Lemons

Freshly squeezed lemon juice is like no other –  it has the wonderful clean, clear, fresh taste and aroma of lemons. Recipes call for freshly squeezed lemon juice because it is far superior. After only ten or fifteen minutes fresh juice begins to deteriorate, and the flavor loss is remarkable.

Try a side-by-side comparison. Squeeze half a lemon and let it set for about 20 minutes. Then squeeze the other half. Immediately taste the two, and see if you think the difference is significant.

Fresh lemons will keep in your refrigerator for 3 to 4 weeks in the crisper, so they are easy to keep on hand. One large lemon yields about 3 tablespoons of juice. 

To get the most juice of a lemon, microwave it on high for 15 seconds, then roll it on the counter with the palm of your hand before juicing. You'll be amazed. Check out Sizzleworks’ video “Lemon Zest and Juice” for greater detail and a zesting demonstration.