Introduction: How to Have Fresh Lemon Slices Year-round
AkA How to Make the Most of an Abundant Harvest!
I don't know about you, but for me lemon is THE citrus. It smells great, can be used for desserts or to brighten pasta dishes, for cleaning and deoderizing ... but you knew that already! But what do you do when you have way more lemons from your tree than you can reasonably use?
Simple!
You make sliced lemon ice cubes!
Step 1: What You Need:
You really don't need much - there is a good chance you already have these lying around.
Clean lemons
A muffin tin or a mini loaf tin
Large zipper type bag
Knife and cutting board
I have not tried it with limes, but I see no reason why you could not make that substitution.
Step 2: Slice Your Lemons
Now, slice up your lemons! The thickness of the slices is really up to you. Do you like thin slivers in your water? Or a nice thick chunk for a pitcher?
Slice accordingly.
I prefer to remove the seeds as I go, but I have been told some people enjoy the seeds in the bottom of their water glass. So, deseed or not as desired!
Step 3: Fill Your Tins, Part 1
Once you have your lemons sliced, place the slices in your muffin tins or mini loaf pans.
A muffin tin would be excellent for single slices, where a mini loaf pan is great for freezing several together.
I placed 3 slices per "loaf" for mine.
Step 4: Fill Your Tins, Part 2
Now that your lemon slices are place, fill each section up with water. The lemon will float, this is fine.
I find that filling each section to the brim makes it easier when it comes to remove the frozen sections.
Step 5: Hot and Cold ...
Ok so more freezing and room temp :D
Place your tin in the freezer. Be sure to find a spot where it can not only be level but also undisturbed until it gets solid.
Once they have frozen completely solid (at least overnight), remove the tin from the freezer and place it on the counter. You want to let it set out long enough to loosen in each compartment but not so long that the ice gets real slick with water.
Step 6: Bag 'em Up!
Once the tray/frozen lemon water has warmed up enough that you can remove the sections, pop the ice cubes out and put them in a zipper style plastic freezer bag. You don't want to let them warm up too much here so that they don't stick together in the bag.
Now, place the bag back in your freezer. You now have fresh lemon to enjoy whenever the desire strikes!
Serving ideas:
If you froze in muffin tins, take one ice cubes worth and put in your water glass. Enjoy icy lemon water!
Want to look kind of fancy at a picnic or family dinner? Pop a couple muffin tin cubes, or 1 mini loaf cube, in your water pitcher in with your regular ice. Pretty and functional!
Hope this helps you make the most of your lemons!
5 Comments
11 years ago on Introduction
Do you think if you make the slices thick enough that they can be thawed and squeezed when using this method?
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
I have not tried that. I would say it is worth a shot, though you may want to try to freeze them in little sandwich or snack-size baggies to keep the flesh completely covered with water while it freezes.
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
Last time I tried to freeze sandwich bags, I opened the fridge before they were done and they fell out causing a flood . The best part was that we were in the middle of the hurricane and that was the most damage to our house lol
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
Oh no! Sounds like something I have done with Popsicle molds! Perhaps a muffin tin or mini loaf pan would help hold the bags steady while freezing?
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
PossIbly, or at least capture the water