There are lots of different ways to preserve lemons. In the fridge, freezer, and by dehydrating them. Dehydrating lemon slices if the best way to preserve lemons, in my opinion. It is a wonderful way to always have fresh lemon flavour on hand. With a couple simple steps, I will teach you how to dehydrate lemon slices so you can take that bag of lemons you bought and preserve them to add to any dish or beverage anytime!

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I don’t buy lemons often because they can be expensive and they’re not local but when I do, I buy many! I hold on to a couple of whole lemons and then for the rest, my favourite way to preserve them is by dehydrating them! This way, I can always add fresh lemon to a dish or beverage even if I don’t have whole lemons.

This method makes crunchy lemon slices with a sticky inside that become lemon juice when rehydrated! While not exactly the same as fresh lemon, they do a great job in a pinch, they reduce the chance of waste and save trips to the grocery store!

How To Store Cut Lemon – Preserve Lemons

1. In an Airtight Container or Plastic Wrap

After cutting your lemon, wrap the exposed flesh tightly with plastic wrap or place it in an airtight container. This helps to keep the moisture in and prevents the lemon from drying out.

This will keep the lemon fresh for about 2-3 days.

2. Use a Ziplock Bag

Place the cut lemon halves or slices in a resealable plastic bag and squeeze out the air before sealing. This helps reduce exposure to air, which can cause the lemon to dry out.

This method also works well for 2-3 days in the fridge.

3. Storing in Water (For Longer Freshness)

You can place the cut lemon pieces in a small container with a bit of water, just enough to cover the exposed flesh. This helps keep the lemon hydrated and fresh.

This can keep your lemon fresh for up to 5 days, though it’s best to change the water daily.

4. Freeze for Longer Storage

If you don’t plan to use the cut lemons quickly, you can freeze the pieces. Slice or wedge the lemons and spread them in a single layer on a baking sheet. Once frozen, transfer them into a ziplock bag or airtight container.

Frozen lemon slices can last up to 3 months.

5. Dehydrating – The Best Way To Preserve Lemons

Dehydrating lemons is my favourite way of preserving them. This is made easy with my 12-tray dehydrator. It’s efficient, easy to use, and I can do large batches each round which makes it more worth the effort. If you’ve ever dehydrated lemons before, you’ll know it takes awhile to get a sufficient final product. I feel like I get a better return for my effort when I can do large batches each time. Follow the link to get the dehydrator I use.

How To Use Dehydrated Lemons

You can use dehydrated lemon slices for a number of different things, not just for decoration!

Hot Lemon Water & Tea
Cooking
Water Kefir Flavouring
Lemon Juice

I’m sure there are many more ways to use dehydrated lemon slices but those are the reasons I keep making more!

Hot Lemon Water & Tea

Hot lemon water is one of my favourite drinks. It is warm, soothing and has many health benefits.

Having hot lemon water or adding lemons to your tea is beneficial for winter time as it contains vitamin C and can help fight colds and flus. The combination of the hot water and citric acid from the lemon can also enhance the production of digestive juices which aid digestion. Hot lemon water in the morning is hydrating, satiating, and can also kickstart liver function. An active liver is effective at detoxification, which supports overall health and can increase energy.

Hot Lemon Water:

1 cup of hot water + 2-3 dehydrated lemon slices

Enjoy hot lemon water first thing in the morning for best results!

2-3 slices can also be added to your favourite tea to gain the same benefits.

The medical information on this site is provided as an information resource only, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any health care decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition.

Cooking

Cooking with dehydrated lemon slices has be revolutionary for me. My favourite way to use them is in fish dishes. I like to add 1-2 slices of dehydrated lemon per serving of fish before I bake it. This adds a fresh lemon note without needing to cut into a whole lemon!

I also like to add it to rice when pairing it with something like fish. We make our rice in an instant pot and one of my favourite recipes is a lemon, dill, and pea rice. To add the lemon, I simply add it to the rice before it cooks and it comes out with the freshest lemon flavour!

Water Kefir

Another way I like to use dehydrated lemon slices is for flavouring water kefir! The world is your oyster when it comes to flavouring water kefir. When in doubt, I always like to add 1-2 slices of dehydrated lemon slices to my flavouring. This adds freshness, a tang, and vitamin C!

