Lemon zest and wax on lemons

[Servalan]

I'm cooking a recipe that requires lemon zest for dinner tonight.

Usually if I'm cooking with lemon zest, I buy unwaxed lemons, but my local supermarket has stopped stocking them.

Therefore, I've had to buy a normal (presumably waxed) lemon and I'm wondering if it should be OK to use the zest of it?

Thanks

?

I think they will be fine. They certainly won't taste any different and I'm pretty sure that the wax is safe to eat. If you're worried, give them a good scrub.

I have used the zest of a waxed lemon before. It tasted fine and I didn't drop dead.

I'm sure it's not actually bad for you, they wouldn't cover them in it if it was, would they .

Ooh, I've never had a face directed at me before! Does that mean that I have finally "arrived" on Mumsnet?

Thanks for the advice. I guess I wondered if the ones that were waxed were just for juicing and not for zesting.

I'll risk it and give it a good scrub first.

yy scrub first

whatchoo making ?

I'm going to attempt olive oil potatos with honey, lemon and chickpeas from Leith's vegetarian bible.

Do I just scrub in cold water? (did I ever mention that I'm more neurotic than the average person...?)

cold water will be fine

om nom nom to your supper

I pop mine into boiling water and wipe clean [I am a bit of a hygiene freak], in the hope it melts /washes off