In this guide, we will compare lemon juice vs. lemon zest. These two ingredients may seem to do the same thing, but they don’t. Lemon zest is just the outer yellow skin of a lemon, and it has most of its flavor, while lemon juice comes from a squeezed lemon or purchased bottled and contains very little taste.
Lemon Zest Vs Lemon Juice
Lemon Zest vs. Lemon Juice
Lemon zest is the outer thin yellow skin of lemons. Lemon zest has small amounts of flavonoids, minerals like potassium and magnesium, fiber, and vitamins A, K, E, and C, which help to regenerate cells in our bodies and give us an energy boost when we need it most.
The zest is used to flavor foods such as baked goods and desserts and is often added to marinades for fish or chicken. Lemon juice is the liquid that comes from squeezing lemons. It contains citric acid, which gives it a sour taste and contributes to its nutritional value.
Lemon juice also contains vitamin C and potassium, which makes it suitable for your health. Juice can be used as a substitute for salt or vinegar in recipes. It can also be added to cooking or drinking water to help prevent scurvy.
What Is Lemon Zest?
Lemon zest is the outermost yellow-colored layer of the lemon skin. It contains essential oils, flavonoids, and pectin. Lemon zest can be dried and frozen for long-term storage.
It’s aromatic, flavorful, and best of all — it’s full of healthy vitamins and minerals. It can be used in cakes, beverages, fruits and vegetables, marinades, salads, and even desserts!
It can also be used in cooking and dessert recipes to add a citrusy flavor or to help preserve food, as lemon juice often is. Home cooks and chefs use lemon zest frequently: some substitute it for the whole fruit itself, while others use only the rind.
What Is the Composition of Lemon Zest?
Lemon zest is the yellow part of the lemon skin. Lemon zest contains mostly lemon oils and flavonoids and some cellulose and water.
The main components of lemon zest are:
- Limonene – a pale yellow liquid hydrocarbon with a pleasant smell.
- Linalool – a pale yellow liquid hydrocarbon with a sweet smell used to make perfume. It’s also found in lavender and coriander essential oils.
- Citral – a colorless liquid hydrocarbon with an orange-lemon scent.
What Is the Composition of Lemon Juice?
Lemon juice is made up of water and citric acid. The amount of citric acid in lemon juice varies depending on the variety of lemon, but it can range from 10 to 20%. The other components in lemon juice include:
Vitamin C – Lemon juice contains a good source of vitamin C, which is essential for boosting your immune system and fighting free radicals.
Minerals – Lemons are rich in potassium, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus. Potassium helps regulate blood pressure levels, while calcium and magnesium help improve bone health. Phosphorus plays a role in forming bones and teeth and also aids liver function.
Sugar – The sugar content in lemons is about 8 grams per 100 grams (3.5 oz). This makes them a good source of carbohydrates that can be used as an energy source when the body needs exercise or other activities that require physical exertion.
What Is the pH Level of Lemon Juice and Lemon Zest?
Lemon juice has a pH of 2-3. Lemon zest has a pH of 4-5. So, Lemon juice has a low pH than lemon zest.
The ph of lemon juice is more acidic than lemon zest. Because it contains citric acid, which is not recommended for use on the skin. It can cause irritation, redness, and burning sensation in sensitive skin types, primarily when used on sensitive areas like the face or neck.
Also, an organic acid is found in citrus fruits like lemons, oranges, and limes. It preserves food products like jams and jellies, salad dressings, and condiments such as ketchup or mustard. It inhibits bacterial growth by reducing its ability to dissolve oxygen.
The ph of lemon zest is alkaline and can be used as a natural exfoliator for dry skin types prone to breakouts and flaky patches. It will also help clear your pores by removing dead skin cells from within them while also preventing whiteheads from becoming inflamed and acne breakouts!
What Are the Uses of Lemon Juice and Lemon Zest?
Here are some uses of lemon juice and lemon zest:
- Use lemon juice to make salad dressings, sauces, marinades, or cooked dishes to add a bit of tartness.
- Use lemon juice to water or other liquids to reduce acidity, making them less likely to corrode your pipes or damage plastic food storage containers over time.
- Lemon juice is acidic in nature and contains vitamin C. Lemon juice can be used to treat sunburns and cuticles. It can also treat dandruff, eczema, psoriasis, and rashes.
- Lemon zest provides aromatic flavor without adding much liquid to the dish. Add it to salads and cooked vegetables for a punch of citrusy flavor.
- Use lemon zest as a garnish for fish or meat dishes, or sprinkle it on baked goods such as scones or muffins for added flavor and color!
- Lemon zest contains many antioxidants and vitamin C. Lemon zest can be used to make lemonade, marmalade, and curd. It is also a flavoring agent in various desserts, drinks, and juices.
Health Benefits of Lemon Zest:
Lemon zest has many health benefits, including aiding digestion, preventing cancer, and boosting immunity. It contains many essential oils such as limonene, citral, catechins, and terpenes that have powerful antioxidant effects on the body.
These oils are believed to protect against cardiovascular disease and cancer by preventing the oxidation of LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol).
It is also a good source of minerals such as potassium, magnesium, iron, calcium, and zinc, and a source of vitamins B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), and B5 (pantothenic acid), and C (ascorbic acid).
Lemon zest can also be used to help treat many different diseases and conditions, including:
-Acid reflux disease
-Asthma
-Diabetes mellitus type 2
-Heartburn (GERD)
Health Benefits of Lemon Juice:
Here are some benefits of lemon juice:
1. Lemon juice can help prevent kidney stones.
2. Lemon juice can help with weight loss because they contain fiber and pectin, which helps make you feel full longer.
3. Lemon juice is rich in vitamin C, an antioxidant required for immune system function and collagen production. Because vitamin C is water-soluble, you need to consume it every day.
4. Vitamin C can help reduce wrinkles by increasing collagen production in the skin, making it less likely to wrinkle or sag as much as it ages. It also helps the body to absorb iron and calcium, which helps to build strong bones, teeth, and gums.
5. Lemon juice can treat cold sores and other skin conditions. It also has some antibacterial properties that can help fight infections.
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Conclusion
We hope this post is helpful for you in understanding the difference between Lemon zest vs. Lemon juice. Lemon zest and lemon juice have very similar textures; however, lemon zest is often more bitter in taste and not as thick, if any. Overall, lemon juice tends to be more popular than lemon zest in most recipes that call for it.