Lemons are a type of product that is perishable.
This means they can lose quality as a result of postharvest water loss and postharvest decay.
Therefore, application of wax is an important part of preserving the quality of fruit.
It is one of the basic types of postharvest lemon treatments designed to avoid unwanted changes that will reduce the quality of the lemon.
Waxing is a type of citrus processing. A coat of wax is commonly applied to both inorganic and organic lemons. Organic lemons tend to have a coat of bee wax to improve their shelf life that is harmless but doesn’t lead to a good tasting peel.
The wax is designed to coat the fruit to protect it in transit, provide a glossy and shiny appearance, and create a protective barrier to moisture loss and dehydration:
- Some waxes are made with polyethylene, a type of plastic.
- Other waxes utilize shellac, a type of wax processed from the excreted secretions of an insect or beeswax.
How Can You Tell If a Lemon Has Been Waxed?
It can be difficult to tell whether a lemon has been waxed or not. A lemon that looks less shiny is no indication that it is un-waxed, and what a lemon appears will not help determine how quickly the wax will wear off.
When you compare a waxed and a non-waxed lemon, you will not notice any significant difference in appearance. There is a difference in feeling.
When you rub beyond the surface of the skin, the un-waxed lemon leaves a slight waxy residue on your fingertip.
The un-waxed lemon leaves no residue.
If you are going to attempt to remove wax, keep an un-waxed lemon close to compare results.
You may reach a conclusion by touch. With enough pressure, you can rub your finger or thumb on the lemons’ surface.
My experience is that there may be citrus coatings that feel the same before and after wax removal.
What Is the Importance of Waxing Organic Lemons?
The majority of lemons are picked prior to ripeness then cleaned, which removes most of the natural covers.
Many fruit growers artificially wax citrus effectively spraying on a thin layer of wax to the skin of the fruit.
Most synthetic coatings utilize anionic micro-emulsions containing resins or waxes, which one finds:
- wood rosin
- polyethylene
- carnauba
- beeswax
- shellac
- polyethylene
- and petroleum
The main purpose of coatings is to combat the loss of weight from fruits and cool damage, and shriveling by limiting respiration and transpiration. It also enhances fruit appearance by providing a shine.
Coatings/films have been developed as a sustainable process that is human-edible.
When used as a barrier layer or in the surrounding environment of a packaged lemon fruit, it provides a semi-permeable barrier to water vapor, carbon dioxide, and oxygen from the food to the surrounding environment.
The barrier serves to eliminate physical damage, microbiological and chemical spoilage, and extends product shelf-life.
Is It Better, to Buy Organic Lemons That Have Been Waxed, or Un-Waxed?
To ensure the skin is fresh and shiny, lemons are often waxed.
It is assumed the wax is safe to eat. The waxing of a lemon can help extend its shelf life an estimated three weeks when stored outside of the refrigerator.
If chilled, a waxed lemon will last a longer time. If it is not waxed, it will last for about a week in the fridge.
If you just need the juice, the wax will not bother you. If you need to zest the lemon, however, non-waxed will be preferable.
If you need juice for cooking, the waxed lemon is a substitute and is often your only option. But, if the waxed lemons are your only option, you may want to de-wax them.
You can easily wash off the majority of the wax just by running it under water.
Additionally, studies have shown that Imazalil (IMZ) in the applied wax coating offers even better control of green mold in protective treatments.
The enhanced green mold control was shown just from applying the coating with the IMZ.
There are studies starting to consume some attention regarding the implications of increased coating on the quality of fruit, and whether the use of wax coatings and a residue load of Imazalil (IMZ) may impede control of green mold or influence fruit quality.
As a conclusion: You could conjecture that because of the waxed fruits, some waxed lemons may be unsafe for human consumption. The wax is generally fine for human consumption, but when possible, it is best to choose un-waxed organic.
How to De-wax Organic Lemons
Lemons are often waxed to preserve the skin and give it a shine.
This wax is thought to be safe to eat, but if you’re going to zest the lemon, you may wish to de-wax it first.
- Bring water to boil: In a saucepan, add enough water to cover the lemons and heat it on a high burner stove.
- Prepare the lemons in a sieve: Once the water is heating, lay the lemons inside the sieve in single layer.
- Pour boiling water over lemons: Once the water comes to a boil, pour the water over the lemons. The heat from the water will melt the wax partially and loosens it from the peel making it easy to rinse off.
- Brush lemons with a vegetable brush: It is very important to rinse lemons under cold running water while continuing to lightly scrub the outer peel with the vegetable brush.
- Give the lemons a good rinsing: So that any remaining wax is rinsed off.
- Dry the lemons well: To dry off the peel, softly wipe off the peel of each lemon with a clean paper towel. Do not store lemons while they are still damp.
Why Are waxed Lemons Cheaper?
Frequent blemishes or diseases from excessive coating can frustrate consumers of waxed lemons. Presence of these common defects can be one of the strongest influences on lemon pricing.
Frequent blemishes or disease is unacceptable for the consumer and is a strong factor in fruit pricing. Land-waxed lemons become short and are typically sold at a lower value.
Since non-waxed lemons have a more limited shelf life than waxed lemons, they need to be to be sold sooner or wasted if they do not sell.
Although non-waxed lemons can be perceived as inherently expensive based a higher replenishment rate.
Final Thoughts
Lemons are covered with wax for cosmetic appeal, safety during transport, and shelf stability.
The issue with this, however, is that the wax is not always safe. In addition, unwaxed lemons are often more expensive because they do not have as long of a shelf life.
If you want unwaxed lemons, organic lemons are your best bet.
Not every unwaxed lemon is organic, but every organic lemon is unwaxed.