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Fruit from North Africa and the Middle East

Preserved lemonsالليمون المصير

Lemons are cut into quarters almost to the base, packed with plenty of salt and covered with lemon juice in a sealed jar. Over about two weeks the salt draws out juice and lactic acid bacteria from the lemon surface lower the pH, and the rind softens. Only the rinsed peel is used.

Fully documentedFruit14 days

Recipe

Preserved lemons, a photo from Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Webaware, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Amounts from a sourceClemson Extension's recipe for about 1 quart, from the Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving; UC Cooperative Extension publishes the same recipe.
Lemons105 cut almost into quarters for the jar, 5 juiced[hgic][ucce]
Pickling or canning salt (non-iodised)½ cup[hgic][ucce]
Lemon juice1½ cupsFrom the 5 juiced lemons; fill the jar to within an inch of the top[hgic]
Bay leaves, cinnamon sticks and whole black peppercorns4, 4 and 1 tsp, optionalUse only dried spices or herbs, not fresh[hgic]
Starterspontaneous (lactic acid bacteria from the lemon surface)

Total time across the recorded steps: 14 days

Start
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What changes: Each lemon is cut into quarters, still joined at the base

Step 1 of 4
Cut the lemons almost into quarters
Time
Not documented
Temperature
Not documented
Salt
None given
Acidity
Not documented
Which microbes the steps name, step by step
Lactic acid bacteria

Slice 1/8 inch off the stem end and cut lengthwise into quarters, leaving the base intact.

Flavour
Not documented
Texture
Not documented
Colour
Not documented

Microbes at work in this step

Not documented for this step.

Method

Measured measured in a studySet fixed by a specification or tested recipeReported one source reports itTypical a general value, not sourced for this fermentUnconfirmed not yet checked against a source

At a glance

Lemons are cut into quarters almost to the base, packed with plenty of salt and covered with lemon juice in a sealed jar. Over about two weeks the salt draws out juice and lactic acid bacteria from the lemon surface lower the pH, and the rind softens. Only the rinsed peel is used. Made in 4 steps over 14 days. The longest step, ferment in a cool dark place, takes 14 days (Hardiman J.L. 2026). Lactic acid bacteria from the lemon skin does most of the fermenting.

Key numbers
Main step14 daysReported[hgic][ucce]Ferment in a cool dark place

What makes this one different

Preserved lemons are packed in salt and their own juice, with no added water. FAO describes lamoun makbous, known in west Asia and north Africa, where sliced lemons are salted for at least 24 hours, drained and mixed with oil and spices.

Related ferments

Variants

  • Lamoun makbousSliced lemons covered in salt for at least 24 hours, then drained and mixed with oil and spices [fao134].
  • Refrigerator methodLemons packed with kosher salt, left 2–3 days at room temperature, then refrigerated; ready in three weeks [ucce].

Safety

Use non-iodised pickling salt and a jar sterilised by boiling. Add only dried spices, since fresh herbs can change the pH, and refrigerate once the lemons are ready [hgic].

History and sources

Every number is labelled with how it is known. How this atlas is made

Clemson Extension says preserved lemons are a staple of Middle Eastern and North African pantries and were originally a way to keep lemons for use long after the fruit's season had ended [hgic].

Temperature, salt and pH
The sources we found give no temperature, salt or pH figure for any of its steps.
  1. [hgic] Hardiman J.L. 2026, Traditional Preserved Lemons. How to make and use preserved lemons at home, Clemson Cooperative Extension, Home & Garden Information Centergov
  2. [ucce] UC Cooperative Extension Master Food Preserver Program, Traditional preserved lemons (recipe sheet, from the Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving)gov
  3. [fao134] Battcock M., Azam-Ali S. 1998, Fermented fruits and vegetables. A global perspective, FAO Agricultural Services Bulletin 134, chapter 6.1.6 Lamoun makbousgov