Freezing of vegetables and fruit is a great way to prepare a product, having kept at the same time the maximum quantity of its useful properties. Another thing is that usually resort to such reception to provide stocks for winter of seasonal cultures. Lemons, oranges, bananas — all this tropical beauty is present at counters all the year round therefore, apparently, to freeze it there is no sense. And still many hostesses store in the freezer semi-finished products from lemons. Let's try to find out for what it becomes and as it works.
Whether it is possible to freeze a lemon
Let's notice at once: the frozen lemons are less useful, than fresh. Moreover, and tastes of a citrus as a result of similar processing also suffer: they smell not so delicious, lose the texture and even look not so appetizingly.
Important! The lemon, unlike banana, can be stored without freezing long enough. At the room temperature this term is not less than two weeks, and in the fridge or a cellar (temperature condition from 6 to 8 °C) — from two to four months.
Therefore when it comes to several citrus, nevertheless it is better not to freeze them. But if the hostess faced need to provide herself with lemons for all winter, the question of use of technology of long storage by all means arises, and in this case freezing — the best that can be thought up.
The fact is that the majority of the valuable components which are contained in vegetable products (vitamins, mineral substances, amino acids) collapse when heating, and here at low temperatures they remain almost completely.
So, freezing of a lemon allows to preserve the bioflavonoids which are contained in it (routines, quercetin, hesperidin, diosmin, tsitronin, ramnozid, eridiktiol), minerals (phosphorus, zinc, sulfur, potassium, calcium, magnesium). Freezing also does not influence folic acid (B9 vitamin) with which citrus fruit is very rich.
And here the ascorbic acid which is considered as the main value of a lemon in the frozen product almost completely is lost. However, this element decays and at other manipulations with fruits — for this purpose it is not even necessary to heat them, to cut and leave rather simple on light for some time.
Important! Svezhevydavlenny lemon juice contains at least five times less vitamins, than the frozen fruits and if for its extraction devices with the metal details coming into contact with pulp were used — useful properties of a product decrease still twice.
It is worth referring speed and simplicity of process and also lack of need to involve at the same time additional preservatives (first of all sugar which also allows to prolong life to a citrus to advantages of freezing, but at the same time repeatedly reduces the directions of their use in the medical purposes).
Than the frozen lemon is useful
So, the frozen lemon is useful slightly less, than fresh, but at the same time nevertheless keeps a large amount of curative properties. At the same time it is necessary to make the important reservation: to use a similar product as medicinal raw materials, it is very important to observe technology of freezing that in house conditions, unfortunately, can be provided not always.
So, it is the is best of all curative qualities of fruits remain at shock cooling when temperature in the freezer is about -40 °C, and in such conditions the fruit which is just removed from a tree is located. In the country where citrus trees do not grow, and are delivered from far away, their many valuable properties are lost already at a transportation stage.
Learn, than the lemon and its oil and also citric acid, a lemon with honey, water with a lemon is useful.
Besides, whatever method of preparation of a lemon for freezing was used (cutting by segments, a juice pressing, preparation of a dried peel), it is necessary to try to make so that before sending preparation to the freezer raw materials contacted to three main enemies as little as possible — light, oxygen and metal.
From that, how accurately the hostess will manage to observe the specified requirements, the final advantage of the frozen lemon directly depends.
For strengthening of immunity
When speak about useful properties of a lemon for strengthening of the immune system, usually mean the ascorbic acid which is contained in fruits which when freezing substantially decays.
However the protective, all-strengthening and anti-inflammatory functions of a lemon doing by his excellent assistant at various infectious diseases are provided not only at the expense of vitamin C.
Very important role for our immunity is played by the numerous bioflavonoids which are contained in a dried peel, pulp and juice of a lemon and also vitamins and other biologically active agents which low temperature does not influence.
Whether you know? The first bioflavonoid known to mankind was allocated from a lemon dried peel in 1936. This substance received the name of routines, known also as vitamin P.
