🍋 Canned Lemon Juice
Finally Out of the Freezer! A Rebel Success Story!
📌 In This Article
🍋 The Lemon Story
"It's all because of this group, that my lemon juice no longer resides in the freezer!"
There's something magical about growing your own lemons. Five years ago, we planted a baby lemon tree. It was tiny, fragile, and we weren't sure it would even survive. But we nurtured it, watered it, and watched it grow.
And then it happened. Our little tree produced its first real crop. We had lemons everywhere — and we put them to use!
💬 The harvest: "We planted a baby lemon tree five years ago and this was the crop after making limoncello, preserved lemons, lemon pickles, dehydrated lemons, etc!"
We made limoncello, preserved lemons, lemon pickles, dehydrated lemons — and then we still had so many lemons left. But thanks to this group, I discovered that you can can lemon juice! So now, my lemon juice no longer resides in the freezer.
💬 The success: "I'm so excited to have this in my canning closet. Thanks Rebels!!"
🌳 The Lemon Tree Harvest
Five years of patience paid off with an incredible lemon harvest. Here's what we did with our lemons:
- 🍋 Limoncello – The classic Italian liqueur
- 🍋 Preserved lemons – For Moroccan cooking
- 🍋 Lemon pickles – A tangy, savory treat
- 🍋 Dehydrated lemons – For teas and snacks
- 🍋 Canned lemon juice – Shelf-stable and ready to use
💡 Pro tip: "You can do so much with lemons! Don't let a single one go to waste."
🍋 What Is Canned Lemon Juice?
Canned lemon juice is fresh lemon juice that has been water bath canned for long-term storage. It's shelf-stable, convenient, and perfect for cooking, baking, and drinks.
It's perfect for:
- 🍰 Baking – Cakes, pies, and cookies
- 🥤 Drinks – Lemonade, cocktails, and tea
- 🍝 Cooking – Sauces, marinades, and dressings
- 🏠 Emergency food storage – Shelf-stable citrus
- 🧊 No freezer space needed!
💡 Pro tip: "Canned lemon juice is so convenient — no more thawing frozen juice!"
📦 Ingredients
Just One Ingredient!
- 🍋 Fresh lemons – As many as you have!
💡 Pro tip: "That's it! Just lemons and some elbow grease."
🛠️ Equipment Needed
- 🥤 Electric juicer – Or a manual citrus juicer
- 🧹 Fine metal strainer – For straining the juice
- 🌡️ Candy thermometer – To monitor temperature
- 🥫 Canning jars – Half-pint, pint, or quart
- 🔥 Water bath canner – Large pot with rack
- 🧴 Lids and rings – New lids for best results
💡 Pro tip: "We have two electric juicers so we set up a kitchen convoy — it made juicing so much faster!"
📝 Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1 – Juice Your Lemons
- Wash and cut your lemons in half.
- Use an electric juicer to extract the juice.
- If you have multiple juicers, set up a "kitchen convoy" for maximum efficiency.
💡 Pro tip: "We set up a kitchen convoy — it made quick work of a huge pile of lemons!"
Step 2 – Strain the Juice
- Pour the fresh lemon juice through a fine metal strainer.
- This removes pulp and seeds.
- Cheesecloth works, but a fine metal strainer is much easier and less messy.
⚠️ Important: "We used a fine metal strainer because the cheesecloth was a pain in the ass."
Step 3 – Heat the Juice
- Pour the strained juice into a large saucepan.
- Heat the juice to just below boiling.
- Use a candy thermometer to monitor the temperature.
- Heat to just over 200°F.
💡 Pro tip: "We used a candy thermometer to just over 200 degrees — this is the perfect temperature."
Step 4 – Prepare Your Jars
- While the juice is heating, sterilize your jars and lids.
- Keep jars hot until ready to fill.
💡 Pro tip: "Keep jars hot in a 200°F oven or in the canner water."
Step 5 – Pour into Jars
- Pour the hot lemon juice into hot, sterilized jars.
- Leave 1/2 inch headspace.
- Remove air bubbles with a bubble remover or chopstick.
- Wipe rims clean with a damp cloth.
- Add lids and rings — finger-tight.
💡 Pro tip: "Wipe those rims clean! Any residue can prevent a good seal."
Step 6 – Process in Water Bath
- Place jars in the water bath canner.
- Make sure jars are covered by at least 1 inch of water.
- Bring the water to a rolling boil.
- Once boiling, start the timer for 5 minutes.
⚠️ Important: "Water bath for 5 minutes — jars in pot, allow water to come to a boil, start the timer for 5 minutes."
Step 7 – Done!
