What do you do with all those extra limes? You can’t let them go to waste, but what’s the best way to store them so they last? Can you freeze limes?
Can You Freeze Limes?
Yes, limes can be frozen for up to 1 year! You can freeze them whole, in slices, as juice or zest. Be sure to store the limes properly in airtight containers or thick freezer bags. If you are freezing lime zest, use a freezer bag.
How to Freeze Limes
You can Freeze limes in a few different ways. You have the option of freezing them whole or cutting them into slices or wedges.
How to Freeze Whole Limes
These instructions will show you how to easily freeze limes:
1) Store Your Limes: Get a sealable container or zip lock bag and put the limes inside. Avoid overcrowding the limes so that they can’t fuse together and become difficult to take out one at a time.
2) The best way to close the bag so that it removes as much air as possible is to squeezing the air out from bottom up while you’re sealing it.
3) Label the bag with its content and freeze it.
How to Freeze Lime Slices
If you’re considering freezing limes to later use as decorations for drinks, then slices or wedges are your best options. Just remember that when cutting the wedges and slices, don’t make them larger than one-quarter of the lime. If they are too thin–paper-thin–then they might break or turn into slush upon defrosting. Therefore, a quarter of an inch should be considered the minimum thickness for frozen slices.
1) Put Wedges Onto a Tray: Put the slices or wedges onto a tray, with the side that has the peel facing down – this decreases the probability of your wedges sticking to the tray, but even if they do slightly stick and tear – you don’t lose much of the flesh.
2) After your wedges are frozen, take them off the tray and put them into a plastic bag. Be sure to squeeze out as much air as possible before sealing the bag.
3) The final step is to label the bag with the contents and date, then place it into the freezer. You should now be able to grab one or two wedges of lime from the freezer as needed.
How to Freeze Lime Juice
If you want to have fresh juice available for cooking or baking, freezing lime juice in an ice cube tray is a great option. Just make sure that you remove all seeds beforehand. To freeze your juice, simply pour it into an ice cube tray.
Fill each slot to about 80% capacity as the cubes will expand slightly during freezing. Once frozen, store the cubes in a re-sealable bag for long-term preservation.
How Do You Defrost Limes?
If you need your citrus fruits or frozen lime juice cubes to be ready quickly, pop it in the microwave for a couple of seconds. But beware, if you overcook it your lime will become squish rather than squEezy. Another method is to run the fruit under warm water for a minute or two.
If you have time, it is best to place the fruit in cold water; it will defrost within 15-20 minutes. To avoid the fruit soaking up water or too much juice flowing out, put the still-sealed bag into a large bowl.
Can You Refreeze Limes?
We advise against refreezing limes as you’ll pull moisture from the lime, removing flavor in the process. Moisture and flavor are essential to a good lime, so by refreezing it you run the risk of ending up with a dry, bland fruit.
How Long Can You Freeze Limes?
Wedge, slices, and whole lime that are properly preserved can be stored in a fridge for 12 months.
Can You Freeze Limes? – Bottom Line
Freezing limes is a great way to preserve them for later use and make them last longer. Just remember to properly store the fruit or juice in airtight containers before freezing, and do not refreeze once defrosted.
