How To Store Lemon Zest?: Lemon zest can be used for cleaning or deodorising your home as well as for numerous dishes to add flavour. It’s a terrific technique to reduce waste and spend less money to freeze and preserve food. This article will undoubtedly assist you in selecting the most logical solutions and mind-boggling information regarding lemon zest.
We will inform you of information that goes beyond the fundamental facts that you may already be aware of. Keep in mind that using a lemon doesn’t just require squeezing the juice from it. You should make sure to swiftly respond to anyone you know who asks if lemon zest can be frozen. So, what are you waiting for? Keep reading!!
- What is Lemon Zest?
- How to Store Lemon Zest in the Fridge?
- How to Store Lemon Zest in the Pantry?
- How Long Does Lemon Zest Last?
- Can You Freeze Lemon Zest?
- Where to Use Lemon Zest?
- Interesting Facts About Lemon Zest
- Can you freeze lemon zest?
- Does lemon zest go bad?
- How to Use Dried Lemon Zest?
- How do you store lemon peel in the fridge?
What is Lemon Zest?
The vibrant yellow part of the rind is where fresh lemon zest is found. The fruit’s rind contains the fruit’s essential oils, which give the fruit its colour, flavour, and lemony perfume. These oils are what give many recipes that call for lemon zest a tonne of flavour. Technically speaking, it’s called the flavedo, but since there won’t be a test, we’ll continue to call it zest.
How to Store Lemon Zest in the Fridge?
If you produce your own lemon zest, any leftovers can be kept in the refrigerator for a few days while still tasting good. Utilize an airtight container or a resealable bag to store lemon zest in the refrigerator. Or anything else that will guarantee the rind is tightly sealed to prevent drying out.
While lemon zest will most likely last for at least a week or two in the refrigerator, its flavour will most likely deteriorate much more quickly. Even though it isn’t technically rotten or unfit for consumption, that renders it useless. The main line is that if you intend to utilise the lemon peel within a day or so, storing it in the refrigerator is acceptable. Freezing or dehydrating are both preferable methods for long-term storage.
How to Store Lemon Zest in the Pantry?
If your lemon zest is dehydrated, you can keep it in any kitchen cabinet or at room temperature in the spice cabinet. Since lemon zest is not in the refrigerator section, it is most likely dehydrated if you purchase it at the grocery store.
Even while dried lemon zest doesn’t take up any room in the refrigerator or freezer, it doesn’t have exactly the same flavour as fresh lemon zest. Because of this, you might think about freezing your lemon zest if you want to keep the flavour while extending its shelf life.
How Long Does Lemon Zest Last?
For one to two days in the refrigerator and for more than three months in the freezer, fresh lemon zest keeps its flavour at its peak. Although it doesn’t have as much flavour as fresh lemon zest, dehydrated lemon zest maintains quality for at least 3 to 6 months at room temperature.
Although all of these storage times may seem brief, that is roughly how long lemon zest remains at its optimum. It degrades over time, and eventually, there is little flavour left. That lemon rind will then be useless.
| Type | Pantry | Fridge | Freezer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freshly Kept lemon zest | 1-2 days | 3+ months | |
| Dehydrated lemon zest | 3-6 months, |
Unfortunately, there is no way to know in advance if your lemon zest will still be edible after 5 days. Too many moving parts are present. Therefore, you have two options: either test it yourself or freeze the remainder to be safe.
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Can You Freeze Lemon Zest?
It works well to freeze lemon zest into ice cubes, but for a different reason (often drink-related). A few adjustments have been made, but the instructions are largely the same as before. To prevent introducing bacteria into the meal when zesting your fruit, make sure the fruit is thoroughly cleaned and dried off before you begin.
- Use a zester or the finest-holed grater you have to zest the fruit.
- You only need the first layer of zest, so don’t dig too much.
- Put the necessary amount of zest and water on an ice cube tray
- Immediately freeze it
Where to Use Lemon Zest?
Typically, lemon zest is added to a variety of recipes. Very few recipes will call for more zest than a few scrapes. However, the flavour is so potent that not much more is required. Lemon zest is used in baked goods like fruit cakes and cakes with lemon dripping.
Additionally, it is added as a finishing touch to some savoury dishes, like salads, or used as a decoration for cakes. Lemon zest is fantastic in sauces, pickles, and marinades. Its versatility of it much exceeds your expectations!
See How Long Does Lemon Curd Last and understand the tips and tricks to extend the shelf life.
Interesting Facts About Lemon Zest
Here is a list of some helpful information on lemon zest, including all the positive effects and storage tips.
- They are a fantastic source of vitamin C, an antioxidant that has many healing effects and fights cancer.
- Lemon zest or peel is an inexpensive, widely accessible ingredient that is also incredibly pocket-friendly.
- Lemon peel slows the growth of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and even kills them, while also reducing the drug-resistant fungus that causes skin diseases.
- Vitamin C, flavonoids, and pectin, the primary fibre found in lemon peel, lower the chance of developing high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and obesity all of which are worldwide health issues that are becoming more and more of a worry in the modern world.
- Lemon peel has a chemical called pectin that has the ability to prevent our bodies from ingesting and absorbing excessive amounts of sugar, which helps you fight against gaining too much weight.
FAQs on Storing Lemon Zest
Yes, you may freeze lemon zest. To do so, spread a thin layer of it on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper (just as you would dry it in the oven). Wait until they are frozen before continuing. Remove it from the tray and put it in an airtight container after it has totally frozen.
Lemon zest also goes bad, and depending on where you bought it, your lemon zest may have a short or long shelf life. If you buy lemon zest, it will remain fresher longer. In general, store-bought dried lemon zest is not perishable. The best flavours, however, can only be obtained after two years of use.
3. How to Use Dried Lemon Zest?
The finest application for dried lemon zest is decorating. It will be chewy or crunchy, but it will provide a terrific flavour to a dish. This could not be the exact texture you’re seeking depending on the meal.
4. How do you store lemon peel in the fridge?
For up to two weeks, lemon peel keeps well in tiny jars in the fridge. Lemon zest is incredibly little, therefore if you want to save room in your fridge, we suggest using a smaller jar. On a piece of parchment paper, spread the zest out in a single layer. It should go in the freezer. Transfer the frozen zest to a zip-top bag of plastic.
Key Takeaways
For any recipe, fresh lemon zest is typically the finest choice. Due to the high natural oil content of the zest, it has the strongest flavour of any citrus fruit. Follow the simple methods listed over here and keep your lemon zest fresh for later use. We hope that you might have liked this article and further intriguing articles, like Can Lemon Juice Go Bad, etc.