Should lemons be washed before refrigerating?

When it comes to storing lemons, one of the most common questions is whether or not you should wash them before putting them in the fridge. There are pros and cons to washing lemons before refrigeration, and practices vary from person to person. In this comprehensive guide, we will examine if washing lemons before refrigerating them is beneficial or not.

Table of Contents

The Case For Washing Lemons Before Refrigerating

There are a few reasons why some people advocate for washing lemons before refrigeration:

Washing removes pesticide residues – Lemons are typically sprayed with pesticides and fungicides during growth. Washing them before refrigeration can help remove some of these chemical residues.

Washing removes dirt and debris – Lemons may have dirt, debris, or microbes on the skin from how they were harvested and handled post-harvest. Washing helps remove these contaminants.
Washing removes natural wax coating – Lemons have a natural wax coating on the skin that helps protect them. However, some people prefer removing this coating by washing.
Washing prevents cross-contamination – If lemons are stored unwashed with other produce, any contaminants on the skin could spread. Washing lemons first prevents this cross-contamination.

Proponents of washing lemons before refrigeration argue that it results in cleaner, safer lemons. The washing process helps remove any potentially harmful residues, dirt, debris, and microbes that may be on the skin’s surface.

The Case Against Washing Lemons Before Refrigerating

On the other side, there are also reasons why some people argue against washing lemons prior to refrigeration:

Washing removes protective layer – The natural wax coating and skin of lemons help protect them from moisture loss and microbial degradation. Washing can remove these protective barriers.

Washing introduces moisture – Exposing lemons to additional moisture through washing can encourage spoilage once refrigerated.
Washing spreads contamination – If washed improperly, such as in contaminated water, washing can actually spread microbes further across the lemon skin.
Pesticides are approved for safety – While pesticide residues are a concern for some, the levels present on lemons are tightly regulated and approved as safe for consumption.

The skin isn’t eaten – Since lemon peel is not typically consumed, residues present on the skin pose little risk.

Those against washing argue that it offers little benefit and can actually accelerate spoilage. The lemon’s natural defenses and the regulated use of pesticides mean there is little advantage to washing before refrigerating them.

Best Practices for Washing Lemons

If you choose to wash your lemons before refrigeration, following best practices helps maximize benefits while minimizing risks:

Use clean water – Wash lemons using fresh, clean water. Dirty water can spread contamination.
Be gentle – Avoid vigorous scrubbing or handling that can damage the lemon skin. Gentle rubbing is sufficient.
Dry thoroughly – Always dry lemons with a clean towel after washing. Leftover moisture encourages microbial growth.

Watch for signs of spoilage – Inspect washed lemons closely for any signs of mold or deterioration during storage.
Discard damaged lemons – Remove any lemons that show soft spots or visible mold growth to prevent spread.

Adhering to these best practices minimizes the risks of washing and helps keep your lemons fresher for longer.

Does Washing Remove Pesticides and Chemicals from Lemons?

One of the biggest debates around washing lemons is whether it effectively removes pesticides, waxes, and other chemical residues that may be present on the skin.

Research has shown:

Washing thoroughly can remove some pesticide residues, but not all – One study found that brisk washing removed 65-98% of certain pesticides from citrus fruits. However, other chemical residues remained.

Detergents boost cleaning ability – Using a mild detergent solution rather than just water can increase removal of some stubborn residues.
Peels retain more pesticides – The flesh of lemons retains much lower levels of pesticides than the skin and peel after washing.
Drying regrows wax coating – The natural wax coating of lemons will largely regenerate after drying, undoing efforts to remove it.

Overall, while washing lemons can help strip away some pesticides, waxes, and other residues, it does not remove them completely. Since many residues concentrate in the peel, the flesh still retains very low levels even without washing.

Does Washing Lemons Promote Microbial Growth and Spoilage?

Those against washing lemons before refrigeration often argue that it encourages faster microbial spoilage. So what does the science say?

