How to Keep Lemons for a Long Time

 Ingredients: 8 lemons (more if you wish) 3-4 tablespoons of sugar (for the 8 lemons, more if you increase their number) ice tray food wrap and aluminum foil jar

Lemons are an essential ingredient in the kitchen, and preparing them in advance can make cooking much easier and more enjoyable. The first step is to choose the right lemons; opt for those with a firm skin, as they zest much better. Once you have selected the lemons, wash them thoroughly under cold running water to remove any pesticides or impurities. Using a fine grater, zest the lemon to obtain an aromatic mixture full of essential oils. The zest is mixed with granulated sugar in a 1:1 ratio and transferred to a clean jar. It is recommended to keep this mixture in the refrigerator, where it will infuse and become a useful ingredient for various cakes and sweet breads.

After you have finished with the zest, you can continue with the juice. The remaining lemons, after peeling, can be submerged in boiling water for a few seconds. This simple trick helps release the juice from the lemon, making it much less viscous and easier to extract. After submerging the lemons, you can squeeze them using a citrus juicer, making sure to remove all the seeds. Once you have the juice, you can use a spoon to distribute it into the compartments of an ice cube tray. It is important not to fill the compartments to the top, as the juice will expand when frozen, which could lead to spillage.

After filling the tray, cover it with plastic wrap and then aluminum foil to prevent ice crystals from forming. Label the tray with the date and contents and place it in the freezer. Now you have lemon juice cubes on hand that you can use whenever you need. When the time comes to use them, you can take out a cube and let it sit on the kitchen counter to thaw, or if you are in a hurry, you can gently warm it in the microwave for a few seconds.

Lemon juice cubes are extremely versatile. You can use them to enhance the flavors of baked goods, create refreshing lemonades on hot summer days, or add a splash of freshness to sauces and dressings. Thus, with a simple preparation, you will always have an essential ingredient at your fingertips, ready to transform your meals into true culinary delights.

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