How to Store Lemons and Limes So They Stay Fresh for Over a Month

Whether you love a refreshing glass of freshly-squeezed lemonade or you're in need of limes to add to your favorite cocktail, now's the time to stock up on these citrus fruits. They're

in season all spring and summer long!

However, if you plan on buying in bulk, you'll want to be wary of how quickly lemons and limes spoil. If you plan on arranging your lemons and limes in a bowl on the counter, they'll only last about a week. And it's easy to tell when they're no longer edible—they become soft, mushy, and dry out. In some (worst-case) scenarios, they may even

grow mold. When this happens, the last thing you want to do is consume them.

However, you also don't want to throw that

food waste in the trash. According to the

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), over 70 billion pounds of wasted food get sent to landfills annually. And even though

composting food scraps is a more sustainable way to deal with

organic waste, an even better way to deal with the waste is to prevent it.

So what if there was a storage hack that prevents food waste and keeps your lemons and limes fresh for over a month? You're in luck. We have just the trick!

If you want to keep your citrus fresh for over a month, learning how to store lemons and limes is key. And this storage hack is simple: Submerge them in water and keep them in the fridge.

Grab a reusable, sealable container—we recommend a glass container—and submerge the citrus fruits completely underwater. Then, seal the containers and put them in the fridge until you're ready to use them. It's that easy.

Our results show that the lemons and limes will stay fresh for over a month, looking just as good as they did when you first bought them.

Another tip for keeping your citrus fruits fresh: Keep them away from other produce. Specifically, steer clear of

onions,

potatoes, apples, and

bananas—aka any produce that emits

ethylene.

When lemons and limes are close to ethylene-emitting produce, they go bad faster. For the best results, keep them separate.

Plus, when shopping for fresh produce, be sure to bring your reusable produce bags. Not only can you cut down on food waste, but you can also cut back on

plastic waste from

plastic bags.