Lime
Citrus aurantiifolia · Citrus
2 varietiesTop 10 pairings
Sharper and more bitter than lemon, this small, round, intensely green citrus brings bright acid to daiquiris, margaritas, ceviche, Thai curries and key lime pie. Its peel has an almost piney perfume.
Picking a good onedrag
Deep green, heavy, oil-slickYellow, light, papery
Shop greenEveryday bestThe all-rounder: wedges, juice, curries, marinades.
SkinGreen, a yellow blush at one end
WeightHeavy, but hard right through
Stem scarScar dry, a shade sunken
Scratched peelFragrant when rubbed, softer edge
What you get from one
84%
Edible part
67 g · peel and seeds off
80 g
Weight each
each one
55%
Juice
550 ml a kilo
Keeping ittap a temperature
Below about 8 °C the peel pits and tans. A fridge still buys weeks; 10 °C keeps it whole.
90–95%
Humidity
Gentle, not sealed
Airflow