Lemons

[Kitchen Witch]

Store lemons at a cool room temperature or loosely covered in the refrigerator and plan on using them within a week of purchasing them, although they may last much longer, depending on their age when bought.

The flavor in lemons resides in both the juice and the skin, and many recipes call for using both.

Room-temperature or warm lemons are easier to juice. If you are not using the lemon peel, soak lemons in hot water for 5 minutes to soften the flesh slightly and make them yield more juice.

The lemon flavor in the skin resides in the zest, the outermost yellow portion of the skin. When grating the zest from a lemon, use a sharp grater and make sure to remove only the yellow portion -- the white pith beneath has a strong, bitter flavor.