Key Lime (Mexican Lime)

What Is Key Lime (Mexican Lime)?

Key lime (Mexican lime), Citrus × aurantiifolia, is a small, round fruit. It is notably smaller and thinner-skinned than the large green lime commonly sold in markets (Persian lime, Citrus × latifolia).

As it ripens its skin turns light yellow, but in most recipes it is picked and used while still green, when its sourness is at its most intense. Its taste is sharper and has a more complex aroma than Persian lime.

Nutritional Value of Key Lime

100 grams of key lime contains about 30 kcal of energy; like other citrus fruits, it carries a high level of vitamin C and a moderate level of fiber. Values are approximate.

How Should Key Lime Be Consumed?

Key lime, like other citrus fruits, is consumed in moderate amounts as part of a balanced diet.

This information is general; key lime is a fruit, not a substitute for medical treatment.

How to Choose Key Lime?

A good key lime has shiny-tight skin, feels heavy for its size (indicating juiciness), and has no soft or bruised spots. Its color may have turned from green to yellow; both are suitable for consumption.

• The skin should be shiny and firm; wrinkled skin indicates staleness
• Fruit that feels heavy in the hand is juicier
• There should be no soft, bruised spots

How to Store Key Lime?

Key lime stays fresh for a few days at room temperature and 2-3 weeks in the refrigerator's vegetable drawer.

Using Key Lime in the Kitchen

Key lime is most often used with its juice squeezed for salad dressings, marinades, and desserts, its zest grated for aroma, and as a sour element in many Mexican and Southeast Asian cuisine dishes.

What Is Key Lime Pie?

A classic American pie native to Florida's Keys islands, made with key lime juice, egg yolk, and condensed milk; it takes its name from this lime and is one of its most well-known uses.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between key lime and regular lemon?

Key lime is notably smaller, thinner-skinned, and has a sharper, more aromatic taste than the Persian lime commonly sold in markets; its seed ratio is also generally higher.

Are key lime and kumquat the same fruit?

No, they are different fruits. Kumquat (Citrus japonica) is a small citrus fruit eaten whole without peeling because its skin is sweet; key lime, on the other hand, is a sour lime variety whose skin is not eaten.

Is key lime found in Turkey?

It is not common; it can be found in limited quantities in season at gourmet greengrocers and markets in large cities, mostly imported.