POLL: Citrus shootout--lemon or lime?

[Jenise]

One of them has to leave the planet: which would YOU keep?

This question came up during dinner the other night. I'd made tacos and served lime wedges with it. Why lime, Bob asked, why not lemon? Well, because Mexico = lime. Wouldn't lemon be just as good, Bob asked. Well, no. Er, maybe.

Thing is, lemons and limes both have a place in our kitchens. They're very similar but just different enough to ensure that we don't think of putting lime on our fish and chips any more than we crave key lemon pie.

But what if you had to choose just one?

I chose to keep the lime. To be honest, I don't really use either in much of my cooking (er, maybe that's because I don't really cook very much) but I do like a caphirinia from time to time, so the limes must stay!

I'd have to go with lemons, but only because in the parts of the US where I've lived the availability of different kinds of lemons has been much more exciting than the availability of different kinds of limes.

"Persian" limes can be found in Berkeley, but I don't regularly find top specimens. And aside from that it is just the regular "green" limes.

(Although aren't the limes yellow in Mexico?)

Still, I'd have to go with lemons for all the delicious and diverse opportunities they bring for citrus expression. But I'm sure someone can counter with an example of the infinite lime varieties as well..

Thai cooking uses a lot of lime, doesn't it? Of course, they also use lemongrass, but I don't think that counts on the lemon side.

Then there's ceviche, and although I think you can use any sort of citrus in it, I still prefer the lime version.

One of them has to leave the planet: which would YOU keep?

Nooooo!

They can both leave the planet, but with me carrying them! Both brilliant.

Limes.

They're better in gin and tonics.



Mike

Limes. I became used to limes when I was stationed in the Canal Zone - no lemons were available in Panama. except maybe in the US gov't commissaries.

[Jenise]

Hmmm...limes are winning by 2:1 margin. I didn't expect that. I wonder if Bill Spencer's voted yet--does anyone doubt which way he'll go????

[Robin Garr]

Very, very tough call. I love both. Lemons, it seems to me, play more of a role in classic cookery, but I always pick limes to put in iced tea, bubble water and other drinks. It seems for whatever reason that we always have limes in the fridge but often run out of lemons. This might indicate that we like lemons better, but I think the fact is that I just buy more limes.

Bottom line, after long and soul-searching consideration, I think I'll vote for limes. I love 'em both, and I do consider them different. But in my world, I'd be happier about substituting lime when lemon is called for than I would about substituting lemon when lime is called for. Make any sense?

Would not want to do without either one. They are always in my fridge. Pushed to make a choice though, I use lemons more often.

I am just thrilled that the Meyer lemon tree I bought this spring is loaded with blossoms and the Keffir lime is sending out dozens of new leaves as is the blood orange.

[Jenise]

Bottom line, after long and soul-searching consideration, I think I'll vote for limes. I love 'em both, and I do consider them different. But in my world, I'd be happier about substituting lime when lemon is called for than I would about substituting lemon when lime is called for. Make any sense?

That's exactly how I made my choice, Robin, exactly. And strictly based on food not booze, since the latter just isn't something we do in a could/would/just-don't kind of way.

I voted for lemons. Not much experience with limes although Tahitian Limes are in season right now and I got a bunch the other day.
But if limes leave the planet then all I need to get the pure piercing lime flavour is a very dry Clare Valley Riesling.

Hmmm...limes are winning by 2:1 margin. I didn't expect that. I wonder if Bill Spencer's voted yet--does anyone doubt which way he'll go????

%^)

I have my 7 favorite on-line recipe sites bookmarked - All Recipes, Cooking.com, Epicurious, Just Recipes (Melborponsti), On Line Cookbook, RecipeSource.com. and Recipezaar ... just a quick survey found -

15,156 lemon recipes or recipes using lemons

4,471 lime recipes or recipes using limes

If I were a COOK/CHEF and had to make that decision, to me (tongue in cheek) it's a no brainer -

LOOKS LIKE YOU COULD LIVE A LOT EASIER WITHOUT LIMES THAN YOU COULD WITHOUT LEMONS !

Not saying you couldn't sub one for the other BUT if you could why are there more lemon recipes or recipes calling for lemons than there are limes to start with ?

Besides - at 59 I'm too young to retire as a lemon grower !

Clink !

%^)

Bottom line, after long and soul-searching consideration, I think I'll vote for limes. I love 'em both, and I do consider them different. But in my world, I'd be happier about substituting lime when lemon is called for than I would about substituting lemon when lime is called for. Make any sense?

I agree with you Robin and Jenise. While I always have more lemons in my refer and use them faster than the limes, I don't want to put lemon in my lime dishes. So I go with the limes, then I will go grab a house near Bill Spencer.

One word: margaritas!! Can't make one without a lime, at least not a drinkable one.

One of them has to leave the planet: which would YOU keep?

Yes, they both have their place. If I had to choose to keep only one, it would be the lime.

I can think of lime substituting at a pinch for lemon almost anywhere I use lemon.

I can't think of lemon substituting for lime anywhere I use lime.

IMO, lime has the character. By comparison, lemon is just there for sourness.

-Paul W.

By comparison, lemon is just there for sourness..

Only if they are poor quality lemons (which are very common I admit).

But while lime may have more aggressive "character", lemons add lovely soft floral flavors to dishes.

Tough choice. Both are great, but I'd have to vote for limes. They can substitute for lemon, but not vice versa.

I read somewhere that if limes hadn't been so difficult to grow, they would have been the king of citrus instead of lemons.

Limes for me also. pico de gallo, margheritas, fajitas, grilled chicken, iced tea or ice water, marinades....plus cumin , lime juice, S&P, and EVOO is a fantastic marinade for almost anything.

Lemons...I like them. But rarely use them for anything other than a twist in a glass of water.

Richard

[Jenise]

Bill Spencer: when I was a kid, I loved lemonade. And there was this big contest between pink and yellow. And then I discovered green: limeade, which became my instant preference. I still love lemonade, but I like limeade a little better. And that's really all it comes down between lemons and limes for cooking. Believe me, Rao's Lemon Chicken NEEDS lemons, I never want to do without. Always have some in the fridge. But if I have to choose, well, it's limes I really like best. Always have.

Lemons, lemons, lemons! Limes aren't as juicy. I keep lemons in my refrig year round (and I don't keep much in my refrig <g>).

What a question! The one supernaturally-wonderful use for limes is as lime oil mixed with dark chocolate.

But lemons are much more versatile, really.

Limes. They're better in gin and tonics.

%^)

No disagreement but ...

Interesting to look at the drink recipes on The Virtual Bar and find -

1,357 drink recipes calling for lemon, lemon juice, and/or lemon peel

956 drink recipes calling for lime, lime juice, and/or lime peel

Glad to see that whether you're talking about cooking or drinking that this topic has not "soured" me on lemon usage versus lime usage ...

Clink !

%^)

I'd go lemons, too...

Love limes..Have both at home...But love lemons more...

b