How To Choose The Best Limes At The Grocery Store

Limes may make your lips pucker or accidentally reactivate that papercut on your thumb, but they're the unsung hero in many of our favorite foods and drinks. Just think about a late-night margarita (which you can make with the help of your microwave) without the tangy zest of lime or the perfect summertime lunch, ceviche, without that delicious bite of lime juice — it's just plain wrong. 

But when it comes to selecting the best limes at the grocery store, the choice can feel like an impossible task. You've sifted through the pile of bright green fruits and inspected each one carefully. But after a while, one lime starts to look like the next. And by the time you get home, you're disappointed to find that your lime is as dry as the Sahara.

To pick the perfect lime at the grocery store every time, keep in mind these four key factors: color, smell, firmness, and texture. Limes (like pineapples and watermelons) are considered non-climacteric fruits, meaning they stop ripening once they're plucked from the vine. The limes you'll find at the grocery store are usually picked slightly underripe: That way they're less likely to be damaged in transport. Grab your Stem Citrus Sprayer or your citrus squeezer and let your senses guide you to picking out the best lime at the grocery store.

In most grocery stores, you'll usually encounter either Citrus latifolia, also known as the Persian lime, or Citrus aurantifolia, otherwise known as key limes. Persian limes are the larger, greener limes that you've probably used in your kitchen, known for their milder, less acidic flavor. Picking a dark green one from the bunch may seem like the easiest way to find fresh fruit, but it couldn't be further from the truth. Instead, look for limes with a lighter green, almost yellow hue; indicating a sweeter and riper fruit.

To further determine the best lime in the aisle, use your nose to sniff the skin of the lime (without wiping your nostrils all over it, of course). A fresh lime should smell, well, limey. If you gently scratch the rind and don't smell anything at all, this may be an indication that the lime is underripe. 

You can also rely on your sense of touch to assess the firmness of the lime. It should be soft but not mushy, anything too tough will tell you that this lime is a no-go. Additionally, check the texture. Smooth skin is ideal, so anything too bumpy or thick means the fruit might be poor quality. Lastly, size does matter! Bigger isn't always better, but a heavier lime is sure to squeeze out the most juice.