How Long Do Lemons Last?

How long do lemons last? Discover the sour truth about lemon longevity. This post spills the juice on how long yellow citrus can really last, from fridge to freezer and everything in between.

lemons in a white, wood bowl on a marble background. — How long do lemons last? How long can you keep them in the fridge or should you store them on the counter?

The shelf life can vary depending on several factors such as storage conditions and freshness at the time of purchase.

Lemons will last anywhere from a few days to six to 8 weeks depending on how and where you store them.

How Long Do Lemons Last in the Fridge?

Store them in a freezer bag or in the plastic bag they were packaged in and put them in your refrigerator.

Lemons will last in your refrigerator for at least four weeks. However, I can usually get six weeks of life before they lose quality.

If you toss the the fruit loose and free in your crisper, sans bag, you’ll get about four weeks.

box grater next to a microplane grater with lemons and a little pile of lemon zest on a silver cookie sheet on marble background. — There's a clear winner when it comes to tools for zesting lemons and that my friend, is a Microplane zester or rasp. See the much larger pile of zest on the right compared to the teensy bit on the left, achieved by "zesting" a lemon on a box grater.

However, it's important to note that lemons can dry out over time, especially if stored at room temperature, and their quality may degrade as they age.

Store citrus in a plastic bag or airtight container in the vegetable crisper of your refrigerator to maximize shelf life.

What's the Ideal Temperature for Storing Lemon?

The ideal temperature for storing lemons is between 45 to 50°F or 7 to 10°C. This temperature range is cool enough to slow down the ripening process and prevent the the yellow fruit from drying out or spoiling quickly.

It's important to note that storing in colder temperatures (below 7°C/45°F) can cause them to develop a thick rind and lose some of their juicy flavor.

However, storing citrus fruits at room temperature (above 20°C/68°F) can cause them to ripen too quickly and spoil faster.

So that's why storing citrus in the refrigerator, preferably in a plastic bag or airtight container, is ideal to prevent them from drying out.

How Long Do Lemons Last in Water?

Lemon water is one of my favorite drinks and it gives a boost of Vitamin C. However, it doesn’t last indefinitely.

Typically lemon water will last for two to three days if kept in a covered pitcher or mason jar with lid in the fridge.

But, lemon water can get cloudy or bitter after a couple days.

Prepare lemon water fresh for best taste and quality. It takes just a second to quarter one and plop it into water.

Meyer lemon tree next to a dirt road. — If you are lucky enough to get your hands on fresh Meyer lemons, you want to know how to keep them fresh.

Favorite Lemon Dessert Recipes

Lemon Bars with Graham Cracker Crust

Lemon Bars

Copycat Panera Lemon Cookies

Lemon Drop Martini

How Long Will Lemons Last in the Freezer?

Store them in a freezer, wrapped in freezer safe container or bag, for up to six months. If you're going to do this, it's better to zest the lemons and freeze the zest and then juice the lemons and freeze the juice.