Quick Answer: Can You Freeze Limes?
Yes, you can freeze lime, or even lime zest or lime juice, for up to three months. With simple steps and a few Ziploc bags, you can make the most out of this citrus fruit. If you freeze whole lemons, you can even freeze them for up to a year.
Whether you have harvested a basket full of limes or bought them in bulk, you can save all your limes from going to waste by freezing them.
And you can try freezing different elements of it to have a stocked pantry of all kinds of citrusy goodness.
Here are some great ways in which you can freeze limes which I have personally tried with good results!
So, here is how you do it.
Can You Freeze Lime Slices?
If you would like to use lime in recipes, this would be a great way to store it, and it takes up much less freezer space.
Materials
- Limes
- Baking sheet / any flat dish you can fit in your freezer
- Parchment paper
- Ziploc bag
Tools
- No special tools needed
Instructions
- Wash and Prep - Wash your limes, and once they are cleaned, cut them into slices or wedges as you would like.
You could optionally also get rid of the outer skin and the seeds within. - Lay Them Out - Lay them flat on a baking sheet or any flat dish you can put in the freezer, taking care not to overlap any slices.
If you have multiple layers, then place parchment paper after each layer to avoid the slices from sticking together. - Flash Freeze - Leave the tray of limes in the freezer for a few hours or overnight and let it freeze.
- Bag It - Take the frozen slices of lime out of the tray and transfer them into a Ziploc bag. Seal the bag after squeezing out as much air as you can, then freeze it.
Freezing Limes as a Whole
Time Taken: 5 minutes
What You Need:
- Limes
- Ziploc Bag
This is the most hassle-free way to freeze limes, and you’ll have the limes lasting for up to a year.
But keep in mind, this method could take up a lot of freezer space.
Wash and Clean
Clean your limes with water and then pat it dry with paper towels.
Bag and Seal
Once they are dry, place them in Ziploc bags and seal the bag, after making sure to squeeze out as much air as you can.
Freeze
Label the bag and freeze it for as long as you want.
How to Freeze Lime Zest?
Time Taken: 5 – 10 minutes
What You Need:
- Lime Zest
- Ziploc bag / Freezer-safe container
You can easily freeze lime zest for as long as three months, and it works great in soups and other recipes.
Prep the Lime Zest
Take a cleaned lime and grate out as much lime zest as you would like to freeze.
Ziploc Bag It
Put the lime zest into a Ziploc bag (you could also use any freezer-safe container) and seal it, trying to get as much air out as possible.
Freeze
You can label and leave the bag of lime zest in the freezer till you need it next.
How to Freeze Lime Juice?
Time Taken: 10 – 15 minutes
What You Need:
- Lime Juice
- Ice Cube Trays
- Ziploc Bags
If you want to use lime in drinks or recipes, frozen lime juice cubes are the best way to preserve its flavor.
Squeeze and Pour
Squeeze out the lime juice and pour them into an ice cube tray.
Flash Freeze
Freeze the lime juice in an ice cube tray for a few hours or overnight.
Ziploc Bag It
Transfer the frozen cubes of lime juice into a Ziploc bag and after squeezing as much air out, seal it.
Freeze
Label the bag and freeze it till you need it next.
Check out this great video by “ezy2Learn” on YouTube for a tutorial:
How Long Can You Freeze Limes?
You can freeze limes for up to three months, be it slices, lime zest, or frozen lime juice cubes.
Limes frozen as a whole can last up to a year in the freezer. If you store the lemon as a whole, it retains much of its moisture while the slices can get dry over time.
Over time the limes can get bitter so, it is better to consume them sooner than late.
How to Store Frozen Limes?
You can store frozen limes in a Ziploc bag.
While you can store it in any freezer-safe container, it is best to use a Ziploc bag to save space in the freezer. Lime zest can also be frozen in Ziploc bags or freezer-safe containers.
Since you will be using only a little bit of the zest at a time, it is better to use the Ziploc bag, which is more convenient to keep airtight.
While you can save the lime juice cubes in a freezer-safe container, Ziploc bags are better alternatives as you can fit more cubes in the Ziploc bag and save space in the freezer than you would with a container.
How to Defrost Limes?
To defrost limes as a whole or slices, you can place the Ziploc bags in a bowl of water and let them thaw.
This should take about 10 – 15 minutes.
You could also use the slices directly if you like. The lime zest can be left in the fridge for a few hours to let it thaw, or you could directly crumble it and use it in your recipes.
The cubes of lime can also be directly used in your recipes unless and until the recipe asks for liquid lime juice. You can thaw it in the refrigerator for a few hours or overnight.
Can You Refreeze Limes?
Though you can refreeze limes, it is advised not to.
Freezing limes removes much of its moisture, and repeated freezing makes the lime go dry and lose its punch or go bitter. The lime zest also loses its punch after repeated freezing.
Over time, after it thaws, it can start to go mushy and taste bitter. The lime juice can go bitter after repeated freezing. So, it is best advised not to refreeze lime or lime juice repeatedly.
Do Limes Freeze Well?
Yes, limes freeze well, and if you are freezing them as a whole, you can make it last for a whole year in the freezer. But keep in mind that frozen limes won’t be great as garnishes or drinks because they can get mushy once it thaws.
Bottom Line
We hope this article has helped you figure out how to make the best of the lime that life has given you.
If you know of any other cool or easy ways to freeze limes, do let us know, and feel free to share this article with all your friend loves who love a citrusy treat.