How Long Does Lime Last?

We don’t look for reasons to buy limes! Lime juice, grilled lime chicken, cilantro lime grilled salmon, cheesy lime pie…the dishes to make with lime are just uncountable! But wait, did you just buy too many limes? In that case, how long does lime last fresh? Don’t know, well, let’s find out!

Whole lime will last up to a week at room temperature without decay. However, when kept refrigerated, it stays fresh for up to 3 to 4 weeks. On the other hand, when kept in the freezer, lime will last 6 months. However, lime will last only for 2 to 3 days when cut.

Lime is a citrus fruit with a zesty taste. It is round and green and is small in size when compared to a lemon. Lime is widely available and commonly used worldwide for making different dishes and refreshing drinks.

So if you have a lot of lime and are confused about how long it stays fresh without any decay, read this article! Moreover, I’ll also share some tips to keep your lime fresh for a little longer.

How Long Does Lime Last?

Since lime is a widely available fruit and you buy them in small quantities, you might not have cared too much about its shelf life.

Lime will stay fresh on kitchen shelves for up to a week. When kept cold, they last for a week. However, if you want to keep your lime fresh even after that time, the best thing to do is to freeze them. But if you have cut them, use them within a day or two!

So it’s very clear that lime’s shelf life depends on how we store them. If you plan to use them within a day, you can keep them on the counter table. But if you are planning to keep it long, keep it in the fridge.

However, if you have some cut lime with you, make sure to use them immediately. Whether you have kept them at room temperature or in the fridge, chances are high that they will start to decay within two to three days. 

When cut lime is kept for longer days, the lime will start to become dry and will develop a slightly bitter taste. No need to stay dried lime are pretty useless unless you want to make some DIY room freshener out of it!

Can You Freeze Lime?

Freezing lime is the best way to extend its shelf life. Frozen lime will retain its taste, freshness, and smell for longer. Fresh lime can be stored in the freezer for up to 6 months. You can freeze limes by following these simple steps. 

1. Take some fresh lime and clean them properly.
2. Place them in a freezer bag and squeeze the air out of the bag.
3. Place them in the freezer.

How To Tell If A Lime Has Gone Bad?

When compared to other fruits, lime has a longer shelf life. However, that doesn’t mean lime will last forever. Below are some signs you should look out for to determine whether your lime has gone bad or not. 

1. Presence of molds – If you find some white molds on the outside of your lime, consider that it’s time to throw them out.
2. Mushy Texture – Lime will have a rigid texture unless we press them really hard to squeeze some juice out of it. However, if your lime becomes a little soft and mushy and starts to crack when you squeeze them, it’s a sign that it has started to decay. Use it before it’s too late!
3. Appearance – Lime usually have a green to light yellow outer skin. However, when gone bad, its skiing will develop a brown color and starts to get dry. However, if its skin is just brown here are there, you can still use them. 
4. Smell – Fresh lime, as you know, has a citrusy scent. Lime, when gone bad, will not have a very bad smell, but it starts to smell little sour.
5. Taste – Spoiled lime will have a slightly bitter taste to it. This is the best way to know whether your lime has gone bad or not; lick it, and you’ll know it! 

If you have kept the fruit too long in the fridge, the skin might look, but the inside must have dried out. So even if the outside looks fine, cut it open to see what’s inside! Know it inside and out before using it!

How To Store Lime To Extend Its Shelf Life?

Got a lot of lime? Farm fresh lime might have lured you into buying a lot of it! I can’t blame you because, just like everyone else, I have done it too. So now that you have a lot of lime let’s see ways to keep it fresh for a longer time. 

Pick The Fresh One – The best way to keep lime fresh for longer is to pick the freshest lime! While choosing the lime, make sure that the lime is fresh and doesn’t have any signs of decay.

Look For The Texture – When choosing lime, make sure to get one with a firmer texture. The mushy one will decay easily.

Place It In The Counter Top – If you plan to use lime within a day or two, keep it in a fresh basket. Lime will last fresh for up to 3 to 4 days when kept outside. 

Refrigerate – If you need to keep your lime fresh for a longer time, the best way to do this is to throw them in the vegetable tray. Lime can stay fresh in the vegetable tray for a month or longer. 

Freeze Them – If you have just a lot of lime with you and are clueless about what to do with them, freeze them! Freezing, as you may know, is the best way to extend the shelf life of fruit. Keep the lime in a freezer bag and squeeze the air out for freezing. Tightly seal them and place them in the freezer. You can use this even after 4 months. 

However, if you have sliced your lime and your left with some pieces of it, make sure to place it in the refrigerator! You can either place them in the vegetable tray (if you intend to use them within some days) or in the freezer.

While keeping the sliced lime in your fridge, make sure that the flesh is placed facing down to avoid much contact with air. This way, the lime will stay fresher for a little longer than usual. 

Conclusion 

Limes are something we often have in our kitchen. They can be used in multiple ways. From fresh lime juice to lime cake, the dishes to make with lime are just plenty. Lime juice, zest, and peel can be used, unlike other fruits. Hence if you get a lot of lime, make sure to store it properly for using it for a longer time. 

I hope through this article, I have cleared all your doubts regarding lime and its storage. If you have any questions, feel free to drop them in the comment section below!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)