Can You Eat Lemons With Brown Spots?

Lemons are delicious and healthy fruits that can be enjoyed differently. However, sometimes you may find a lemon with brown spots on it.

Can you eat lemons with brown spots? Yes! As long as the spots aren’t infected and don’t penetrate the flesh of the lemons.

In this blog post, we will discuss what causes the brown spots on lemons and what conditions make them suitable or unsafe to eat. 

Can You Eat Lemons with Brown Spots?

Yes! As long as the spots aren’t infected and don’t penetrate the flesh of the brown lemons. 

The brown spots may be caused by citrus greening disease or citrus rust mites, which are harmless but unsightly.

It’s also possible that the spots were caused by an insect such as a mealybug.

Lemons with brown spots are still edible, but they must be vigorously scrubbed and washed thoroughly before consumption.

Sunburn can also cause lemons to develop brown spots. The fruit will usually recover if the sunburn is not too severe, but the lemon may lose its flavor.

However, if you notice that your lemon is mushy or has soft brown spots, you should throw it away. 

Is it safe to eat lemons with black spots?

The answer is likely a yes unless the dark spots penetrate the flesh. Brown flesh inside a lemon indicates a problem with the fruit. 

If you peel the fruit and the fruit seems fine, you can probably eat it. 

What Causes Brown Spots on Lemon?

The Most Common Causes for Lemon’s Brown Spots

Phytophthora fungus

Phytophthora fungus is one of the most common causes of brown spots on lemons.

The fungal diseases infect the lemon trees through the roots and spread to the fruit. The fungal infection can cause the lemon’s skin to turn brown, and eventually, the fruit will rot.

Citrus rust mites

Citrus rust mites are tiny pests that feed on the lemon’s skin. This feeding causes the skin to turn brown and can eventually lead to deformities in the fruit.

Moisten your thumb and rub it vigorously across the fruit several times to double-check. If the black spot does not come off, it is mites. Sooty mold will rub off if it does.

Citrus rust mites are so tiny they can barely be seen with the naked eye. The skin may be damaged, but the fruit will almost always mature properly, perhaps smaller, and the pulp and juice will still be good to eat.

Citrus greening disease

Lemon with brown spots can be caused by citrus greening disease.

It is caused by a bacterial pathogen called Candidatus Liberibacter spp., which was discovered in Florida in 2005.

The bacterium is spread through infected plant material, including seeds, lemon tree leaves, and fruits.

Symptoms include small brownish lesions on the citrus leaf, stem, or fruit surface. The fruit is still good to eat but is less sweet than usual.

Fruit production decreases dramatically.

Mealybug

A mealybug infestation can result in the appearance of brown spots on the rinds of the fruit. These spots are usually found on the lower half of the fruit.

The sugary honeydew secreted by citrus mealybugs falls on the leaves and fruits below, resulting in the growth of sooty mold.

In addition to its unsightly appearance, sooty mold may degrade fruit quality.

Fruits with brown spots caused by mealybug are good to eat, but they require vigorous scrubbing and should be washed thoroughly before consumption.

Sunburn

Sunburn can also cause lemons to develop brown spots.

The fruit will usually recover if the sunburn is not too severe, but the lemon may lose its flavor.

How Long Can Lemons Last Before They Go Bad

Lemons have a very long shelf life if kept properly. Limes can be kept in the refrigerator for three to four weeks if stored in a plastic bag.

Their shelf life is reduced to around a week when kept at room temperature.

Lemons can be frozen whole, sliced before frozen or frozen in their juice. When frozen, a whole lemon will retain its flavor for approximately three to four months.

Freshly squeezed lemon juice will be kept for a few days in the refrigerator.

Commercially bottled lemon juice, on the other hand, can be kept for months in the refrigerator. They include preserving chemicals that will last several months if unopened.

How to Tell if Lemon is Bad?

Lemons can last a while if kept properly. However, it’s essential to understand how to tell whether lemon has gone bad so that you don’t become ill.

Here are a few telltale signs that determine whether they’re genuinely spoilt.

The looks

When shopping for lemons, look at them carefully before taking possession of them.

You want to ensure they aren’t spotted with brown mushy spots, have white mold on the rind, or are shriveled. Moldy lemons are not suitable to eat.

However, if the lemon has taken on a bright green color (almost like a lime), this is likely because of temperature changes, not as a sign of the lemon gone bad. 

A new lemon should have smooth skin glossy rind with a lovely bright yellow color. Minor flaws in the skin are acceptable as long as they don’t cut into it.

The feels

If you find that your lemon is mushy or has a soft brown spot, it’s time to toss it out. Lemons are usually heavier than they appear and have a smooth rind.

When you see whether or not your lemons are bad, you need them to be firm, not soft. This is an excellent method of determining if your lemons are good.

The smells

If your lemons are fresh, you shouldn’t notice any odor before cutting into one. Your lemons are likely rancid if you detect a moldy or fermented odor.

They should be discarded if you detect a more pungent vinegary odor after cutting into them.