Have you ever got a big bag of lemons only to have half of them turn moldy? Here are three ways to preserve fresh lemons for future use.
How long does it keep?
Preserving, after all, is a way to keep the food from spoiling for a long time. Salt, sugar, and honey are traditional methods of preserving.
Some regions use salt to dry meat to use it in winter. Sugar also is used for preserving, mainly fruits, either in the form of jams or candy. People also used honey on wounds to prevent them from infection.
Today we have refrigerators and freezers, so preserving lost its popularity. However, these old recipes may come in handy for folk who want to stay away from synthetic preservatives.
They should keep well in a cool place for months, as long as you keep them air-tight and use a clean utensil at each use. When in doubt, keep them refrigerated. They will keep for at least four months. Unfortunately, I can’t give you an exact answer since we go through them faster than that.
1) Honey lemons for your herbal teas
Imagine the days you got the flu or the cold and had no power to squeeze a lemon for your tea. This recipe made it easy to add lemons with honey all at once to our teas.
Honey Lemons
A wonderful way to preserve fresh lemons to use in teas.
Ingredients
- 4 lemon washed and dried
- 1/2 lb pure honey
Instructions
- Slice the lemon into 1/8 inch slices.
- In a clean jar, stack the first three layers of lemon slices.
- Drizzle about one tablespoon of honey over it.
- Repeat the process, alternating between lemons and honey.
- Once all the lemons have been put it finish with a layer of honey. Make sure to leave a one- inch gap to the top of the jar.
- Close the lid shut. Leave it in a cool dark place for a few days. You will notice extra juice has formed.
- Add one slice or two to your cup of tea.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 40 Serving Size: 1 gramsAmount Per Serving: Calories: 27Unsaturated Fat: 0g
2) Sugar Lemons
Sugar lemon is very similar to honey lemon but uses sugar instead. The juice that comes out of this preserve is so delicious can add flavor to your water, cake batter, or other sacks.
Sugar Lemon
A refreshing addition to your drinks and sweet snacks.
Ingredients
- 4 lemons. washed and dried
- 1 cup raw sugar
Instructions
- Slice the lemons into thin slices.
- In a clean jar, stack the first three layers then sprinkle some sugar over it.
- Repeat the process, alternating between the sugar and lemons.
- Make sure to leave a gap between the mouth of the jar and the lemons. This will prevent the overflow of the extra juices.
- Keep the jar aside in a cool dark place, for four days.
- Use the juices or the lemon slices in your hot or cold drinks. You can also flavor your cake batter with it.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 40 Serving Size: 1 gramsAmount Per Serving: Calories: 20Unsaturated Fat: 0g
3) Salt-preserved lemons
This one is a Moroccan specialty. First, split the lemons into quarters without going through the opposite end. Then coarse salt is generously inserted in between the wedges.
Then the lemons are packed tight in a clean jar. Shut the lid close and set it in a cool dark place for four weeks. After the time is over, the lemons will turn soft and easy to smash into a paste. The resulting juice will have a thick syrupy consistency.
What to consider when using salt?
The salt and lemon juice combination might rust the metal lid or ring. When choosing the jar to store the salted lemons, try to use metal-free ones. Otherwise, keep the rim clean and dry after each use.
Salt-Preserved Lemons
These are the lemons used in Moroccan cuisine. Very easy to prepare but they need four weeks to be ready.
Ingredients
- 4 lemons, washed and dried
- 1/2 cup coarse salt
Instructions
- Cut the lemons lengthwise into wedges, leaving one side not cut through to keep the wedges together.
- Sprinkle salt in between the wedges.
- Stuff a clean jar with the lemons as tight as possible.
- You may add some hot water or lemon juice to cover the lemons, but not neccessary.
- Close the jars air-tight and set it aside in a cool dark place for four weeks.
Notes
- Use a clean fork to get the needed amount to prevent cross-contamination and will keep your lemons longer.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 40 Serving Size: 1 gramsAmount Per Serving: Calories: 2Unsaturated Fat: 0g
