Learn how to freeze lemon juice to preserve an abundant lemon harvest! This is the easiest way to freeze lemon juice.
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Every year when it is citrus season we look forward to gathering lemons and processing them into all kinds of goodies to enjoy lemon flavor all year long. One of the easiest ways to do that is to simply freeze lemon juice in ice cube trays. Of course we have been loving all of the lemony baked goods like lemon rosemary cookies, lemon poppy seed muffins, lemon curd, and lemon curd cake! Having a freezer on the homestead makes processing and saving the harvest so much simpler!
Since getting our freeze dryer, we have also been freeze drying lemons! It has been great to use every part of the lemon so that nothing goes to waste.
Having even just one lemon tree around during the winter months can brighten a grey day and make the garden look so beautiful. Lemon trees are so bright and happy when everything else looks a bit lack luster. If you haven’t planted your own tree yet, we wrote a guide on how you can grow a lemon tree right in your own backyard.
What you’ll need to freeze lemon juice
- Tool to juice the lemons (see options below)
- Ice cube trays
- Freezer bags
- Permanent marker
The best tools to juice lemons
- Citrus Reamer with Pour Spout-A classic way to twist the juice from lemons. This style of juicer is best if you’ve got a small batch of lemons to process.
- Manual Citrus Press-This is great because lemons (and even oranges) are juiced in the simple pull of a lever.
- Electric Citrus Juicer Squeezer -This is nice if you’ve got a TON of lemons because it is electric, so it makes the job go faster!
- Citrus Juice Squeezer-This is what we personally use (even with big harvests of lemons) it is compact and fits into a drawer. The kids love to help squeeze lemons with his tool every year!
How to freeze lemon juice
- Make the juice. Juice the lemons into a measuring up or pitcher. Do this by cutting the lemons in half and choosing one of the tools listed above to juice the lemons. We like to use a hand press.
- Freeze the juice in an ice cube tray. Pour the juice carefully into the tray and put it in the freezer for at least 3 to 4 hours or until the cubes freeze solid.
- Label the freezer bag with the contents and the date
- Transfer cubes to a freezer bag. Take the tray out of the freezer, pop the cubes, and put them in a freezer bag. Squeeze out the air before you seal the bag.
- Store in the freezer, for up to a year.
How to thaw frozen lemon juice
- Skip it entirely. You can skip defrosting if you’re adding frozen lemon juice cubes to a smoothie, adding to water, or cooking with on the stove. Simply drop the cube in!
- Thaw in the fridge. Transfer as many cubes that you’ll need into an airtight container and leave it overnight in the refrigerator. The juice will be thawed in the morning. Give it a quick stir before using. This is perfect if you plan to bake with lemon juice.
- Defrost it on the stove. If you need the juice immediately and forget to place the cubes in the fridge ahead of time, simply “thaw” on the stove! Use a small saucepan over medium heat and melt the cubes for a minute or two before removing from the heat.
Using frozen lemon juice
- Lemon Water. Dropping a lemon cube in water is the perfect way to add some freshness and fancy up a plain glass of water.
- Add to tea!
- Make Lemonade.
- Make a smoothie. Lemon juice adds some extra acidity to counteract the sweetness you get from using a sweetener or a sweet fruit like a banana. Skip defrosting if your blender can handle ice cubes; defrost otherwise.
- Bake some lemon cupcakes or lemon poppy seed muffins.
- Make lemon curd. We make a super easy instant pot lemon curd which delicious with cookies, scones, or even on toasted whole wheat sandwich bread!
- Bake a lemon cake. After you’ve made that lemon curd try making a lemon pound cake or our lemon curd cake! It is delicious and great for hosting!
- Make popsicles! You can simply make lemonade and freeze in popsicle mold, or make something a bit more fancy, like our boysenberry lemonade popsicles!
- Use it in a salad or salad dressing. Simply thaw and throw it into a salad dressing as the acidity.
Does fresh lemon juice freeze well?
Yes. Lemon juice freezes well, especially when portioned out with ice cube trays.
Is it possible to freeze lemon juice?
Yes! Freezing lemon juice is one of the best way to preserve an abundance of lemons if you’ve got a lot of them. Freezing lemon juice preserves the nutrients and makes them extremely easy to use later on in the year.
How long will lemon juice last in the freezer?
Lemon juice will last up to one year if stored in the freezer properly. Use airtight containers like freezer bags.
How to freeze lemon juice without an ice cube tray?
If you aren’t wanting to use ice cube trays you can also freeze lemon juice in zipper bags, freezer containers, and even mason jars!
Can you freeze lemon juice in a mason jar?
Yes! Lemon juice freezes well in a mason jar. Just be sure to leave plenty of head space for expansion. If you can think of how you will use the lemon juice before freezing, it will help in choosing the right sized jar.
What is the best way to freeze lemon juice?
Using ice cube trays to freeze lemon juice is the best way to have portioned out and ready to use lemon juice later on in the year.
Does freezing lemon juice destroy the nutrients?
No! freezing lemon juice is an excellent way to preserve the nutrients of lemons and enjoy their flavor all year long.
How to freeze lemon juice for lemonade?
Lemon juice frozen in ice cube trays is a great way to prepare for making lemonade. Simply dissolve sugar into water and drop the lemon juice cubes into the sugar water mixture. There are plenty of recipes to make lemonade, pick your favorite!
What to do with frozen lemon juice
Frozen lemon juice can be used for the same purposes as fresh. Drop a frozen lemon juice cube in a glass of ice water, or thaw and use for recipes.
You may also like:
Boysenberry Lemonade Popsicles
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