A fresh squeeze of lime can bring a bright pop of flavor to dishes. When recipes call for the juice of one lime it typically means a tablespoon or two of freshly squeezed juice. But how much juice is in a lime and how many limes would it take to make a cup of lime juice?
The answer to these questions depends on the size, type, and freshness of the lime. In general, however, one lime yields about 1 ounce of juice. That means a cup of lime juice (8 fluid ounces) requires about eight limes.
To get the most out of your limes, roll them on a hard surface before cutting them open and squeezing them. This helps soften the skin, making it easier to juice. Also, try to juice the limes when they are at room temperature. Cold fruit can slow down the extraction of the juice and can give your finished product an unpleasant bitterness.
It is important to use only the juice of healthy, vibrant limes. Avoid limes with bruised or damaged skin as these can indicate that the fruit is past its prime. Also, discard any limes that have a fermented smell or color as these can spoil quickly.
If you have extra limes that won't be used before they go bad, consider juicing them and freezing them for future use. Simply pour the lime juice into ice cube or Souper Cube trays and freeze. Once frozen, transfer the cubes to a freezer bag or plastic container and keep them in the freezer for use in recipes or drinks whenever needed.