When summer comes, there’s truly no match for the excitement of ice cream.
But if you prefer something a little more refreshing, try making your own frozen lemonade concentrate instead.
Frozen lemonade concentrate (also known as FLC) is a sweetened juice with a lemony tang that can be used to make a wide variety of cocktails and desserts.
You can even use it to make homemade lemonade or iced tea!
Here’s what you need to know about frozen lemonade concentrate, how to make it, and how to store it so you can enjoy it all year round.
What is the difference between frozen lemonade concentrate and regular lemonade concentrate?
The main difference between frozen lemonade concentrate and regular lemonade concentrate is sugar content.
Frozen lemonade concentrate has half the amount of sugar as regular lemonade concentrate.
This makes it sweeter than regular lemonade concentrate, but still has enough sweetness to balance out the tartness of the lemon.
Regular lemonade concentrate is just as tart as regular lemon juice, while frozen lemonade concentrate is slightly less tart because it contains more sugar.
How do you make frozen lemonade concentrate?
You start by juicing fresh lemons.
Then, place the juice into an airtight container, such as a mason jar.
The lemon juice will solidify over time, so you may have to stir it up every once in a while to keep it from forming crystals.
Once the lemon juice starts to thicken, pour it through a strainer to remove the pulp and seeds.
You should now have a clear liquid that looks like lemonade concentrate.
To sweeten the lemonade concentrate, add 1/4 cup granulated sugar per quart of juice.
Stir until dissolved completely before adding to recipes.
If you want to avoid this step, you can substitute honey, agave syrup, or maple syrup in its place.
What is the best way to store frozen lemonade concentrate?
Once you’ve made your frozen lemonade concentrate, you should store it in an air-tight container in the refrigerator.
Your homemade lemonade concentrate will keep for up to one month.
How long does frozen lemonade concentrate last?
If you’re planning on making a lot of frozen lemonade concentrate at once, you should freeze it in batches.
While it won’t last forever, it’ll probably last for up to two weeks.
After that, you’ll likely have to discard it.
What are some creative ways to use frozen lemonade concentrate?
While we love the taste of homemade lemonade concentrate, it can be hard to drink all of it yourself.
Luckily, you can turn it into many different types of beverages like Make a pitcher of margaritas, Create your own lemonade slushie, Make Blood Orange Lemonade,…
Here are some ideas:
Make a pitcher of margaritas
Use 2 tablespoons of frozen concentrate for each 4 ounces of tequila, and 3/4 teaspoon of salt per ounce of tequila.
Add lime juice, ice, and water to fill the glass halfway.
Garnish with a wedge of lime and serve immediately.
Add frozen lemonade concentrate to your favorite cocktail recipe
Try it in a classic Manhattan, a gin and tonic, or a daiquiri.
For a twist, try mixing in a splash of rum or bourbon.
Create your own lemonade slushie
Pour lemonade concentrate into a shaker filled with crushed ice, then shake vigorously.
Strain the mixture into a tall glass and top off with sparkling water.
Serve immediately.
Turn frozen lemonade concentrate into lemonade popsicles
Place 3/4 cup of frozen lemonade concentrate into a small saucepan and bring to a boil.
Reduce heat to low and simmer until thickened, stirring occasionally.
Remove from heat, let cool for 5 minutes, then pour into popsicle molds.
Freeze for at least four hours.
Make frozen lemonade concentrate milkshakes
Just mix 1 cup of milk with 1/3 cup of frozen lemonade concentrate.
Pour into a blender and blend until smooth.
Alternatively, you can use a hand mixer to beat together the milk and lemonade concentrate until smooth.
What are the health benefits of frozen lemonade concentrate?
Since frozen lemonade concentrate is lower in calories than regular lemonade concentrate, you can eat it straight from the freezer without worrying about consuming too much sugar.
Plus, since it’s made from fresh ingredients, it’s also free of preservatives and artificial flavors.
Are there any drawbacks to using frozen lemonade concentrate?
One downside to using frozen lemonade concentrate is that it doesn’t contain vitamin C.
To get your daily dose of vitamin C, you need to consume fresh fruits and vegetables.
Since frozen lemonade concentrate isn’t as high in vitamin C as fresh fruit, it’s not recommended for people who are looking to supplement their diet with extra vitamins.
How does frozen lemonade concentrate compare to other brands?
There aren’t many options when it comes to frozen lemonade concentrates.
However, most grocery stores sell a few brands that are similar to the ones listed above.
They usually consist of fresh lemons blended with sugar and sometimes flavored with orange blossom water and vanilla extract.
Most brands only contain sugar, which means they don’t have as much flavor as the homemade version.
What are some tips for making the perfect frozen lemonade concentrate?
For the best results, you should always use organic lemons.
When choosing lemons, look for those that are heavy for their size and have no blemishes.
Avoid picking lemons that are green or yellow.
Also, choose lemons that are firm, rather than soft or mushy.
When blending your lemonade concentrate, make sure you use a food processor or blender.
A blender will give you a smoother texture, while a food processor will help break down the pectin found in citrus fruits.
If you don’t have either of these kitchen appliances, you can use a potato masher instead.
Finally, remember to strain your homemade lemonade concentrate after you pour it into the containers.
This will prevent clumps from forming.
Blood Orange Lemonade Recipe
Equipment
- 1 bowl
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- Ice
- 1 cup fresh blood orange juice 4 to 6 oranges
- 1 cup fresh lemon juice 6 to 8 lemons
- 3 cups club soda
Instructions
- Cut each blood orange into quarters, removing the seeds and white membranes.
- Peel the segments using a vegetable peeler, then slice them into thin wedges.
- Put them into a large bowl, add the water and sugar, and stir to combine.
- Let sit overnight, then strain out the fruit and discard the water.
- If you’d rather not waste the water you strained out, you can mix it with fresh lemon juice instead.
- Mix in a little bit of honey to sweeten it up.
Video
Nutrition
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