Tag: Cooking with lemons

Meyer lemons are a hybrid of a standard lemon and a mandarin orange, giving them a sweeter and less acidic flavor profile than regular lemons. This fundamental difference is key to understanding if Meyer lemons are better than regular lemons for your specific culinary needs.

By botanical definition, a staggering number of foods we call vegetables are technically fruits. So, what class of food is lemon? Both science and culinary tradition agree that the tart, yellow fruit from the lemon tree is, in fact, a fruit.

According to Specialty Produce, Meyer lemons are a natural hybrid of lemons and mandarin oranges, offering a milder, sweeter flavor profile. This unique taste has led many to wonder if these delicious fruits are as nutritionally beneficial as their more common lemon relatives. The simple answer is yes, and for a variety of compelling health reasons.

According to scientific understanding, Vitamin C is heat-labile and can be degraded by high temperatures, meaning boiling lemons will significantly reduce this key nutrient. This fundamental change is just one of several important outcomes that occur when you heat this citrus fruit, affecting everything from its taste profile to its texture and ultimate use.

According to a 2023 study, unripe citrus peel has significantly higher levels of beneficial flavonoids like hesperidin compared to mature fruit. This brings to question the safety and dietary implications when wondering, **is it safe to eat an unripe lemon?**