Lemons, oranges and limes will keep four times longer if stored in 1 place in kitchen

With summer comes a proliferation of citrus fruit.L emons, oranges and limes are great to add a kick to salads, garnish a drink or even just as a quick snack. But they need to be stored correctly to reach their full potential.

Many people pop these fruits in the fruit bowl and forget about it, but according to catering experts at Alliance Online, citrus can keep fresh for four times as long when stored in the fridge. This is because the cooler temperatures help keep the fruit from drying out. Stopfoodwaste.



org also recommends freezing citrus fruits to get the most of them. Make sure you first wash the fruit then freeze it whole, or in wedges to use later. When it comes time to use your fruit, make sure you thaw it correctly.

You can do this by either placing it in the microwave for a few seconds, or by placing it in cold water for 10 to 15 minutes. If you’re freezing wedges, lay them on a baking tray and freeze them flat for several hours. Once they’re solid you can collect them and put them in a zip lock bag.

These are great for adding flavour to drinks and can be used straight from the freezer. You can also use a microplane to zest your fruit before freezing it in icecube trays for later use in drinks or recipes. Harvey Richards, the marketing coordinator at Alliance Online, said: “We were surprised to find that many people store food items in the cupboard instead of the fridge, as recommended.

As well as wasting food, this could also be costing the average Brit over £21,000 in their lifetime in prematurely-binned food. “Many of these items would last much longer if they were kept in a chilled environment. Always check the recommended storage advice on labels to maximise the shelf life of foods.

As well as saving money, this also reduces your chances of picking up illnesses like food poisoning.”.