What Is Lemon and How Can I Use It?

Lemon rewards a little know-how: how to choose it, cook it, store it, and substitute in a pinch. Browse 1,570 recipes to cook with it.

What is lemon?

The average lemon contains approximately 3 tablespoons of juice. Allowing lemons to come to room temperature before squeezing (or heating briefly in a microwave) makes the juice easier to extract. Lemons left unrefrigerated for long periods of time are susceptible to mold.

Lemon juice, rind, and zest are used in a wide variety of culinary applications:

Lemon juice is used to make lemonade, in soft drinks, and as a marinade for both fish, where its acid neutralizes amines in fish by converting them into nonvolatile ammonium salts, and meat, where the acid partially hydrolyzes tough collagen fibers tenderizing the meat.

• Lemon juice is also used as a short-term preservative on certain foods that tend to oxidize and turn brown after being sliced, such as apples, bananas and avocados, where its acid denatures the enzymes which cause browning and degradation. Lemon juice and rind are used to make marmalade and lemon liqueur.

• Lemon slices and lemon rind are used a garnish for both food and drinks.

• Lemon zest, the grated rind of the fruit, is used to add flavor to baked goods, puddings, rice and other dishes.

• Pickled lemons are a Moroccan delicacy.

Lemon can be used for a number of other applications, see the following articles:

The Power of Lemons

and

When life gives you lemons

Nutrition

Where found

Lemon is usually found in the produce section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group

Lemon is a member of the Fruits and Fruit Juices US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

How much does lemon weigh?

Related

Fruits and Fruit Juices

Recipes using lemon

There are 1570 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Parmesan Chicken Fingers with Lemon

Crispy Parmesan-crusted chicken fingers air-fryer or pan-fried and served with fresh lemon wedges for a tangy twist. Quick, kid-friendly recipe ready in under 30 minutes. These golden, cheesy chicken fingers are a simple yet flavorful twist on classic breaded chicken. The Parmesan adds a savory crunch, while a squeeze of lemon brightens each bite. Perfect as an appetizer, main dish, or snack.

Hummus Bi Tahini

Hummus bi tahini blends chickpeas with tahini, garlic, and lemon for the silkiest Lebanese-style dip. A baking soda boil softens the chickpeas, and toasted pine nuts crown the bowl.

Octopus & Celery Salad

Octopus and celery salad, a light Venetian classic of tender boiled octopus tossed with crisp raw celery, fruity olive oil, and bright lemon. A clean, low-fat seafood salad to serve with fresh bread.

Delicious Tabouli

Tabouli salad with bulgur wheat, juicy tomatoes, fresh parsley, lemon, and olive oil. The classic Middle Eastern parsley salad served at room temperature with optional black olives and mint.

Asparagus & Arugula Salad with Poached Eggs

This refreshing salad combines tender roasted asparagus, peppery arugula, and perfectly poached eggs for a light yet satisfying dish. A tangy lemon-mustard dressing ties it together, while a slice of crusty whole-grain bread soaks up the flavorful juices and adds fiber. Ideal for brunch or a quick dinner, this salad is both nutritious and delicious.

Ozne Haman (Hamantaschen)

Hamantaschen for Purim with a tender carrot-flecked dough and a tangy apricot-pineapple filling spiked with cardamom and poppy seed. The classic triangle cookie with real character.

Asian Salad Nicoise

This Nicoise Salad is a beautiful play off its French counterpart. It keeps the traditional string beans, potatoes, boiled eggs and tuna, but it adds an Asian inspired dressing that elevates this salad to the next level. By changing the usual white potatoes to sweet potatoes, it becomes a healthier version of the recipe. Sweet potatoes provide more vitamins and minerals than regular potatoes and they have fewer calories. Add in the Omega-3 benefits in the tuna, the protein of the eggs, and fibre-packed beans, and you have got a power packed lunch that tastes like a million dollars. This recipe will certainly be singing to your taste buds tuna.

