5 Best Lemon and Sugar Jar Recipes for Winter

Lemon preserved with sugar in a jar is a treat that's perfect for winter. This citrus fruit is high in vitamin C and antioxidants, which helps support the immune system when fresh produce is scarce. It's delicious with regular dark or green tea, but it can also be used as a filling for pies, buns, or frosting.

Peculiarities of preparing lemon with sugar

Preserving with sugar allows you to preserve the maximum benefits of fresh citrus fruits. Lemons provide numerous health benefits, but the most significant ones are considered to be:

• strengthening of the human immune system in general;
• energizing for the whole working day;
• combating depression, helping in the treatment of depression;
• stimulation of the heart;
• activation of brain activity;
• help in the fight against headaches and severe migraines;
• activation of metabolic processes;
• help in the fight against extra pounds;
• removal of waste and toxins from the body;
• normalization of blood pressure;
• improving sleep.

Of course, since the finished product will contain a high sugar content, you shouldn't eat it mindlessly by the spoonful. It's best to limit yourself to a maximum of 40-50 grams per day.

People who experience frequent allergic reactions, high acidity, or problems with the liver, gallbladder, or stomach should also be careful with this jam.

Fruits have high acidity, which is not good for tooth enamel. Therefore, after lunch, you need to rinse your mouth with water, and even better, brush your teeth completely.

Citrus preparation

Choose only ripe lemons, not overripe or underripe ones. These are easy to choose by the matte sheen on the skin.

And you shouldn’t pay attention to the color - it can be very light in a ripe, good lemon.

To remove bitterness, lemons are first dipped in boiling water and left for 15 minutes. The lemons are then cut into thin slices (1 to 3 millimeters, but no thicker). These slices will absorb the sugar and become more flavorful, eliminating the bitterness and tartness.

What kind of container should I choose?

A regular glass jar will do. Avoid very large ones; 0.25 to 1 liter capacity is best. However, if you have a large family and everyone loves citrus, two-liter containers are a good choice. Be sure to thoroughly wash them and sterilize them using a convenient method.

Choose high-quality nylon lids. They should seal tightly and ensure a leak-proof seal. They should also be sterilized before use.

The best lemon and sugar recipes for the winter

You can use one of your favorite recipes as a basis.

The classic method is through a meat grinder

This simple recipe won't pose any challenges even for a novice cook. You'll need:

• half a kilogram of ripe lemons;
• 1.5 kilograms of sugar.

Place the citrus fruits in boiling water for a few minutes, then pat dry. Cut into random pieces and grind them completely, zest included, in a meat grinder. Mix thoroughly with sugar. Place in sterilized jars. If you sterilize each jar for at least 15 minutes, the mixture can be stored in the refrigerator for about 3 months.

A healthy treat with ginger

You can also make a winter preparation with ginger. The root of this plant helps strengthen the immune system and is widely used to fight colds. You'll need:

• 1 kg of sugar;
• 140-160 grams of ginger root;
• 1.6 kilograms of sugar.

Lemons are prepared in the standard way: first, they are steeped in boiling water. Then, they are wiped clean and cut into pieces. The ginger root is peeled and sliced. You can simply chop the ingredients very finely, or put them through a meat grinder. In either case, they are thoroughly mixed with sugar and sealed in jars with nylon lids.

Spicy preparation with spices

This spicy citrus preserve is a delight on cold winter evenings. It's rich and vibrant in flavor and aroma, so it lasts a long time. You'll need:

• 1 kg lemons;
• 1.5 kilograms of granulated sugar;
• cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg, cardamom to taste.

Slice the lemons into small half-rings and cover them with sugar for several hours. Once they release their juices, simmer for 5 minutes, then add the spices at the very end.

You need to make sure that there aren’t too many of them - it’s better to add too little than too much (their flavor will be even more intense when prepared).

Then the lemon, ground with sugar, is sealed in jars without additional sterilization.

Grated lemon with sugar in a jar

You can also candied yellow citrus fruits with other spices and seasonings. It's recommended to try several preparations to find the most delicious one for yourself. For this recipe, you'll need:

• 7 fresh ripe lemons;
• 200 grams of salt (iodized, sea salt is a must);
• 7 pieces of fresh bay leaves;
• half a liter of boiled water.

Lemons are prepared in the standard manner, but without slicing. Four even cuts are made on the outside, reaching exactly to the center of the fruit. Sea salt and one bay leaf are sprinkled inside.

Place the lemons tightly next to each other. If there's any salt left, add it to the jars. Pour warm boiled water over them and seal with nylon lids. For flavor, you can add your favorite spices and even red hot pepper.

Raw five-minute jam

For this recipe you will need to take:

• 1 kilogram of lemons;
• 1.2 kilograms of sugar;
• a packet of vanilla sugar.

This jam really does take five minutes to make. Lemons are quickly washed, dried, and either put through a meat grinder or blended directly. The resulting mixture is then mixed with sugar and vanilla. Split into jars. A lot of juice will appear—if the pulp settles to the bottom, stir before each use.

Storage Features

Lemon, mashed with sugar, can be stored in a jar for up to a month. Sterilizing it increases its shelf life by at least two to three times.