How can I tell if my lemons have gone bad?
Generally speaking, a great way to tell if any food has gone off, is to trust your senses and lemons are no exception.
First, look at your lemon. It should have a bright, firm, slightly shiny yellow skin.
If the skin looks shrivelled, hardened or dry, then the lemon may be past its best, but the juice inside could still be good.
If you can see any powdery substance or mould on the outside of your lemon, then it should be discarded immediately.
If your lemon looks fine, then move on to the squeeze test. Your lemon should feel firm and a little bouncy when squeezed. If it’s very hard or collapses, it’s no good.
Happy with the look and feel? Cut your lemon open.
If everything looks normal, it’s time to use your sense of smell. Does it smell like a good fresh lemon or is something not quite right?
If there is anything unusual about the smell, throw them away. If it smells good, you’re probably in the clear, but you can always taste some of the juice as a final test.
Uncut lemons brought home from the supermarket should last 1-2 weeks if left on the counter or in the fruit bowl. However, they can last up to two months in the refrigerator, so I would always recommend storing them in your crisper drawer.
Once you have cut a lemon open, it will go bad much more quickly. If you have any cut lemon leftover, you should wrap it well and put it straight into the fridge where it should keep for 2-3 days.
Don’t use a lemon that you’ve left out on the counter for over a couple of hours after cutting.
