Brightly colored citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes are very popular thanks to their sweet and sour taste and pleasant aroma. An excellent source of vitamin C, citrus fruits offer a number of benefits.
Citrus fruits are also quite versatile. They can be eaten whole, juiced, or added to your favorite drink as a garnish. Plus, citrus fruits are low in calories, which makes them ideal for anyone watching their caloric intake. So, let’s take a closer look at six ways that you can get more out of your citrus fruits.
6 Tips To Get The Most Out Of Your Citrus Fruits
Proper Citrus Fruit Storage
Did you know that citrus fruits stop ripening and start decomposing as soon as they’re picked? In fact, citrus fruits will only keep for around four days at room temperature. However, when placed in a refrigerator, citrus fruits can last up to four weeks. Talk about a huge difference! Therefore, to get the most out of your citrus fruits, avoid storing them in a fruit bowl unless you know that you and your family will eat or juice the fruit in a few days.
Use The Microwave To Get More Juice Out Of Citrus Fruits
Storing your citrus fruit in the refrigerator is the way to go if you won’t be using it right away. But the opposite holds true if you’re planning on juicing your citrus fruit. That’s because the cool refrigerator causes the juice-holding membranes in citrus fruits, such as oranges and lemons, to firm up. This, in turn, limits their juice-producing potential.
The most common method for juicing is to roll the citrus fruit on a firm countertop in order to break the juice-holding membranes. You can still do that, if you’d like. Or, you can cut oranges or lemons, arrange them on a microwave safe plate, and then microwave them for 20 seconds on high. By warming the fruit, you’ll be softening the chilled, firm membranes, which will allow the juice to flow more freely.
If you’ve already placed your citrus fruit in the refrigerator, set it out for at least 30 minutes to allow it to reach room temperature. Then place it in the microwave on high for 20 seconds before juicing. This will help to increase the juice yield. And after you juice citrus fruit, you can store it in your refrigerator for up to two weeks or in your freezer for a few months.
Make Citrus Fruit Garnishes
Don’t garnishes just make every drink look and taste better? We think so. So, if you have extra citrus fruit around, you can make fun garnishes to go with your favorite CUT Energy drink flavors – berry lemonade, watermelon pomegranate, or orange mango pineapple.
To make lemon spirals (also known as lemon curls or lemon twists), first select unblemished lemons. Then slice the ends off a lemon to create a flat surface. Make one slice down the length of the lemon and gently separate the peel from the inner fruit of the lemon. After that, roll the peel lengthwise to form a tight spiral, leaving no space between the layers. Insert two toothpicks on either end to secure the lemon peel. Place in water in the refrigerator overnight, or at least for two hours minimum. Remove the peel from the water and remove the toothpicks. Then slice the peel into ¼-inch slices. Uncoil the peel and place it into your drink or let it hang off the side for a little extra flair. These lemon spirals will last for three to five days when stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. You can also make orange or lime curls the same way.
Add Flavor To Your Food Using Citrus Fruit Peels (Or Slices)
There’s a lot of flavor in the rind of citrus fruits. That’s why you shouldn’t just throw them away. Instead, add the peels or slices of already-juiced fruits directly to a pot (or pan) to infuse their flavor to a meal while it’s cooking. Just make sure to remove the peels from the pot or pan before serving. You can also add limes to taco filling and lemon to pasta dishes. Zest is another common way to add a citrusy flavor to meals as zest can be used to season dressings, side sauces, and baked goods.
Use Extra Lemons To Polish Pots And Pans
Since citrus fruits last for only about four days at room temperature, use any lemons that are about to expire (or that are recently expired) to polish your pots and pans instead of just tossing them in the trash. To brighten dull aluminum pans, cut a lemon in half and rub the cut side over the inside and outside of the pan. Instead of rinsing the pan, buff it with a soft cloth. You can also polish chrome faucets with the rind. Just rub the rind over the metal, rinse with cool water, and dry with a soft cloth.
Let Citrus Fruit Work As A Natural Bug Spray
On buggy nights, you can rub fresh orange or lemon peels over your exposed skin to keep mosquitoes and/or gnats away. Then once the bugs are no longer bothering you, you can use your favorite citrus fruits to make one of these citrus dessert recipes.