Lemons

Add some zest to your next meal

Juice it up
Extract more juice from a lemon by slicing when at room temperature or by rolling it under the palm of your hand on a flat surface before slicing.

Not just for lemonade
Use juice and shaved zest in drinks, salad dressings, or marinades, and sprinkle lemon juice on cut fruit to prevent browning while adding a hint of flavour.

Power food
Lemons are an excellent source of vitamin C—especially important in the winter months.


Also indexed as: Baby Lemons, Eureka Lemons, Lisbon Lemons

Preparation, uses, and tips

To extract more juice, lemons should be brought to room temperature or rolled under the palm of your hand on a flat surface before slicing. Sprinkle lemon juice on cut produce to prevent oxidation (browning.) Use in salad dressings or as a vinegar substitute, on seafood, in hot or cold water and tea, as garnish, and seasoning. Lemons can be used to make sorbet, marmalade, pudding, and cakes. In sauces, lemon zest, juice, or pieces give a refreshing flavour and make an attractive garnish.

Buying and storing tips

The Eureka variety is available all the year round, while the Lisbon is generally available only during the winter months. Firm, heavier, bright yellow lemons are best and should be a little tender to the touch. While fresh lemons are very firm, extreme hardness indicates that the lemon is very old. Lemons with paler skin are more acidic; however, lemons with green patches also tend to be more acidic, too. A rough skin surface usually means less juice content. Smooth-skinned lemons tend to be juicier. Although lemons will keep for up to a week at room temperature, they should be refrigerated for a longer shelf-life of up to two to three weeks. Lemon zest can be frozen.

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Varieties

Lemons can vary in size and acidity as well as number of seeds and thickness of skin. Varieties include the Eureka, with a flat stem end and few seeds, and the Lisbon, with a smooth skin and a protruding stem end. Small “baby” lemons are handy when you just want a tablespoon (15 mL) or so of juice.

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Nutrition Highlights

Lemon, 1 fruit (with peel)
Calories: 22
Protein: 1g
Carbohydrate: 12g
Total Fat: 0g
Fiber: 5g
*Excellent source of: Vitamin C (83.16mg)
*Good source of: Copper (0.28mg)

*Foods that are an “excellent source” of a particular nutrient provide 20% or more of the Recommended Daily Value, based upon United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) guidelines. Foods that are a “good source” of a particular nutrient provide between 10 and 20% of the USDA Recommended Daily Value. Nutritional information and daily nutritional guidelines may vary in different countries. Please consult the appropriate organization in your country for specific nutritional values and the recommended daily guidelines.

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