that you always have fresh lemon juice and zest on hand, ready to add a burst of flavor to your favorite recipes. So go ahead, stock up on lemons, and start freezing!