Routines often call vitamin for immunity. It has pronounced antibacterial and antiviral properties, strengthens vessels, improves sight and also reduces allergic reactions. Besides, routines helps an organism to acquire the ascorbic acid which is repeatedly mentioned above which in itself is the most powerful immunomodulator.
For weight loss
Not so much overeating, how many the wrong metabolism in an organism is the main reason of obesity.
The passive way of life and irrational food lead to accumulation in cells of the bad cholesterol which is laid in the form of fat on our sides.
The lemon (fresh or frozen) helps to clean an organism from slags and toxins, to accelerate a vermicular movement of intestines and to stimulate active work of digestive system.
Study rules of a buckwheat, proteinaceous, bezglyutenovy, kefiric, potato, Mediterranean, cheese, ketogene diet.
It will be very useful for person interested to lose weight to drink water to which the frozen lemon is added (a daily dose — 75 g of a citrus).
However for obtaining desirable effect, of course, it is also necessary to lead a healthy lifestyle — to happen in the fresh air more, to start working out, balance food.
For kidneys and a liver
Lemon and other organic acids which are contained in a lemon and also vitamins, minerals, flavonoids, limonoida, pectins and essential oils well influence work of a liver and kidneys and even help to struggle with some quite serious diseases of these bodies.
So, by means of the frozen lemons it is possible to stimulate:
- development by an albumine liver — the protein playing an important role in blood formation and delivery of useful substances to bodies and fabrics;
- protective properties of hepatocytes — the specific cells of a liver providing removal from blood of toxins and preservation of useful substances in an organism;
- protective functions of a liver at its infection with pathogens of various nature (bacteria, viruses, etc.);
- replenishment of a liver energy;
- processes of a conclusion of bad cholesterol and free radicals of blood, resorption of cholesteric plaques;
- dissolution of stones in kidneys, a pancreas and bilious channels;
- production of enzymes of a liver and their outflow;
- general clarification of an organism.
Get acquainted with the seven of the most useful products for kidneys.
For kidneys diuretic properties of a lemon are very useful. There are even special methods of cleaning of kidneys with its help for only several days.
Prevention of cancer
Surprisingly, but the frozen lemon is applied even at oncology. The fact is that many biologically active agents which are contained in tropical fruits and completely remaining when freezing have pronounced antioxidant properties.
The free radicals who are formed in our organism of the exchange processes resulting there enter interaction with healthy cells, destroying their structure and damaging cellular membranes.
The cage mutation, that is its regeneration in atypical (malignant) can result from such reaction. The ability of any given substances to connect free radicals and is called antioxidant action.
Whether you know? Wild-growing lemons in the nature do not meet and are not known to science. This type of a citrus is grown up and extends only thanks to the person.
For this reason the frozen lemons are recommended to be used as supportive application when passing a course of chemotherapy to help an organism easier to transfer negative consequences from this difficult procedure — in particular, at cancer of lung, a mammary gland, a thick gut, a prostate, stomach, skin, mouth. However to say that the frozen lemons represent full-fledged means against cancer it would be wrong and extremely irresponsible. To the statements sounding sometimes that a citrus kills malignant cages in ten thousand times better, than chemotherapy, it is necessary to belong, to put it mildly, critically.
Learn how to eat not to develop cancer.
Contraindications and harm
The frozen lemons have the same contraindications, as fresh. The list of situations at which it is necessary to refuse the use of this product is absolutely small.
Perhaps, it is only possible to include in it:
- existence of individual intolerance to one or several nutrients which are a part of fruits;
- stomach ulcer of a stomach or duodenum;
- serious problems with tooth enamel (citric acid can damage a protective layer of teeth even more).
Certainly, it is impossible to eat the immature, overripe, rotten fruits and also lemons which were frozen several times or were stored with violation of sanitary and other standards.
As it is correct to freeze lemons
There are several ways of freezing of a lemon, but we offer the simplest and rational.
