John Myers
What should I watch out for if I want to buy untreated oranges and lemons? I want to use the peels for baking.
If you want to use citrus peel for baking or garnishing, we recommend organic fruit. In organic farming, the use of pesticides during the growth and ripening period is prohibited, as is the preservation of the fruit after harvest.
In the conventional cultivation of oranges, lemons, tangerines and the like, on the other hand, the use of pesticides and preservatives is common. Although the use of skin treatment agents such as tiabendazole or orthophenylphenol must be labeled, the notice is often very small and hidden. A strikingly bright color and shiny skin can indicate conservation.
Again and again, citrus fruits from conventional production that are marked as “untreated” can be found on the market. However, this only refers to the treatment of the skins with preservatives after harvesting. It remains unclear which and how many pesticides were used in the period before.
We advise you to always wash citrus fruits thoroughly with warm water before eating them or using them in the kitchen.
Untreated lemons FAQs
What are untreated lemons?
Treated lemons are those to which fungicide has been applied, a substance used to prevent the development of fungi and mould after harvesting. The purpose of this procedure is to lengthen the product shelf life. On the other hand, untreated lemons are those that have not been applied any treatment after harvesting.
Are supermarket lemons waxed?
Yes! Many fruits naturally produce wax. But after they’ve been picked and washed, the fruit’s natural coat comes off. Artificial wax is then sprayed onto fruit to keep the produce fresh and presentable for grocery stores.
Is the wax on lemons harmful?
Lemons are often coated with wax to keep the peel fresh and glossy. This wax is considered safe to eat, but if you need to zest the lemon, you may still wish to de-wax it before proceeding.
How do you remove wax coating from lemons?
To remove wax, you would need to pour boiling water over the fruit or use a vegetable brush to clean citrus under running water. You can usually skip that messy step. Instead, just rinse your lemons and oranges under cool water before use. Then, dry them with a towel.
What is the difference between a waxed and unwaxed lemon?
To preserve the freshness of the skin, most citrus fruit is soaked, washed and waxed before packing. Waxed and unwaxed lemons are available. Unwaxed lemons are ideal for slicing and adding to drinks or using as a garnish and when the zest is required. If a recipe uses lemon juice waxed lemons are the best choice.
Should you wash lemons?
After lemons are washed, they’re treated with a wax and a safe fungicide to keep them from getting moldy. And the wax means that any trace amount of pesticide residue is not really getting washed off anyway – at least not by a few seconds of rinsing. However, Adaskaveg still is in favor of rinsing.