- Remove jars and cool on a dishtowel.
- You'll hear the satisfying "pop" of the lids sealing.
- Check seals after 24 hours.
- DONE! Cool and store.
💡 Pro tip: "And that's it — 5 minutes in the water bath and your lemon juice is shelf-stable!"
Step 8 – Enjoy Your Canned Lemon Juice!
- Use it in recipes, drinks, and marinades.
- Enjoy the convenience of having lemon juice ready anytime.
💡 Pro tip: "Open a jar and enjoy the taste of sunshine — any time of year!"
🥫 How to Store Your Canned Lemon Juice
- 🏠 Pantry: Up to 1 year in a cool, dark place
- 🧊 Refrigerator after opening: Use within 1-2 weeks
- 🍋 Ready when you are!
💡 Pro tip: "Label your jars with the date so you know when they were canned."
💡 Pro Tips for Canning Lemon Juice
- 🍋 Use fresh lemons: The fresher the lemons, the better the juice.
- ⚡ Use a juicer: An electric juicer saves so much time.
- 🧹 Strain well: A fine metal strainer is much easier than cheesecloth.
- 🌡️ Monitor temperature: Heat to just over 200°F — do not boil.
- ⏱️ Don't over-process: 5 minutes is all you need.
- 🫙 Use new lids: Old lids may not seal properly.
- 🏷️ Label everything: Date and contents on every jar.
💡 Pro tip: "I searched this group, the internet and Pinterest — and this is what I came up with. It works perfectly!"
🏆 The Rebel Moment – Lemon Juice No Longer in the Freezer!
"It's all because of this group, that my lemon juice no longer resides in the freezer!"
Before I found this group, I was freezing all my lemon juice. It took up so much space in the freezer, and I always had to remember to thaw it out before using it.
But thanks to the Rebels, I discovered that you can water bath can lemon juice — and it's so easy! Now I have jars of sunshine in my canning closet, ready to use anytime.
💬 The success: "I'm so excited to have this in my canning closet. Thanks Rebels!!"
🍋 Ways to Use Your Canned Lemon Juice
- 🥤 Lemonade: Mix with water and sugar for refreshing lemonade
- 🍰 Baking: Use in cakes, pies, and cookies
- 🍝 Cooking: Add to sauces, marinades, and dressings
- ☕ Drinks: Add to iced tea, cocktails, and hot water
- 🏠 Cleaning: Use as a natural cleaner
- 💪 Health: Add to warm water for a morning detox
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Can I water bath can lemon juice?
YES! Lemon juice is acidic enough for water bath canning.
❓ How long does canned lemon juice last?
Up to 1 year when properly canned and stored.
❓ Do I need to add sugar?
No — you can can lemon juice without any added sugar.
❓ Why heat the juice to 200°F?
This helps kill any bacteria and prevents the juice from turning dark.
❓ How long do I process the jars?
5 minutes in a boiling water bath.
❓ What if I don't have a candy thermometer?
Heat the juice until it's very hot but not boiling.
❓ Can I use bottled lemon juice?
Fresh is always better, but you can can bottled juice too.
❓ Why did my juice turn dark?
It may have been heated too much or stored in direct light.
❓ Can I can lime juice the same way?
Yes! The same method works for lime juice.
❓ Will I ever freeze lemon juice again?
Probably not! Canning is so much better!
📄 Printable Recipe Card
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║ CANNED LEMON JUICE ║
║ Finally Out of the Freezer! A Rebel Success Story! ║
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YIELD: Varies | TIME: ~1 hour | PROCESS: 5 min
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INGREDIENTS
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- Fresh lemons (as many as you have!)
EQUIPMENT:
- Electric juicer or manual juicer
- Fine metal strainer
- Candy thermometer
- Canning jars (half-pint, pint, or quart)
- Water bath canner
- Lids and rings
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INSTRUCTIONS
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1. JUICE: Use an electric juicer to extract all the lemon juice.
2. STRAIN: Pour through a fine metal strainer to remove pulp and seeds.
3. HEAT: Heat juice to just over 200°F (use a candy thermometer).
Do NOT boil.
4. JARS: Pour hot juice into hot, sterilized jars.
Leave 1/2 inch headspace.
5. SEAL: Remove air bubbles, wipe rims, add lids and rings.
6. PROCESS: Water bath for 5 minutes once water reaches a rolling boil.
7. DONE! Cool, check seals, and store.
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THE REBEL SUCCESS 🍋
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"It's all because of this group, that my lemon juice
no longer resides in the freezer! I'm so excited to
have this in my canning closet. Thanks Rebels!!" ❤️
© CanningRebels — Canned Lemon Juice
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