When Are Lemons in Season?

Lemons deserve more credit. They’ve warded off scurvy, livened up desserts, refreshed our summers, and produced that one Simpsons meme where the dude bites into one and grimaces. Truly a giant among fruits. Saint among citruses.

And lemon season is eternal. They’re available year round without much change in price, though sales peak from March to August as people add them to summery salads and tall glasses of ice cold water. By the by, we’d recommend keeping lemons in your diet through winter – all that vitamin C helps ward off colds and flus!

Time of year aside, be sure to have the Fetch shopping rewards app downloaded as you plan your budget friendly grocery list and hit the stores. All it takes is a quick photo of your paper or online grocery receipt and you’ll earn points to spend on retailers such as Amazon, Starbucks, Old Navy, and Airbnb, just to name a few.

When life gives you lemons, turn them into gift cards with Fetch Shop 

You’re already adding fresh produce to your grocery list each week, so why not get something in return for choosing to eat healthy? With Fetch Shop, you’ll earn points per dollar on the purchases you make at select stores when placing your order through the app, which means the more fruit and veggies you add to your list, the more rewards you’ll earn. Whether you’re scheduling a grocery pickup at Target using their Drive Up service or stocking up for a big get-together shopping online at Sam’s Club, you can turn your produce into Fetch points that can be redeemed for free gift cards when grocery shopping with Fetch Shop.

To earn rewards on fresh produce with Fetch Shop:

1. Download Fetch.
2. Open the app, and navigate to Fetch Shop; on your “Discover” (home) tab, you’ll find the Fetch Shop icon directly to the left of the camera icon at the bottom of your screen.
3. Once in Fetch Shop, scroll to the “Food & Drink” category, click where it says, “See all,” then find the grocery retailer of your choice, and select that store.
4. Tap “Go shopping!” and then simply grocery shop online as you would normally. And don’t forget to add those fruits and veggies to your cart to rack up even more points!

How to pick a lemon at the grocery store

Knowing how to tell if lemons are ripe is a handy skill indeed as they prefer to ripen on the tree. They’ll mature a little at home, but you’re better off choosing fully ripe lemons. Here’s what to consider when you’re choosing lemons at the store:

• Skin: Lemon skin should be bright yellow and glossy, without any wrinkling, blemishes, or discolored spots. Older lemons without much juice will look noticeably paler.
• Weight: A lemon that’s heavy for its size will contain soft flesh and plenty of juice.
• Feel: Gently squeeze any lemon you’re looking to buy – it should give slightly under pressure and emit a pleasant fragrance.

How to store lemons

Lemons don’t bruise easily and aren’t too finicky about storage. Many fruits could take a leaf from their book. Still, there are steps you can take to keep lemons at their most flavorful and juicy.

Storing whole lemons

Ripe lemons you’ll be using in a day or two can sit on the counter, out of direct sunlight and away from fruits that produce ethylene, such as bananas. Unripe lemons can be stored on the counter under the same conditions. They should stay fresh for up to a week.

Lemons you don’t need right away should go in the fridge. Put them in a sealed, airtight container, then place in the crisper drawer. Lower temperatures impede the ripening process, so whole lemons can stay good for at least a month in the fridge.

Storing lemon wedges and halves

Having a piece or two leftover is common when working with lemons. No need to toss them in the trash. Cover the exposed fleshy areas with plastic wrap, then store in a sealed container. Wedges, halves, and slices should last a few days before drying out.

Storing lemon juice

Lemon juice is a kitchen essential capable of completing a whiskey sour, brightening up a salad, marinating a meat dish, and much more besides. Have a little left? It’ll stay fresh when stored in a sealed container and put in the fridge. Lemon juice is best used within a few days for drinks or dressings, but you can wait approximately two weeks to use it for cooking or baking.

Storing lemon zest

Never discard an unzested lemon! That bright, yellow skin brings color, crunch, and zing to many a dish, and storage is a piece of cake. Placed in a sealed container, zest should last about six days in the fridge or up to three months in the freezer.

How much juice is in one lemon?

Some recipes assume way too much knowledge. Maybe it’s not so crystal clear how many lemons you’ll need for “4 tablespoons of lemon juice.” We’ve all been there. Lord knows I have. As a general rule, assume one regular-sized lemon contains about 2 to 3 tablespoons of juice.

In a nutshell:

• ½ lemon = 1 tablespoon juice

Handy tip: Rolling lemons gently against a hard surface for a few seconds helps soften the fruit and release more juice.

How to zest lemon

The tricky art of removing a lemon’s bright yellow zest without peeling away any bitter white pith comes easy when you have a microplane or zester, but other basic kitchen tools work in a pinch. Don’t have a microplane or zester? Grab a cheese grater, vegetable peeler, or paring knife.

How to zest lemon with a microplane:

1. Hold the microplane in one hand and a lemon in the other.
2. Move the lemon back and forth over the microplane. Rotate as you go, and be wary of catching your fingers on those sharp edges.

