How to Pick a Good Lime – 3 Telltale Signs to Look For

Limes are a small, green citrus fruit used in beverages and cuisines worldwide. When picking a good lime, there are three things you should keep an eye out for, from how it looks to how it feels.

Limes are a tart fruit that are commonly confused with lemons. While they are both part of the citrus family — and packed with similar health benefits — limes are easily distinguished by their yellow-green color and taste.

Like with many fruits, there are a few things you can look for when trying to tell if a lime is ripe and juicy; this includes squeezing the lime, checking the lime's weight, and inspecting the lime's color.

A box of lemons and limes. | Source: Getty Images

How to Pick a Good Lime

Whether you're looking for a good lime in your garden or want to ensure you pick the best limes from your local grocery store, find out more about the three tell-tale signs to look for when searching for the perfect lime below:

1. Check the Weight

One of the things you want to check for when deciding if a lime is good is its weight. Pick up a few limes and compare their weight, opting for the heavier ones. If the lime feels heavy, it is ripe and has a lot of juice.

A lime on a branch. | Source: Getty Images

2. Squeeze the Lime

Another way to tell if a lime is ripe and juicy is by squeezing the citrus fruit gently. If the lime is too hard, this means it does not have a lot of juice. In the same breath, if the lime is too soft, spotty, or dry, toss it back. A ripe and juicy lime should give way to a bit of pressure and a pleasant smell.

Sliced limes. | Source: Getty Images

3. Check the Color

Lastly, inspect the color of the lime to decipher if it is ripe. Often, limes are not one color — they'll be a mix of different shades of yellow and green.

This just means the yellow and slightly lighter parts received more sun, as natural forces like the wind can move branches and some limes. However, a ripe and juicy lime will be bright and slightly on the yellow side.

Limes in a wooden bowl. | Source: Getty Images

However, if you prefer your limes with a sour tang and want to add a bite to your recipes, go with a greener lime. As more yellow limes are further in the ripening process, they will be sweeter.

A lime. | Source: Getty Images

Now that you know how to pick a good lime, you should be set to tell if a lime is ripe and juicy just from looking at it and feeling it. For more how-tos, here's How to Tell When Dragon Fruit Has Gone Bad.