Do Lemon Bars Need to Be Refrigerated? (2024)

When life gives you lemon bars, store them properly.

By

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.

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.

Do Krusteaz lemon bars need to be refrigerated? ›

Refrigerate and cut into squares. Best served chilled.

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.

Do lemons need to be refrigerated? ›

Storing lemons in the fridge is a great way to extend their shelf life. And if you want to keep lemons fresh for longer than a week, you'll definitely want to refrigerate them.

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.

How do you store lemons without refrigeration? ›

Not ready to give up your bowl of lemons as decor? If you'd like to store the citrus at room temperature, be sure to store them away from sunlight. Again, be sure not to store them around other ripening fruits, and they can last up to two weeks on your counter.

Can I 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.

Does lemon cake need to be refrigerated? ›

Some of our products that contain cream cheese must be refrigerated, like our Strawberry cake or Lemon cake. Others do not have to be refrigerated, like cakes that are covered in fondant or buttercream.

Can you rebake lemon bars? ›

This will keep them from spreading and becoming sticky. Can you rebake undercooked lemon bars? Results may vary, but it's worth a shot! Throw them back in the oven at the original temperature and rotate every 5 minutes until it appears done.

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.

Why put a lemon next to your bed? ›

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.

What happens if you don't refrigerate lemon juice? ›

Therefore, when a lemon juice container is opened, it is recommended to put it in the refrigerator due to the fact that air and warmth can cause bacteria, yeasts, and molds to grow, compromising the quality of the drink and potentially causing food poisoning.

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.

Can lemon bars be undercooked? ›

The most common reason for gooey lemon bars is they're undercooked. Be sure to bake them until the top is fully set and no longer jiggly in the middle. You'll also notice the edges will start to brown.

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.

Does lemon zest need to be refrigerated? ›

You can keep it in the fridge for about a week (best used in 3 days) or the in freezer for 3 months. The zest is a great addition to veggie sides and baked goods. Try it in a salad dressing! If you have a whole lemon where you have only zested some of the peel, wrap them in plastic and store them in the fridge.

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