Buffalo Chicken Wings #4

Classic Buffalo wings with homemade tomato-based hot sauce and creamy blue cheese dressing. Deep-fried golden, tossed in tangy heat, served with chilled celery.

Ginger Broccoli Soup

Ginger broccoli soup steeps fresh grated ginger in vegetable stock with cayenne and lemon, then simmers broccoli florets just to tender. A vibrant, brothy bowl with Ayurvedic roots, ready in 40 minutes.

Spicy, Tasty Chicken Tandoori

Chicken tandoori is basically a snack which can be eaten in the evening or at night. Chicken marinated in tandoori masala, grilled in the oven is a super tasty, mouthwatering dish. Try it now.

Guacamole with Yoghurt

An extra creamy rendition of guacamole with a touch of yoghurt for a bit of extra tang.

Rolled Baklava with Honey Syrup

Rolled baklava swaps the usual diamonds for crisp phyllo logs filled with spiced walnuts, baked golden then dipped in honey-lemon syrup. The cold-syrup dip keeps every flaky roll crisp, not soggy.

Grilled Chicken Breast

Super easy to make, and it tasted delicious. Roasted some potatoes, bell peppers and onions as the side dish. Very good!

Hummus Me Tahini

Authentic hummus me tahini: chickpeas pushed through a sieve and whipped with tahini, lemon, olive oil, and garlic. Traditional Greek-Mediterranean method.

Homemade Goat Cheese Goodness

This is so easy to make you won’t believe it. This is coming from me who could ruin the easiest of recipes.

Glace' Baklava

Glace baklava rolls candied fruit, ground almonds, and egg-bound sugar inside buttered phyllo, bakes until golden, then soaks in lemon-cinnamon syrup. A festive twist on classic Greek baklava.

Herb Chili Burgers

Mediterranean herb chili burgers blend ground beef with chopped tomato, black olives, garlic, dill, lemon zest, and chili powder. A grilled patty with serious global flavor.

Spicy Blueberry Citrus Marmalade

Spicy blueberry citrus marmalade simmers orange, lemon, and lime rinds with fresh blueberries, sugar, and a kick of crushed red pepper into a sweet-tart-spicy preserve. Made for canning and gifting.

Almost Whole Wheat Lemon Poppyseed Muffins

Almost whole wheat lemon poppyseed muffins blend whole wheat and white flour for a wholesome but tender crumb, bright with fresh lemon zest and crunchy poppy seeds. An easy, better-for-you breakfast muffin.

Real Apple Pancakes

German-style apple pancakes bake puffy and golden over butter-sautéed green apples, finished with cinnamon sugar and a squeeze of fresh lemon. Brunch-worthy oven pancake.

Easy & Yummy Gazpacho

Classic gazpacho, the chilled Spanish tomato soup with fresh tomatoes, cucumber, green pepper, garlic, and a bright lime-and-lemon finish. No-cook summer dish, ready after a 2-hour chill.

Pears Poached in Red Wine

Pears poached in red wine simmer halved pears in a cinnamon-spiked syrup of dry red wine, sugar, and lemon juice. Classic French bistro dessert, served warm or chilled.

No-Tahini Herb Hummus with Sautéed Onion & Garlic

Bright, herb-forward hummus with no tahini needed. Sautéed onion and garlic blend with fresh parsley, basil, oregano, and coriander into silky chickpeas for a lighter Middle Eastern dip that skips the paste but keeps all the flavor. Ready in 25 minutes.

Chipotle Shrimp

Plump shrimp tossed with smoky chipotle butter and piled onto warm corn tortillas. Mexican-style shrimp tacos with creamy avocado and ranchero sauce in 40 minutes.

Beet Raita

Diced cooked beets toss with cardamom and fresh mint, then layer with honey-sweetened Greek yogurt for a vibrant Indian raita that's tangy, earthy, and subtly sweet in every spoonful.

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