Do Lemon Bars Need to Be Refrigerated? (2024)

When life gives you lemon bars, store them properly.

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Sarra Sedghi

Sarra Sedghi has more than 10 years of experience as a food writer. She covers cooking, restaurants, and food culture, as well as travel, design, and lifestyle.

Published on November 12, 2021

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Do Lemon Bars Need to Be Refrigerated? (2)

Nobody can turn down a good lemon bar. Rich, tart, and sugary, this combination of shortbread and lemon curd is truly in a class of its own. But one simple lemon bar recipe can yield a lot of lemon bars, which brings up the question: How do you store all those extra lemon bars? Read on to learn the best way to store lemon bars, how long lemon bars last, and how to prep lemon bars for the fridge and freezer.

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Lemon Bars

Do Lemon Bars Need to Be Refrigerated?

Lemon bars should be stored in an airtight container and refrigerated in order to prevent bacterial growth or foodborne illness. The filling in lemon bars is made with eggs and can become a breeding ground for bacteria if it's kept in the danger zone (between 41 and 153 degrees F). To store lemon bars, simply place in an airtight container and seal tightly, then put them in the fridge. If you're stacking lemon bars, insert a sheet of parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking. According to the USDA, lemon bars will last in the refrigerator up to 7 days.

Can You Freeze Lemon Bars?

Lemon bars can be frozen and last up to 4 months if they're stored properly. To freeze freshly baked lemon bars, skip sprinkling powdered sugar over the bars (freezing powdered sugar creates a gummy texture) and let cool completely.

  • Freeze cooled lemon bars uncovered for 2-3 hours to set the filling. You can freeze the entire baking pan of uncut bars or individual bars.
  • Wrap individual bars or entire sections of a larger, uncut bar tightly in plastic wrap. Add a layer of aluminum foil for protection from odors and freezer burn.
  • Place bars in a large zip-top bag, or wrap in another layer of foil. If using a zip-top bag, squeeze all the air out before sealing.
  • Freeze for up to 4 months

To defrost lemon bars, remove from freezer, unwrap, and place on a serving dish or tray. Lemon bars will thaw within 30 minutes at room temperature. You may also place the lemon bars in an airtight container, and let thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

How Long Do Lemon Bars Last?

  • In the refrigerator: Up to a week in an airtight container.
  • In the freezer: Up to 4 months in an airtight container and properly wrapped.

Hungry for more? Check out our collection of lemon bar recipes.

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Do Lemon Bars Need to Be Refrigerated? (2024)

FAQs

Do Lemon Bars Need to Be Refrigerated? ›

Lemon bars should be stored in an airtight container and refrigerated in order to prevent bacterial growth or foodborne illness. The filling in lemon bars is made with eggs and can become a breeding ground for bacteria if it's kept in the danger zone (between 41 and 153 degrees F).

Can lemon bars be kept at room temperature? ›

If you're eating your lemon bars within a day or so of baking them, you can keep them at room temperature. Just place them in an airtight container. If you need to stack them, separate layers with a sheet of parchment or waxed paper. For longer storage, it's best to keep your lemon bars refrigerated.

Do Krusteaz lemon bars need to be refrigerated? ›

Refrigerate and cut into squares. Best served chilled.

Do lemons need to be refrigerated? ›

Lemons are best kept in the fridge. Stashed in the fridge in the crisper drawer or on a shelf, fresh lemons will keep for two weeks or more. If you really want your lemons to last, keep them in a sealed container (there are even specialty produce keepers for this purpose) or a resealable plastic bag.

Does baked lemon curd need to be refrigerated? ›

In a covered, airtight container for up to one week. It doesn't really freeze well. Lemon curd does contain eggs and dairy (butter), so I'd be ok leaving it out for the day if I plan on serving it, but anything overnight definitely would need to be refrigerated.

How long does lemon last unrefrigerated? ›

The best way to store lemons is in an airtight container in the refrigerator — stored this way, whole, uncut lemons will last up to one month. Alternatively, whole lemons can last on the countertop at room temperature for up to one week.

Does lemon juice spoil at room temperature? ›

Fresh Lemon Juice Shelf Life

Fresh lemon juice (and lime juice) will last about a day at room temperature or up to 4 days in the fridge when stored properly. This relatively short shelf life of citrus juice means you'll need to use up your lemon juice quickly to avoid waste.

Can you leave lemons at room temperature? ›

In fact, lemons will last up to four to six weeks in the fridge. You can safely store lemons at room temperature, but like any fruit, they will start to go bad quicker. On average, you have about a week to use lemons stored at room temperature before they start to dry out, go soft, or worse, begin to mold.

How do you store lemons without refrigeration? ›

Place the lemons in zip-locked bags, squeezing out as much air as you can. In this state, the lemons may retain most of their juice and flavor for as long as four weeks. The ideal temperature for storing ripe (yellow) lemons is between 4º and 10ºC (39–50ºF).

Why put a lemon next to your bed at night? ›

Due to the calming effects that this fruit possesses, smelling lemons that are kept near the bed, helps to relax the body as well as reducing the blood pressure.

Can you rebake lemon bars? ›

Undercooked lemon bars can be rebaked by placing them back in the oven for about five minutes. Be sure to watch them closely, as they can quickly become overcooked.

Can you put lemon bars in the fridge to cool? ›

In any event, I let the pan cool slightly, then put it in the fridge for a good 2 hours to let the lemon bars set and chill. Then I sifted powdered sugar liberally over the surface of the bars, then sliced them into neat squares, using none other than… A bench scraper! A knife works fine too, though.

Does lemon pie have to be refrigerated? ›

Lemon Pie can be made without meringue, just simply leave it off, or top it with whipped cream for the perfect sweet dessert. Does Lemon Pie have to be refrigerated? Yes, lemon pie is best refrigerated. Otherwise, the filling may be a bit runny.

Can you keep lemons at room temperature? ›

How long lemons last depends on how they're stored. At room temperature, they stay good for about a week. In the fridge, however, their life is lengthened by two to three weeks. That means you can keep store-bought lemons fresh for about one month.

What temperature should lemons be stored at? ›

Lemons can be stored between 10°C to 14°C depending on the maturity-ripeness stage at harvest, season of harvest, storage time and production area. They can be stored for up to 6 months under the right conditions.

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