Lemonade Calculator

About 4 lemons per litre is the standard ratio for a well-flavoured lemonade. Each lemon yields roughly 45ml of juice. If your lemons are particularly small, use 5-6 per litre; if they are large and juicy, 3-4 may suffice.

Roll the lemon firmly on the worktop before cutting to break the internal membranes. Microwaving for 10-15 seconds also helps. Cut in half and use a citrus juicer or reamer. Room temperature lemons yield more juice than cold ones.

Fresh lemonade keeps for 5-7 days in the fridge in a sealed container. Without preservatives, it will start to lose its freshness after a few days. For longer storage, make a lemon syrup concentrate (without water) that keeps for 2-3 weeks.

Yes, replace some or all of the still water with sparkling water. Add the sparkling water just before serving so it stays fizzy. You can also make a concentrated lemon syrup and top up with soda water when ready to drink.

Adding lemon zest to the sugar before mixing creates a more aromatic lemonade. Muddle the zest into the sugar, let it sit for 30 minutes, then add the hot water to dissolve. This extracts the essential oils from the zest.