How To Freeze Lemons: Lemon Slices, Lemon Zest, Lemon Juice

Freezing fruit, especially lemons, is one of the easiest ways to preserve them for later. I love to freeze lemons in slices, juiced and the zest as well.

Have you ever been enticed by the bulk bags of lemons at Costco or Sam’s? I know that I have been. I recently had a bag of lemons that were just sitting on my counter and I knew that if I didn’t do something about them they would sit there forgotten until they went bad. 

In this post I will cover how to freeze lemons in slices, how to freeze lemon juice and zest and why freezing lemons whole is probably not the best idea. 

This post is all about how to freeze lemons.

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Lemon Freezing Supplies

If you want to freeze lemon slices, lemon juice or lemon zest these are the supplies that you will need:

• Lemons
• Freezer bags or airtight containers
• freezer cubes or Ice cube trays (for juice)
• Microplane or zester (for zest)
• Parchment paper (for slices)
• Juicer (for juice)

Freezing Lemons: Methods Explained

How to Freeze Lemon Slices

1. First wash your lemons well. You don’t want any dirt or debris on your lemons.
2. Slice each lemon into 1/4 in or as thin as you like slices
3. Lay them out on a parchment lined baking sheet in a single layer
4. Flash freeze them ( freeze them for an hour or two), this helps to insure that your lemons don’t freeze into one big block.
5. Take them out of the freezer and put into a labeled ziplock freezer bag. 

Freezing Lemon Juice

1. First wash your lemons well. 
2. If you want to zest the lemons do this step now. See instruction below.
3. Cut each lemon in half. Juice the lemon with your desired juicer of choice.
4. Pour the Lemon juice into ice cube trays or into other freezer containers. I prefer to use these silicone 1/4 cup freezer containers.
5. Freeze completely. Once completely frozen you can transfer the frozen juice cubes to a labeled ziplock freezer bag. 

How to Freeze Whole Lemons

You may freeze whole lemons by placing them directly into the freezer if you desire but please think about what you will use them for after they are frozen. The texture will not be the same when they thaw as when they are fresh. 

How to Freeze Lemon Zest

1. First wash your lemons well. 
2. Use a micro plain zester or your zester of choice, and zest the yellow part of the lemon. Do not zest through the white pith. It is very bitter and does not have the same taste or aroma as the yellow part.
3. After you are done zesting, place the zest in a labeled freezer ziplock bag or container of your choice.
4. Place directly into the freezer. You can use the zest directly from the freezer in your baking and cooking.

FAQ Section: Common Reader Questions

Can I freeze lemons without washing them first?

You can but I wouldn’t suggest it. Unless you grew the lemons yourself you can’t be sure of what is on the outside of them. I would suggest washing them in a sink of water and a splash of vinegar in it. 

I also suggest washing your lemons before you freeze them is because usually you will be using them straight from the freezer into a dish.

How long do frozen lemons last in the freezer?

Lemon slices, Lemon Juice and Lemon Zest if properly stored in the freezer can last at least 12 months and may times longer. 

Will freezing change the flavor or texture of lemons?

Freezing definitely changes the texture if you are freezing whole lemons or slices. Freezing does not affect the flavor if stored in the correct freezer containers and bags.

How do I prevent freezer burn on my lemons?

There are two main ways to prevent freezer burn, flash freezing and using properly sealed containers and bags. 

Flash freezing seals in the moisture in whatever you are freezing and prevents large quantities of food to stick together when freezing. For example, you can flash freeze in your own freezer by laying out everything you want to freeze in a single layer on a cookie sheet or other flat surface. Then freeze for an hour or two until mostly solid. Then package up the frozen food into their final freezer container.

When you are freezing food please make sure and use products that are made freezer storage. I know it can be tempting to buy the less expensive baggies, but investing in the ones made for the freezer are really key here in protecting your food in the freezer from freezer burn!

What’s the best way to thaw lemons or lemon juice?

Anyway that you want to thaw it is great. I typically thaw out lemon juice in my fridge or in the microwave.

Can I freeze limes using the same methods?

Yes you can.

Are frozen lemons still good for zesting?

No it would be really hard to zest a frozen lemon. If you thaw lemons that have been frozen they will be squishy and would not have the structure needed to zest them.

Can I freeze lemon halves after juicing?

Yes you can. For example, I love to throw a few frozen lemon halves into my garbage disposal when it starts getting a little stinky.

Conclusion

This post was all about how to freeze lemons. We discussed how to freeze lemon slices, lemon zest and lemon juice. 

Freezing is probably my favorite food preservation method. It is the most straightforward for me to understand. I love having lemon juice on hand that I can pull out and use. Remember as always to think through how your family uses lemons and to tailor the way you preserve them to your families preferences. That way you will be more likely to use them.

Thanks for hanging out with me today. Let me know what you use lemons in below or what kind of recipes that you would like me to write about below. 

This post was all about how to freeze lemons.