Preserving Citrus

chillidude · **Posted:** Wed Jan 06, 2010 3:57 pm

I thought I'd start this thread to see what, if anything people are doing to preserve their citrus fruit.

I use two main methods which, while similar, produce very different flavours.

The first is sugar-curing lemons and limes. This is done by slicing them very thinly and packing alternate layers of fruit and sugar into a jar then sealing it and storing it in a cool, dark area until the sugar has drawn out the liquid and turned to syrup. These are great in drinks, on ice-cream, or on top of a sponge cake.

The second is preserved lemons. I simply quarter the lemons and pack them tighly into a jar, ensuring that they have salt all around them and there are no significant pockets of air. After 6 weeks or so these segments are a beautiful ingredient in middle-eastern, northern african, and southern european dishes.

Basil · **Joined:** Wed Jan 06, 2010 3:15 pm **Posts:** 3

You are making my mouth water chili dude. It reminds me of a recipe that I have using sliced black olives and layering with slices of lemons, yummy. To die for.

Jaymie · **Posted:** Wed Jan 06, 2010 8:54 pm

first I'd like to get some citrus off the trees

dufflight · **Posted:** Wed Jan 06, 2010 9:50 pm

I've planted a lot of fruit trees but its going to take a couple of years for them to start producing. And then there will be me grafting that may set them back a little. I've got a navel orange that produces a few crops per year but I never got around to doing anything with them.

BatonRouge Bill · **Joined:** Wed Jan 06, 2010 2:59 pm **Posts:** 60

I'm hoping to get thru the winter without loosing my trees! It's been hard freezing all week. Expect friday's low to be minus 8C. I should have picked my lemons and whats left of the satsumas :oops:

chillidude · **Posted:** Fri Feb 26, 2010 1:15 pm

BatonRouge Bill wrote:

I'm hoping to get thru the winter without loosing my trees! It's been hard freezing all week. Expect friday's low to be minus 8C. I should have picked my lemons and whats left of the satsumas :oops:

-8ºC - :cold:

those sorta temperatures just aren't right - hope the trees survived Bill

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