To Pick Out the Best Lemons and Limes? Squeeze the Citrus

Emma Christensen
Emma Christensen
Emma is a former editor for The Kitchn and a graduate of the Cambridge School for Culinary Arts. She is the author of True Brews and Brew Better Beer. Check out her website for more cooking stories
published Apr 25, 2011
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Normally, squeezing the fruit while you shop is a big no-no. But when it comes to picking the best citrus, sometimes you have to bend the rules.

The juiciest lemons and limes are always going to be the ones that give a little when you squeeze them. These softer citrus fruits will have less pith, and therefore more juice, than their less-pliant companions. They’re also much easier to juice and use in cooking or baking.

Don’t worry – we’re not talking about mauling the lemons or causing their skin to break. Just picking one up and gently pressing it with your thumb is all it takes to tell if the fruit is soft or hard.

As a side note, while this technique works well for picking the best lemons and limes, it’s less helpful when choosing larger citrus fruits like grapefruits, oranges, and pomelos. Those citrus fruits have naturally thicker piths that make it harder to tell the fruits quality just by squeezing.

Related: Bartender’s Tip: Best Tool for Squeezing Citrus

(Image: Emma Christensen)

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Ingredient
Tips & Techniques
Vegetables