Some water kefir flavour combinations I love with lemon are: Ginger & Lemon, Lemon & Mint and Berry Lemon!

If you don’t know what water kefir is or how to make it, learn about it here!

Lemon Juice

If you have a recipe that needs lemon juice, such as salad dressing or a dessert, you can use the dehydrated lemon slices!

Simply add 5-6 lemon slices to a jar. Rehydrate them with hot water and muddle. Let them soak until the hot water has cooled down and then strain out the slices and seeds. What’s left is a mild lemon juice. While not as punchy as juice straight from a fresh lemon, it will work in a pinch and that’s what it’s all about!

How Do I Keep My Dehydrated Lemons From Going Soft?

1. Store in an Airtight Container:

After dehydrating your lemon slices or wedges, make sure to store them in an airtight container to keep moisture out. This helps prevent the lemons from rehydrating and going soft.

Glass jars, vacuum-sealed bags, or mylar bags with oxygen absorbers are great options for long-term storage.

2. Keep in a Cool, Dark, Dry Place:

Store the airtight container in a cool, dry, and dark place, like a pantry or cupboard. Light and heat can degrade the quality of dehydrated foods and cause them to soften over time.

3. Use Desiccant Packs or Oxygen Absorbers:

If you’re storing your dehydrated lemons for long periods, adding a desiccant pack or oxygen absorber to the container will help absorb any residual moisture or air and keep the lemons from becoming soft or moldy.

4. Properly Dehydrate:

Make sure the lemons are completely dehydrated before storing them. If they are still slightly moist when you store them, they can absorb moisture from the air and become soft. The lemons should snap or break easily when fully dehydrated, with no bend or flex.

5. Vacuum Sealing:

For long-term storage, vacuum sealing is highly effective. It removes the air and moisture, keeping your dehydrated lemons fresh and crisp for months.

What You’ll Need

Bag of Lemons: Any kind will do. Aim for organic if they’re available to you.

Colander or large bowl: For rinsing the lemons.

A sharp kitchen knife: For slicing the lemons.

Cutting Board: For slicing the lemons.

Dehydrator: For dehydrating the lemons, obviously.

How To Slice and Dehydrate Lemons

If you have all the tools and materials you need, it’s an incredibly simple process.

Grab your lemons, knife and cutting board.

Rinse your lemons in a colander or large bowl and place them near your cutting area.

With a sharp knife, slice your lemons around an 1/4 – 1/8 inch thick. Set aside the ends of the lemons.

Continue slicing until you have no lemons left.

Lay your lemon slices out on your dehydrating trays with no overlap until they’re all on trays.

Dehydrate your lemon slices for 8 hours at 130F (55C).

The lemon slices are fully dehydrated when they’re crispy and snap in half.

Store dehydrated lemon slices in an airtight container.

Notes

You can use the lemon end cut offs to make some lemon juice!

If dehydrated properly, they will store well for many months. If you notice they start to feel soft, store in the fridge for safe measure.

If you have more lemons slices than tray space, you can freeze them on a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Once frozen, store in a bag in the freezer and use them the same way as the dehydrated slices.

Watch Me Slice & Dehydrate!

Dehydrating Lemon Slices

Bronwyn Case

Dehydrating lemons is a wonderful way to always have fresh lemon flavour on hand. With a couple simple steps, I will teach you how to dehydrate lemons so you can take that bag of lemons you bought and preserve them to add to any dish or beverage anytime!

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Prep Time 5

Cook Time 30

Total Time 8 35

Ingredients

A bag of lemons
Colander or large bowl
A sharp kitchen knife
Cutting Board
Dehydrator

Instructions

Grab your lemons, knife and cutting board.
Rinse your lemons in a colander or large bowl and place them near your cutting area.
With a sharp knife, slice your lemons around an 1/4 – 1/8 inch thick. Set aside the ends of the lemons.
Continue slicing until you have no lemons left.
Lay your lemon slices out on your dehydrating trays with no overlap until they're all on trays.
Dehydrate your lemon slices for 8 hours at 130F (55C).
The lemon slices are fully dehydrated when they're crispy and snap in half.
Store dehydrated lemon slices in an airtight container.