Do Lemons Ripen After Picking
So, what's going on here? Well, it all has to do with ethylene production, a gas that fruits produce as they ripen. Lemons, however, produce very little ethylene, which means they don't have the same ripening process as other fruits. But, they can still respond to ethylene produced by other fruits, which is why you might notice them changing color or softening up a bit.
Now, you might be thinking, "But what about all those lemon ripening tricks I've seen online?" You know, the ones that involve wrapping them in paper bags or setting them next to apples. Well, let me tell you, those tricks might not be entirely hoaxes, but they're not exactly scientifically proven either. It's like trying to get a cat to do tricks for treats – it might work, but it's not exactly reliable.
So, what's the takeaway here? If you've got some lemons that are a bit green or sour, you can try setting them out at room temperature or storing them in a paper bag with an apple. But, don't expect miracles – they might not turn into perfectly ripe, juicy lemons overnight. And if they do, well, that's just a lemon-y miracle.
When and How to Harvest Lemons