Unwaxed lemons

[KnickerlessParsons]

How would I know if a lemon is waxed or unwaxed? And why does it matter?

If I use a waxed lemon in a recipe that calls for unwaxed what would happen?

(I should probably asked this question a long time ago!)

Waxed lemons are a much stronger shade of yellow than unwaxed. You don’t want wax in your food!

Surely an unwaxed lemon will be hairy, won't it? 🤔

Depends if you’re using the zest or just juice. Most labels tell you.

Most lemons seem to be waxed. The shops I go to label the unwaxed lemons and that's the only way I've really been able to tell.

If a recipe calls for a unwaxed lemon it's usually because you need the zest. If you use a waxed lemon, you'll be getting a lot of wax rather than zest.

Usually it’s a few lemons in a bag, single lemons are usually waxed. It says on the label that they unwaxed and they are more expensive.

Whenever you buy them ( just before using) put them in very very hot water for about 1 min , then carefully lift out and wipe quickly with a cloth / kitchen roll this will get the vast majority of the wax off .
Redunk in fresh hot water if your not sure it's all gone

This. If you haven't got an unwaxed one, I was told to put the waxed lemon in boiling water (to melt the wax) then dry well on kitchen towel. I do it a couple of times. Hasn't killed us yet, though I do buy unwaxed usually, if grating the rind.

🤣

Thanks everyone. You’d think the waxing would make them more expensive, not cheaper, as there’s an extra step
involved🤷🏼‍♀️

I’ve never paid any attention to the call for an unwaxed lemon in recipes before but I was making lemon curd earlier and just wondered whether it, and my lemon drizzle cakes, would taste better if I checked my lemons for their waxiness.
Not that I think my curds and cakes taste horrible - they are v nice, though I say so myself.

Waxing them makes them keep longer so less waste i guess, hence cheaper. The wax isn't very good for you so best to buy unwaxed if using the rind/zest in anything (including G & T)🍸🍹

They’re usually labelled too, or they were when I looked in Aldi for a recipe

I just make sure I always buy lemons that are labelled unwaxed

Hi KnickerlessParsons!

You can usually tell if a lemon is waxed because it feels slightly slippery or shiny, whereas unwaxed lemons have a more matte, natural skin and feel a bit rougher. Some stores also label them as “organic” or “unwaxed.”
Why it matters: recipes that call for unwaxed lemons usually expect you to use the zest, and wax coating can affect the flavor or even leave residues. If you only need juice, it’s generally fine to use a waxed lemon just wash it thoroughly before cutting.

So for zesting, go unwaxed; for juice, wash well and you’re good to go!

i do use the zest in eg lemon drizzle, so will pay attention to the wax status when buying lemons in future.
I presume other citrus fruits are waxed too.