Lemon vs. Lime Juice

Lemons and limes are both in the citrus family, so their juices exhibit many of the same properties. They both have strong flavors of citric acid, but their tastes do not match and cannot typically be substituted for each other. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Identification

Lemons are yellow and oval in shape, and you should be careful when juicing them to avoid the seeds, which tend to fall out of the fruit. Limes are green and circular, and because they are smaller than lemons, they tend to produce less juice per fruit.

Taste

Lemons are tart and tend to taste astringent, but they can be combined with other flavors or sugar to produce a pleasant flavor. Limes tend to have a higher natural sugar content, as well as a higher percentage of citric acid.

Effects

Both juices are often used to add strong, acidic components to a meal. Lemon juice and lime juice also have preservative qualities, and sweetened lime juice was historically used by British merchants to prevent scurvy over the course of long voyages.

Benefits

Lemon juice and lime juice have been shown to have positive health benefits, derived mainly from their high level of vitamin C. When lime juice is included in the diet, there's evidence that it helps prevent cholera.

Complements

Both lemons and limes make excellent mixers for a variety of cocktails. Lemons also can complement fried foods and seafood, and limes are often used in the flavor profiles of Mexican cuisine.