Moisture is key for microbial growth – Any residual moisture on lemons after washing provides the necessary water activity for microbes to thrive.

Skin damage accelerates spoilage – If the protective peel is damaged through vigorous handling or abrasion during washing, microbial growth is promoted.
Drying and storage conditions critical – If effectively towel dried and stored properly in the refrigerator, washed lemons do not necessarily have higher microbial counts or faster spoilage.
Spoiled lemons have higher microbial loads – Lemons with visible mold or spoilage have up to 3 logs higher microbial counts than fresh lemons.

Proper practices are key if washing lemons before refrigeration. Adequately drying lemons and storing appropriately helps limit microbial growth. Any damaged or spoiled lemons should be promptly discarded as well.

Storing Lemons With and Without Washing

How lemons are stored after washing (or not washing) also impacts their microbial quality and how long they last.

Storing Unwashed Lemons

Leave at room temperature up to 2 weeks – Unwashed lemons keep best at moderate room temperatures around 60-65°F.

Refrigerate for longer storage – Unwashed lemons can be refrigerated for up to 6 weeks.
Store in breathable container – A container that allows air exchange helps prevent excess moisture buildup.
Keep away from odors – Unwashed lemons can absorb odors from the refrigerator so keep away from strong smelling foods.

Storing Washed Lemons

Refrigerate within a few days – Washed lemons should be refrigerated promptly, within 2-3 days maximum.
Seal in plastic bag – Storing washed lemons in a sealed plastic bag helps retain moisture and prevent drying out.
Use within 2 weeks – Washed, refrigerated lemons should be used within 1-2 weeks for best quality.

Check frequently for spoilage – The increased moisture of washed lemons means they require more frequent checks for signs of microbial growth or deterioration.

Unwashed lemons have a longer shelf life at room temperature compared to washed lemons. But with proper storage methods, washed lemons can still be kept refrigerated for a week or two.

Effects of Washing on Juice Quality

Many people choose to wash lemons before juicing them. But does washing affect juice yield or quality?

Minimal effects on juice volume – Washing lemons does not appear to significantly impact the amount of juice that can be extracted.
Subtle changes in juice chemistry – Some studies have reported subtle differences in juice chemistry between washed and unwashed lemon juice in pH, acidity, sugars, and bioactive compounds.
Little effect on flavor and quality – From a sensory standpoint, most panelists cannot discern flavor differences between juice from washed and unwashed lemons.

Consider peel contribution – If lemon peel is added during juicing, washing may be preferred to remove surface microbes that could transfer to the juice.

For most purposes, washing appears to have minimal effects on measurable juice quality and flavor. The choice of washing before juicing comes down mainly to personal preference.

Effects of Various Washing Methods

There are many ways to wash lemons, from just rinsing under running water up to using detergent scrubbing. Do some methods work better than others?

Water Rinsing

Removes some microbes and residues – A 30 second water rinse can decrease bacteria on lemon peels by 1-2 logs and reduce certain chemical residues.
Gentle and safe for produce – Water rinsing is gentle and unlikely to damage the natural peel.
Relatively inexpensive – Only requires water, no special products needed.

Lower efficacy than other methods – While water alone can clean lemons to some degree, other methods are often more effective.

Vinegar Rinsing

Natural antimicrobial effect – The acidic vinegar solution helps kill bacteria, fungi, and viruses on the lemon’s surface.
Increased residue removal – Some studies show vinegar solutions can remove pesticide residues more effectively than water alone.

May impact flavor – Vinegar can be absorbed into the lemon peel and potentially alter the flavor.
Not ideal for long-term storage – The antimicrobial action also means it can speed up deterioration of the peel with frequent long-term use.

Baking Soda Scrub

Safe, non-toxic cleaner – Baking soda is a mild abrasive agent that is non-toxic.

Effective residue removal – It can enhance removal of waxes, fungicides, insecticides, and other chemical residues.
May damage peel with excessive force – Scrubbing too hard can damage the protective peel, leading to faster spoilage.
Rinse thoroughly after use – Residue baking soda left on the peel can impart soapy flavor.

