Lemon Water : Hot water + steeped lemons : how long will this last once in fridge?

Legacy_user

Hi

I have made some lemon water mix i.e. I have poured some hot water over chopped up lemons and limes and then after cooling I placed the bottle in the fridge door with fruit left in to steep.

I am concerned that I don't keep this mixture in the fridge too long i.e. will the fruits go mouldy or can the drink be left there indefinitely.

The liquid is in a tall glass carafe with a lid and is now in the fridge door.

Thanks

Livelongandprosper

Not long

Unless you can add some citic acid

As it is,I'd drink it within 24/48 hrs

You need it in a bottle with as little air in as possible to last even that long tbh

maman

For the future: I drink hot lemon water regularly (or lime). All I do is add some lemon juice to hot water. I use bottles of lemon juice bought very cheaply in Aldi. The bottles of juice keep well in the fridge. I'm sure it would work just as well with cold water as it doesn't need to dissolve.

jackyann

Only few days - I am always astonished at how quickly lemons go mouldy. The reason sugar is normally added to this kind of drink is to preserve it, not just to sweeten it.
Personally I find the addition of citric acid leaves an unpleasant taste, and I don't find the bottles of lemon juice as pleasant to the taste as fresh lemons - not sure why - maman's suggestion is the best MSE one.

But this is what I do:
keep lemons and limes in the fridge, where they will keep a few weeks; cut up one at a time, and seal the unused in a plastic bag (tightly clipped) that will keep a few days. I have even, when going away, bunged the bag in the freezer for a couple of weeks.

That way, you have a ready supply for making drinks without wasting any. You do need to pour on hot water to get the best taste though. I usually drink lemon hot, but as I always keep plenty of ice, cooling it quickly is not a problem.

Seakay

I keep citrus fruit in the freezer ready sliced - freeze on a baking tray and then keep frozen slices in a sealed plastic bag with as little air in it as possible. Slices can be added to drinks instead of ice cubes, used to make hot lemon and honey with boiling water etc. You could make up a couple of days water at a time or maybe make a jug up at night ready for the next day. The fresher the fruit the more vitamins etc yo'll get from them. Frozen fruit slices keep the freshness while allowing you to make the amont you want for least wastage

Pop_Up_Pirate

Seakay wrote: »

I keep citrus fruit in the freezer ready sliced - freeze on a baking tray and then keep frozen slices in a sealed plastic bag with as little air in it as possible. Slices can be added to drinks instead of ice cubes, used to make hot lemon and honey with boiling water etc. You could make up a couple of days water at a time or maybe make a jug up at night ready for the next day. The fresher the fruit the more vitamins etc yo'll get from them. Frozen fruit slices keep the freshness while allowing you to make the amont you want for least wastage

This is good if the lemons are just for taste.
If you want the vitamins too, pre-slicing is not a good idea as vitamins are destroyed on the outer surfaces once cut.

Bottled lemon juice contains sulfur dioxide and the human body doesn't want those as it blocks nerve signals.
The juice could be over a year old before you get it.
There are also very little nutrients left.
Plastic container lemon juice is even worse as the BPA from the plastic (a poison) leaches into the juice.

Big bag of lemons and freshly squeeze. Better for you and better for the environment.

VfM4meplse

Seakay wrote: »

I keep citrus fruit in the freezer ready sliced - freeze on a baking tray and then keep frozen slices in a sealed plastic bag with as little air in it as possible.

This. But use some plastic between the slices, as otherwise they can still stick together. Clean plastic bags that are past their best are ideal for this purpose, you don't feel like you're throwing 5ps away when cutting them to size.

System

Pop_Up_Pirate wrote: »

This is good if the lemons are just for taste.
Bottled lemon juice contains sulfur dioxide and the human body doesn't want those as it blocks nerve signals.

Can I just confirm that you are talking about manufactured pure lemon juice (i.e. not tap water + lemon wedges which is what we are talking about). What is the purpose of the Sulphur Dioxide in the bottle? This is quite interesting, what is the web page where I can read about this.

Pop_Up_Pirate

moneyunwise wrote: »

Can I just confirm that you are talking about manufactured pure lemon juice (i.e. not tap water + lemon wedges which is what we are talking about). What is the purpose of the Sulphur Dioxide in the bottle? This is quite interesting, what is the web page where I can read about this.

Yes, processed lemon juice doesn't contain the same health benefits of real lemons.

Real lemons have a ton of vitamins and minerals in them and are great for your health whereas processed lemon juice has very little nutritional value as most of the vits and mins are lost and is 'bad' for us due to the added preservatives.

Take Tescos bottled lemon juice as an example. It has Potassium Metabisulphite on it;s list of ingredients which is sulphur dioxide in powdered form.

It is especially bad for people with asthma.
Extensive testing done by the World Health Organization and the International Program on Chemical Safety found that sulfites could negatively impact asthmatics

A study published in the journal Mutagenesis did find that sulfur dioxide could cause DNA damage and cancer in mice.

Many packaged items sold contain this ingredient, including:
Dried fruits.
Pickled foods
Maraschino cherries
Tinned coconut milk
Beer, wine, and cider
Vegetable juice
Soft drinks
Grapes
Grape juice
Bottled lemon and lime juice
Condiments
Powdered prepared potatoes
Frozen shrimp
Some processed meats

Opt for Organic, especially if asthmatic.