You can keep a whole lemon submerged in water in the fridge for up to a few weeks, but for lemon slices in water, replace them daily or every other day for best taste and to minimize bacteria, though refrigerated lemon water lasts 3-4 days, becoming bitter or cloudy later. For whole lemons, a sealed container in the fridge is best for longer storage (weeks to a month), while submerging slices in a covered jug lasts only a few days before taste degrades and bacteria grow.
Set a timer and remove the lemons from the water after 4 hours max. You can always add more fresh lemon slices to the individual glasses when serving. OR, what I like to do is, freeze slices into ice cubes and use those when serving.
At restaurants, lemons are often cut and stored with the rind intact, which is where the bulk of contamination lives. Once submerged in water, those bacteria can leach into the drink. A Journal of Environmental Health study tested lemon slices from 21 restaurants, and more than half contained microbial growths.
If you're drinking directly from the cup the lemon water is in, I wouldn't do more than 24hrs. Bacteria starts to grow pretty rapidly at room temperature and the lemon just gives it another surface to grow on.
Do Lemons Go Bad? Like all fresh fruit, lemons do go bad. Lemons that have gone bad typically become very soft. They may become slimy, look shriveled, have an off odor, or contain visible mold that looks like a white or green powdery coating.
Risks of consuming spoiled lemon juice
Spoiled lemon juice can lead to food poisoning.
If you leave it out on your counter, at most, it'll last up to a week. If it's summertime or hot in your home, it'll last for a few days. Lemons that are kept in cooler areas, away from heat, will last about two weeks. If you decide to store your lemons in the fridge, they can last a maximum of four to six weeks.
Here are a few cases where you may want to limit or avoid it: If you have a sensitive stomach: Lemon juice is acidic, with a pH of about 2.3.6 Adding lemon to water makes it more acidic than plain water. If you have kidney stones: Some people drink lemon water as a home remedy for kidney stones.
Prevents kidney stones
Getting in the habit of drinking lemon water can also help your kidneys. Specifically, the citric acid in lemons blocks kidney stone formation and can actually break up smaller stones before they start to form.
"The natural acidity can help your body absorb minerals more effectively, especially iron," Dr. Sethi explained. Lemons contain both vitamin C and citric acid, and they help you absorb as much iron as possible from your diet. Better iron levels can potentially reduce the risk of anemia.
Similarly, Dawson et al. (10) found that Escherichia coli populations decreased during refrigerated storage after 24 h, but viable bacteria were still present on the lemon surface; E. coli populations on lemons stored at room temperature (22°C) increased slightly by 24 h.
Some say placing a cut lemon with salt by your bed can promote relaxation, purify the air, and even support your respiratory system while you sleep. The secret? Lemons release calming citrus compounds, while salt helps absorb moisture and airborne impurities.
Drinking more fluids like water with lemon flush out bacteria in your urinary tract and can help you prevent urinary tract infections. It's estimated that around half of urinary tract infections can be resolved by drinking lots of fluids. More acidic liquids like lemon water may be more effective at treating UTIs.
Determined to stop forgetting about, and therefore wasting, these precious gems of the flavor world, I looked around for the best way to store lemons and limes. One method, in particular, suggested that storing the whole fruits in water in the refrigerator helped them last longer—up to three months even.
A slice of lemon is an easy way to add a touch of citrus to your water, soda, or tea, but some studies show that extra flavor might not be worth the risk. In fact, there's a good chance it's making you sick.
Drinking lemon water for two weeks will improve your hydration levels, in addition to providing you with a vitamin C boost. Both of these can have positive effects on your overall health and well-being (8).
There's no scientific proof that lemon water alone can "clean" or "detox" your liver. Your liver doesn't need a drink to clean itself—it's already self-cleaning. However, lemon water can support your liver's function in small but helpful ways: Hydration: Staying hydrated helps the liver do its job well.
In a cup or pitcher, add 1/4 of a sliced lemon and ¼ of a sliced lime for every 8 fluid ounces (240 mL) of cold water. Let the water infuse for 2-4 hours, and then remove the lemon and lime before serving. You can add a fresh lemon or lime wedge to your drink when you're ready to have a glass.
Improves digestion
Lemon juice contains citric acid. Citric acid aids digestion by helping the stomach break down food and moving it through the digestive tract.
To freeze lemon slices that you can drop into drinks, lay them out on a cookie sheet and set them in the freezer for a few hours.
Whole lemons in the fridge: Up to 21 days. Cut lemons in the fridge: 3–4 days. Whole lemons in the freezer: Up to 4 months.
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.