How to pick limes?

[LuluTheMagnificent]

Is there a secret to picking limes? OMG, every damn lime I get is dry as a rock. How to tell if they are juicy?

Thank you.

[LuluTheMagnificent]

Ok, I will pick up two and compare them. I didn't even think of that. This is already working. I added to much lime juice to my Guac. I have to go get another avocado. THANKS.

[duck833]

Have a Bearss lime tree also, nothing like picking fresh limes for a G & T or margaritas. My tree has a nice crop at the end of the summer and then keeps on going the rest of the year. The tree is in Scottsdale and is very happy.

[Joel]

I don't pick limes -- they fall from my tree when ripe, so I just gather them. .

We average about a hundred pounds a year. The crop size depends on the weather. More rain means more and juicier fruit. Peak season is now (February) -- summer citrus is not as juicy. The tree bears year-round, but in the dry weather the limes are not as good. I live in Northern California and it often does not rain between April and October. But it's pretty wet now.

These are a variety called "Bearss" and they are bright yellow when ripe, and seedless. I'm not sure if they are the "limes of commerce" -- often the limes in stores are the smaller Mexican limes (the varietal name, not the country of origin) though I have seen Bearss limes at the local farmer's market.

[EWSflash]

I can only speak for my limes at home, but they turn yellow and fall off the tree when they're ripe. You might try to find out when your variety of tree is supposed to ripen in your area, too, because if they're supposed to be green limes, how ya gonna know?

[greygarious]

I rarely buy limes, but assume the rules of thumb for citrus apply - in addition to heavy and shiny, I'd add: the tiniest possible "pores" so that the skin looks smooth and taut. That signals a thinner skin, which in turn seems to correlate with more juice.

[LuluTheMagnificent]

OK, I tried the suggestions and got a much juicier lime. I went with the shiny approach, couldn't tell if it was heavy for its size, maybe i'll master that part later.

[KTinNYC]

Just pick up 2 limes of comparable size in each hand, the heavier of the two is a juicier lime. It's pretty easy to differentiate between a juicy lime and a desiccated one.

[CindyJ]

That's the general rule I follow for ALL citrus -- I look for the shiniest fruit available.

[davethewave]

Usually limes fall into a spectrum that goes from juicy to dried up. Rounded, plumper, thinner skinned (hence the giving a little when pressed) on the juicy end and narrower, more football shaped, and thicker skinned on the dry end. Also as limes age and become less juicy, the skin becomes tough and more prone to denting as well as yellow. Bright green, round limes are the juiciest!

[LuluTheMagnificent]

Thank you all for the info it's much needed.

[Kelli2006]

Microwaving a lime/lemon for 1 minute on low will significantly increase the amount of juice that they produce, as will rolling them under your palm with medium pressure before you cut them.

[RGC1982]

Heavy for their size and very shiny.

[LuluTheMagnificent]

Ok, thank you for that.

[KTinNYC]

Heavy for their size is the a good rule of thumb for all fruit.

[woodleyparkhound]

Yes, heavy for their size and shiny -- and give just a little when pressed with a thumb.