Citrus juices like lemon and lime juice have many uses in a foodservice kitchen in a wide range of dishes, and bottled juices like Sunshine lemon and lime juice from Steric are great to have on hand whenever a little zing is required.
Lemon and lime juice are used in cooking to add depth and provide an arresting and acidic touch to dishes. The pair are the most commonly used juices in the foodservice industry.
There’s a couple of simple rules to follow when using bottled juice:
- Can be a good substitute for a dish that isintendedto be sour.
- Blends better in cooked dishes, as opposed to raw dishes that often depend on the bright taste of fresh juice.
Lemon juice and lime juice add unmistakable character to a wide range of dishes. They are often used to underscore a fresh or cooked seafood dish or to marinate a meat dish, or added as an ingredient in salad dressings or drizzled over pancakes.
The taste difference between lemon and lime juice
In terms of flavour, these two citrus fruits arequite similar. They’re both tart, but lemons have a slightly sweeter taste, whereas limes are usually more bitter. So, you’re more likely to see lemons in sweet dishes rather than limes.
Nutritionally, they’re almost identical and share many of the same potential health benefits, some of which we outline here.
Unsurprisingly, when it comes to cooking, bothlemon juice and lime juice are used in similar ways. The one you choose will likely be based on the dish’s flavour profile.
The many uses of lemon juice in cooking
Lemon juice is a common ingredient in cooking and baking and features heavily in many foodservice kitchens. It adds a little zing to savoury and sweet dishes alike. Due to its very low pH level, it’s one of the most acidic natural ingredients available, so providesstructure to jams and jellies,and helps baked goods rise.
Lemon juice is also a great accompaniment to fish and poultry so it is often used in sauces, or just squeezed over the food before eating. In baked goods and desserts, lemons provide a light, fresh flavour.
Plus, it can be used to tenderise meat, or it can be used as a substitute for vinegar in dressings. Lemon juice added to steamed vegetables will help them keep their bright colours and enhance their flavour. It can be added to beverages for a refreshing flavour.
It is also used to prevent the discolouring of the flesh of fruits and vegetables that oxidise quickly when exposed to the oxygen in the air, due to the high content of Vitamin C.
“Lemon and lime juice are used in cooking to add depth and provide an arresting and acidic touch to dishes.”
Lime juice in cooking
Lime juice can be used in a similar way to lemons but as they are stronger in flavour, generally a smaller amount is required. They are used in sauces or as an accompaniment to fish and poultry. Lime juice will enhance the flavour of fruits, vegetables, salads, and other dishes without adding fat or a lot of calories. It also allows less salt to be used.
Like lemon, lime juice is also used in baked goods and desserts to provide a light, fresh flavour like the famous Key Lime pie.
It’s also a popular addition to many co*cktails like margaritas and daiquiris, as well as refreshing non-alcoholic drinks like lemon, lime and bitters.
Lime juice can also prevent the discolouring of the flesh of fruits and vegetables that oxidise quickly when exposed to the oxygen in the air. It also makes a great meat tenderiser and marinade.
Other uses of lemon juice
Lemon juice is the perfect addition to your cleaning supplies.It is a disinfectant, cuts through grease, removes stains, and leaves behind a clean, fresh scent.
It can be added to other remedies to work as a wood cleaner/polisher, degreaser, cleaner, stain remover, and food disposal cleaner.
As an ingredient for natural care items, it can be used as a hand scrub and natural hair lightener.
Lemons havemany health benefits and help boost immunity. Lemon juice mixed with honey and hot water is great for a sore throat. Drinking lemon juice mixed with water every morning is said to be a great way to start the day.
Australian made Sunshine Lemon Juice and Sunshine Lime Juice
Chefs regularly choose Steric’s Sunshine Lemon Juice and Sunshine Lime Juice for their outstanding quality and consistency. Those attributes have become a hallmark of the line for more than 40 years.
Made at Steric’s advanced commercial food manufacturing facility in Sydney, Sunshine Lemon Juice contains 99.9 per cent lemon juice, while Sunshine Lime Juice contains 99.9 per cent lime juice. They are shelf-stable for ease of use while not sacrificing quality.
Sunshine Lemon Juice is available in 250 ml, 500 ml, 1 litre and 2 litre bottles. Sunshine Lime Juice is available in a 250 ml bottle.
You can order our Sunshine Lemon Juice and Lime Juice through yourlocal distributor.
