Compared to lemons, limes have a much shorter shelf life and are a bit more high-maintenance when it comes to storage. However, giving them a little “rest time” before using them can actually do wonders for their flavor! Here’s how to keep your limes fresh and juicy.
Storing Limes in the Kitchen
If you’re planning on using your limes within the next few days or want them to ripen just a bit more, your kitchen counter is the perfect spot. To do this right, grab a small cardboard box and line it with some crumpled-up newspaper. This keeps the air circulating and prevents the fruit from getting bruised.
Limes will stay fresh like this for about four days. Any longer than that, and the dry air in the kitchen will start to make them look shriveled. If you need more time, you can pop them in the crisper drawer of your fridge, but try to use them within a week.
Pro tip: Whether it’s a standard lime or other lime varieties, never use them straight out of the fridge! Let them sit out at room temperature for at least two days before squeezing to get the best flavor and the most juice.
Cellar Storage
If you’re lucky enough to have a cool basement or cellar with high humidity, you’ve found the lime storage jackpot. Just like the kitchen method, place the fruit in a box lined with crumpled newspaper. In these conditions, your limes can stay fresh for up to four weeks.
Just remember to bring them back up into the warmth of your kitchen for a few days before you plan to use them to let those flavors wake back up.
Preserving Your Limes
While the origins of the lime trace back to India and Malaysia, they are grown in tropical regions all over the world today. Of course, nothing beats a sun-ripened lime straight from the tree, but because they don’t stay fresh for long, they are usually harvested while still green.
If you find yourself with a big harvest (or a great sale at the grocery store), you can preserve them! Limes freeze surprisingly well—you can freeze the whole fruit, just the juice in ice cube trays, or even the zest and pulp.