You can never go wrong with lemon Juice AKA the citrusy goodness. Whether you want to make lemonade in the hot summer or use them as a dressing for your salads, lemon juice is always a wonderful idea. However, squeezing lemons is quite a task. And if you are anything like me, then you’d prefer to skip this step and use bottled lemon juice instead. So where exactly can you find it?
Lemon juice can be found in the Juice aisle, along with other juice products in most grocery stores. Other stores may have it in the Condiment aisle, near the salad dressing, or in the Produce aisle with the fresh lemons and other citrus fruits.
Considering you can use lemon juice for any type of food and other essential needs, you should look for the kind that is right for you. Artificial lemon juice may have a different taste from freshly squeezed lemon juice, so one must know that to make the right selection. So where you find lemon juice in grocery stores will depend basically on its use.
Which Aisles Have Lemon Juice?
A grocery store can simplify our lives by offering all essential products together under one roof. However, if the store’s not well organized, it can be fairly difficult to find a specific product. You may need to browse through a few aisles when searching for lemon juice since it’s a multipurpose ingredient.
In other words, depending on the grocery store and their organizational system, lemon juice can be stored anywhere. However, the places suggested in the following list are some of the common places where you would find it. You also need to keep in mind that there are different types of lemon juice available in the market, so check the ingredients beforehand.
1. The Juice Aisle
The juice aisle is typically the first area you should look for when purchasing lemon juice. Look for natural, sugar-free citrus juices such as orange, grapefruit, and tangerines because lemon juice is often stored along with them.
However, certain lemon juices have sugar and preservatives added to them. Look for those with other fruit juices which are not citrus-flavored such as apple, grapes, and pomegranates. These kinds of lemon juices are used primarily for making both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
2. Salad Dressing Aisle
Lemon juice has been universally used as a salad dressing for centuries. Therefore, you will probably find them along with extra virgin olive oil, and other dressings in the salad dressing aisle. If you are purchasing lemon juice for salads, make sure you get the sugar-free kind, otherwise, your salads will become watery when the sugar interacts with other ingredients.
So, searching for lemon juice in the salad dressing aisle makes more sense now, doesn’t it? Meanwhile, do check if the lemon juice you are purchasing from the salad aisle has other added ingredients, such as vinegar, as you found it in the dressing aisle.
3. Produce Aisle
Produce aisles have fresh fruits and vegetables. So you might be wondering why would bottled lemon juice be there? It is because here you will also find fresh lemons. As a result, grocery stores may keep the bottles of lemon juice close to the lemons so buyers can easily locate them.
Apart from that, the produce section is more likely to be colder than the rest of the store, to keep the fruit and vegetables fresher for a longer time. As lemon juice is mostly citrus, the cold temperature is needed for those too, to keep them from going bad.
4. Condiment Aisle
Condiment aisles have the essential materials required for cooking. This includes sauces, spices, food colors, and several other products. Thus, the lemon juice that is used in cooking would be stored in this area among other ingredients. Look for the lower shelves where jello and other powdered juice packets are stored; you will most certainly find lemon juice there.
You might also find real lime juice there on the shelves. It has a stronger citrus flavor (sour and bitter) than lemon juice. Adding it to salsas and tacos is a great way to add some punch to the dish. Lemon juice, by contrast, has a slightly sweeter taste and is ideal for adding to other foods.
5. Refrigerator Sections
Lemon juice tends to expire under direct sunlight or humidity, so many grocery shops store them in refrigerators. It keeps the product safe and slightly chilled.
The temperature requirements of bottled lemon juice are found in the same section of the refrigerator as the yogurt and cheese. So you can check that section out.
Where to Find Lemon Juice in Target?
Target keeps lemon juice in the juice aisle next to the lime juice and the other juices.
Is Bottled Lemon Juice As Good As Fresh Juice?
The taste of freshly squeezed juice out of fruit is unparalleled. So, without any question, fresh lemon juice would be better in taste than bottled lemon juice.
However, the fact that getting juice from lemons is difficult cannot be ignored. To determine which is better, we must consider both sides while considering the following factors.
It doesn’t take long for lemons to go bad. If you buy a dozen lemons, you should expect them to spoil after seven days. In the fridge, they can last two to three weeks. Since you only add a few drops of juice to your meals, you won’t have to use a lot of lemons. Hence, having bottled lemon juice will save you a lot more money due to the added preservatives. Keeping it in the pantry and refrigerator ensures that it will store well.
Furthermore, both bottled and fresh lemon juice are high in vitamin C and low in calories. So, both of them would work great for you. However, bottled lemon juice can taste a bit stronger from added flavors, and additives such as Sodium Metabisulphite (E223) or Potassium Metabisulphite (E224). Because of this, it doesn’t taste quite as lemony as real lemon juice.
However, having them in hand will ensure you can use them whenever you please. You won’t have to waste 15-20 minutes on juicing lemons either. Besides being convenient, it would also last a long time. In addition, the acidity level of bottled lemon juice is always balanced, so you won’t be disappointed with the taste varying from bottle to bottle. It will remain consistent.
Thus, it is more convenient to purchase bottled lemon juice for the reasons mentioned above. These are not as expensive as real lemons; neither will they go bad after a few days. They are also easy to use and come in squeeze bottles. So, you won’t end up with a messy kitchen as well! These will be available for your use whenever and wherever you need them.
Conclusion
Lemon juice is such a versatile ingredient that it can be used in almost any food, and drink. Bottled lemon juice is available in almost all local grocery stores, so it’s easy to find. There are also a variety of brands that offer different kinds of juice, from 100 percent pure lemon juice to lemon juice with added sugar.
So depending on its use, and kind, lemon juice can be found in several sections in a grocery store. I hope this article has helped you with where to find lemon juice in grocery stores and more. Thanks for reading.