Helpful Measurements and Substitutions For Limes and Key Limes (2024)

FAQs

Helpful Measurements and Substitutions For Limes and Key Limes? ›

In general, when substituting the lime and lemon juice mixture for Key lime juice, you should adjust the amount so it is 2 to 3 times less than the amount of Key lime called for in a recipe. In other words, if you need 3 tablespoons Key lime juice, you will use 1 to 2 tablespoons lime and lemon juice mixture.

You may substitute the key lime juice with a mixture of 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice and 1/4 cup fresh lime juice.

Key limes are much smaller and rounder than regular limes. The average key lime weighs about 3/4 ounce, and it takes 18-20 key limes to yield a cup of juice. In contrast, a medium Persian lime weighs about 3 ounces, and it takes 5-6 regular limes to yield a cup of juice.

Lime Juice Substitutes

In most dishes, a 1:1 substitute of lemon juice will work just fine. Depending on the recipe you could also try grapefruit juice or orange juice, bearing in mind that these are sweeter than lime. Calamansi lemons and tiny kumquats are also good substitutes.

A Key lime, also known as a Mexican lime, West Indian lime, or Florida Key lime, is significantly smaller and rounder. Key limes also contains seeds, while the Persian limes — sometimes called a Tahitian limes — found in grocery stores typically do not.

Citric Acid can be substituted – it will adjust the acidity (lower the pH) of the fruit, which is what you want to do.

EcoSYN™ is a safe and convenient alternative for hydrated lime in cement/lime/sand mortars.

If you've ever set out to make a recipe that calls for a bit of lime juice only to discover you don't actually have any in your fridge, vinegar can make an easy substitute. Like lime juice, vinegar is acidic, so in recipes that need the lime for acidity, this can work well.

Citrus bergamia, the bergamot orange, is a fragrant citrus fruit the size of an orange, with a yellow or green colour similar to a lime, depending on ripeness. Genetic research into the ancestral origins of extant citrus cultivars found bergamot orange to be a probable hybrid of lemon and bitter orange.

The Key lime has thinner rind and is smaller, seedier, more acidic and more aromatic than the Persian lime (Citrus × latifolia). It is valued for its characteristic flavor. The name comes from its association with the Florida Keys, where it is best known as the flavoring ingredient in Key lime pie.

What is a substitute for key lime zest? ›

If lime zest isn't available, you can use lime juice, lemon zest, lemon juice, or even orange zest instead. Be mindful about the type of recipe you're cooking before making a substitution.

Both lemons and limes have similar nutrients. Lemons contain more vitamin C and antioxidant flavonoids than limes. However, limes have slightly higher levels of minerals and vitamins than lemons. For example, limes have more niacin, calcium, iron, zinc, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium than lemons.

(Some residents of the Florida Keys and true Key lime pie aficionados will only use Key limes from the Keys.) If you can't find them anywhere, however, you can substitute a combination of regular fresh lime juice and fresh lemon juice in equal proportions.

Two tablespoons of Concord Foods Lime Juice equals the juice of 1 medium lime and is perfect with fresh fish or added to your favorite drink or family recipe.

In general, there's an easy ratio to remember: One lime equals two tablespoons of juice. It's also the equivalent of about one ounce of juice per lime. Limes are usually available year-round, but they're the most in season from June to August, so they'll be at their best quality during the summer months.

Research published in Pharmacognosy Review reveals that, when used daily, key lime has antibacterial, anticancer, anti-diabetic, antifungal, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. It provides metabolites that help protect the body from disease.