How to zest lemon with a citrus zester:

1. Rest the sharp-edged holes of your zester at the top of the lemon, facing down.
2. Apply slight pressure while pulling the zester down the fruit.

How to zest lemon with a cheese grater:

1. Place your lemon against the side of the grater with the smallest holes.
2. Move it back and forth, applying gentle pressure and keeping your fingers far from the action.

How to zest lemon with a vegetable peeler:

1. Rest the peeler’s sharp edge at one end of the lemon, then push slightly to make a shallow cut.
2. Pull down to the opposite end, making sure you don’t cut too deep.
3. Finely chop the peel to make lemon zest.

How to zest lemon with a paring knife:

1. Slice off the end of your lemon, then place it cut-end down on a cutting board.
2. Cut into the lemon at an angle.
3. Finely chop the peel to make lemon zest.

Can dogs eat lemons?

Dogs may dare one bite of lemon, but most won’t make the same mistake twice. They don’t relish chomping into a whole lemon any more than we do, and that’s a blessing since lemons are toxic to dogs.

While a small amount shouldn’t result in serious adverse effects, lemons can cause the following symptoms in dogs:

• Skin irritation
• Drowsiness
• Confusion
• Diarrhea
• Lack of coordination
• Excessive drooling
• Tremors
• Vomiting
• Sensitivity to light

Call your veterinarian immediately should your dog display any such symptoms.

Easy lemon recipes

Lemons are as welcome in desserts and dressings as in cocktails and canapes. Masterpiece fruit. One of the best.

We’ve put together a few recipe highlights to help you make the most of each lemon you bring home. Remember to use the Fetch grocery app while writing your shopping list to maximize reward points!

How to make lemon water

Love this stuff, and it could scarcely be simpler to prepare. Health benefits reportedly cover everything from higher potassium levels to improved digestion, and all you’ll need is 1 lemon to every 8 cups of water.

Ingredients:

• 1 lemon
• 8 cups of water

Recipe:

1. Thinly slice your lemon, then place slices in a large pitcher.
2. Use a wooden spoon to lightly mash the lemon and release its juices.
3. Add 8 cups of cold water.
4. Refrigerate for at least an hour before serving to let those tangy flavors intensify.

How to make lemon curd

Store-bought curd can’t hold a candle to this homemade goodness. Ideal for turning into tarts or smearing thickly over toast, here’s no excuse to give it a try when all you’ll need is 5 ingredients and 10 minutes on the stove.

Ingredients:

• 4 large egg yolks
• 2/3 cup (134g) of granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon of lemon zest (about 1 lemon)
• 1/3 cup (80ml) of fresh lemon juice (about 2 to 3 lemons)
• 1/8 teaspoon of salt
• 6 tablespoons (85g) of unsalted butter, softened and cut into 6 pieces

Recipe:

1. Fill the bottom pot of a double boiler with 1 to 2 inches of water. Place on high heat until boiling, then reduce to low and keep at a simmer. If you don’t have a double boiler, put a small heatproof glass bowl over a saucepan of simmering water and use that for cooking the curd.
2. Add egg yolks, sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, and salt to the top of your double boiler, then whisk until completely blended and continue to whisk as it cooks – this prevents the egg yolks from curdling.
3. Whisk and cook until the mixture thickens (about 10 minutes).
4. Remove from the heat, then whisk in the sliced butter until melted.
5. Pour your lemon curd into a jar or bowl, then cover with plastic wrap. Press right down to touch the top to prevent a skin forming.
6. Once cool, remove the film and refrigerate. It’ll last about 10 days in the fridge, or you can freeze it for up to 6 months.

How to make a lemon drop martini

This refreshing take on the classic vodka martini balances sour and sweet like nobody’s business, and ours goes next level with the addition of a lemon sugar rim. Any mixologist will tell you the first step to better cocktails is using fresh fruit juice, so don’t go substituting the real stuff for bottled.

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces (1/4 cup) of Absolut Vodka
• 3/4 ounce (1 ½ tablespoons) of Cointreau or triple sec
• 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of fresh squeezed lemon juice (about 1 lemon)
• 3/4 ounce (1 ½ tablespoons) of simple syrup
• 1/2 cup of granulated sugar

Recipe:

1. Add sugar to a plate, then use your fingertips to rub in the zest until it’s tinted yellow and nicely fragrant.
2. Use juiced lemons to moisten the rim of a chilled martini glass, then turn the glass upside down and twist it into the lemon sugar before setting aside.
3. In a cocktail shaker, combine vodka, Cointreau/triple sec, lemon juice, and simple syrup with a handful of ice, then shake for 30 seconds until ice cold. Strain into the prepared martini glass and serve immediately.

Get a hit of citrus while earning rewards grocery shopping with Fetch

Whether you’re shopping for one or piling up produce for a garden party, snapping a photo of each receipt with the Fetch shopping app can bring in reward points that help you earn free gift cards to a whole host of nationwide retailers, online services, and restaurants. So when adding lemons to your list, be sure to bring Fetch along for the trip to the grocery store to start earning points that can help you save money on future supermarket runs!