It is the best of all to use it that who considers citrus fruits not as delicacy, and as a way for improvement as:
- first, he assumes the minimum manipulations with fruits before freezing that allows to keep the maximum quantity of the useful substances which are contained in them;
- secondly — provides use of fruit entirely, together with a peel which is just thrown out often.
Important! Content of vitamins B to a lemon peel approximately is ten times higher, than in juice.
So, everything is very simple:
- Get fresh lemons in shop. Fruits have to be absolutely mature, emergence on a peel of appetizing gloss (at green lemons the peel has yellow color, but remains opaque), but not overripe at all testifies to it (soft fruit should not be taken). It is ideal to choose grades with a thick peel, it allows to keep all useful nutrients as much as possible. Thick-skinned lemons usually have a hilly, but not smooth skin.
- Before freezing take a control fruit and cut it in half to be convinced that pulp densely keeps on membranes. Otherwise the product, most likely, was already frozen — or, in any case, was stored with violation of temperature condition. For preparation and use as medicinal raw materials similar fruit do not suit.
- Carefully wash out the selected fruits under warm water and a rigid brush well wipe a peel to remove wax with which often rub fruits for ensuring long storage and the best presentation. It is possible to sprinkle a little a peel weak solution of citric acid or vinegar and to leave on a quarter of hour, after that carefully to wipe with a rigid rag and to allow to dry completely.
- Right after removal of wax (it is very important) place a lemon entirely in the freezer. If the fridge has the fast freezing function, it surely should be included.
- If necessary to use the frozen product it is taken from the freezer, as fast as possible grated together with a dried peel and a peel and used for designated purpose (it is added to water or other drinks, is used for powder of salads, etc.).
But there is also other, more difficult way:
- The lemons prepared in the above way and placed in the freezer are not frozen completely, and are only led up to a condition of easy hardening (the fruit that is called has to grab a little a frost).
- After that halffrozen fruits are grated entirely.
- The received mix is displayed in portion containers and again placed in the freezer already for continuous storage.
Such way has both advantages, and shortcomings. The maximum maintaining useful properties is provided when freezing fruit entirely, however in this case it and will need to be used at once as repeated freezing is inadmissible concerning one and all products. Portion preparation allows to use a small amount of a product, that which is necessary for in advance known purpose.
Learn how to freeze fennel, parsley, spinach, grapes, carrots, siliculose haricot, mushrooms.
Sometimes also separately frozen lemon dried peel or juice is used, but such products are good for the culinary purposes — as medical raw materials better to use citrus fruit entirely, but not its separate parts.
How to freeze a lemon for the future: video
How to use
The frozen lemons (as, however, and fresh) if it is about treatment, it is the best of all to accept in food together with a dried peel and without sugar. For the rest everything depends only on taste and imagination.
There are several simplest recipes in which it is possible to use such ingredient:
- As additive to natural yogurt (it is better to make it in house conditions from milk and special ferment).
- As gas station to salad. The lemon is well combined with any vegetables and greens and also nuts, mushrooms, cheese, fish, seafood, a bird.
- It is possible to strew with the frozen grated lemon the main fish dish.
- Lemon ice cream can be added to any drink — from plain water to grass infusions, compotes, chayov, some fruit drinks, etc.
The lemon is used in preparation of a mackerel, grouper, apple pie, apple desserts, tea with ginger.
Single portion of the polished frozen fruit — 25–30 g, that is about 1/3 whole fruits, however it is necessary to be guided by own health.
Too sour taste of a lemon does overdose by such product improbable, however at any changes in a state therapy it is necessary to suspend and consult concerning a possibility of its continuation with the attending physician. Let's sum up the results. The frozen lemon is not so useful as it fresh, but nevertheless keeps much more curative properties, than prepared in the form of jam or ground with sugar.
Such product allows to strengthen protective functions of an organism and has positive impact on work of many bodies and systems, especially if to use it entirely, together with a peel.
At the same time it is necessary to understand that at all the useful qualities the lemon is not a panacea and full-fledged serious diseases medicine — it can be used only in the preventive purposes or as supportive application.