Detergent Washes

Boosts removal of oils and waxes – Detergents can emulsify waxy residues that simple rinsing leaves behind.
More residue removal – Detergents help dissolve and lift off pesticide residues through surfactant action.
Can damage peel integrity – Detergents can damage or remove the natural protective peel layer with frequent use.

Requires thorough rinsing – Detergent residue left on peel is unappealing and imparts soapy flavor.

Overall, there are tradeoffs with different washing methods. More vigorous methods using detergents, baking soda, or vinegar can enhance cleaning but may also compromise the peel. Milder methods like water rinsing are safer long-term for the lemon’s protective barriers.

Effects of Washing Methods on Lemons Stored in the Fridge

Since refrigeration is key for storing washed lemons, does the method impact how long they keep?

Washing Method	Average Fridge Life	Effects on Lemons
Water rinse	2-3 weeks	Minimal effects on peel quality during storage
Vinegar rinse	1-2 weeks	Can accelerate microbial growth and deterioration
Baking soda scrub	2-3 weeks if no peel damage	Can reduce fridge life if peel integrity compromised
Detergent wash	1-2 weeks	Significantly accelerates microbial spoilage

Harsher washing methods have detrimental impacts on lemon peel integrity that shorten their refrigerated shelf life compared to gentler rinsing with water.

Food Safety Risks

One of the concerns around not washing lemons is the potential for food safety issues. However, lemons pose relatively low risks in terms of foodborne illnesses.

Low natural microbial load – Lemons are not a hospitable environment for most foodborne pathogens to thrive.

High acidity fights pathogens – The low pH of lemons prevents pathogenic bacterial growth.
Peel protects flesh – The rind helps block pathogens from reaching the flesh consumed.
Often cooked for consumption – Lemons are often an ingredient in cooked or processed foods, which kills pathogens.

May contact other foods – While low risk themselves, unwashed lemons may cross-contaminate other foods through direct contact or shared utensils.

Incidence of foodborne illnesses directly linked to lemons is extremely rare. But washing lemons may still be warranted as a preventive measure before using them with other food items.

Effects of Washing on Nutrients

Lemons are an excellent source of vitamin C, citric acid, and other beneficial plant compounds. Does washing lemons degrade or leach out some of these nutrients?

Minimal nutrient loss – Washing with water does not appear to cause any significant loss of antioxidants, flavonoids, vitamin C or other nutrients in lemons.
Water-soluble vitamins unaffected – Unlike fat-soluble vitamins, vitamin C and other water-solubles are not degraded with exposure to water.
No nutrient leaching – Unlike processes like boiling or blanching produce, washing with cold water does not leach nutrients from the flesh into the water.

Processing has bigger impact – Cooking, juicing, and processing lemons has a much greater influence on nutrient retention compared to washing.

Current evidence indicates washing lemons does not degrade or deplete nutrients. Any nutrient changes are minimal compared to later processing effects like juicing or cooking.

Conclusions

There are good arguments on both sides of the debate around washing lemons before storage and use. Here are some key conclusions:

Washing is unlikely to fully remove residues – While washing helps remove some pesticides and chemicals, many remain even after washing.
Microbial risks are low for lemons themselves – Lemons inherently contain very low microbial loads, even when unwashed.
Washing may help prevent cross-contamination – Washing lemons can safeguard against transfer of microbes to other foods through direct contact.

Proper storage is crucial for washed lemons – To prevent spoilage, washed lemons must be promptly refrigerated and used within 1-2 weeks.
Gentler is better for washing – Harsher methods like detergents can damage lemon peel and accelerate deterioration. Mild washing minimizes harm.

Weighing all the evidence, washing lemons before refrigerating and using them provides some modest benefits. But plenty of people skip washing without issue. As long as lemons are stored optimally and used promptly, the choice comes down to personal preference.