How Much Does a Lime Weigh? A Detailed Look at Lime Weights

Limes are a versatile and popular citrus fruit used in cooking, baking and beverage-making around the world Their bright, sharp flavor adds a tangy zest to both sweet and savory dishes But when a recipe calls for “the juice of 1 lime” or “zest of 1 lime,” how much does that translate to in practical terms?

In this article, we’ll take a detailed look at determining lime weights and yields, including:

• Average weight of a whole lime
• Lime weights in grams, ounces, pounds, kilograms
• How much juice and zest you get from a lime
• Lime juice and zest conversions

Determining the Average Weight of a Whole Lime

When weighing limes, keep in mind there are different varieties including Key limes, Persian limes, kaffir limes and more. The most common variety sold in US supermarkets is the Persian lime.

After weighing a sample of Persian limes purchased from the grocery store, the average weight of a single lime is:

• Grams: 44g
• Ounces: 1.5oz
• Pounds: 0.1lb
• Kilograms: 0.04kg

So on average one Persian lime weighs just over 1.5 ounces or 44 grams. However limes can vary a bit in size, so you may find some a little smaller or larger.

How Many Limes in a Pound or Kilogram

To determine how many average-sized limes you get per pound or kilogram, you can use the average weight of 44g per lime.

• There are about 23 limes in one pound
• There are about 45 limes in two pounds
• There are about 91 limes in one kilogram

This helps give you a sense of how many limes are in a bag from the grocery store. A two pound bag usually has around 40-50 limes.

Lime Zest Yield from a Single Lime

Many recipes call for lime zest, the finely grated outer green peel of the lime containing the flavorful oils. But how much zest does one lime actually produce?

After zesting Persian limes, on average the zest from a single lime weighs:

• 0.3g
• Just over 1⁄4 teaspoon

So you get about 1⁄4 to 1⁄2 teaspoon of grated zest from the outer peel of one lime. While not a large quantity, that little bit of zest packs a lot of bright, citrusy punch.

Amount of Juice in a Persian Lime

To determine lime juice yield, Persian limes were juiced by hand until no more juice could be extracted.

On average, a single Persian lime produces:

• 1 1⁄2 tablespoons juice
• 15ml juice
• 15g juice

So when a recipe calls for the “juice of 1 lime,” plan on about 1 1⁄2 to 2 tablespoons of fresh lime juice. Limes do vary in juiciness however, so you may get a bit more or less.

Lime Juice Conversions

Here is a handy Lime Juice Conversion Chart to help convert between different units when juicing multiple limes:

To get an approximate cup of lime juice (237ml), you would need to juice about 16 Persian limes.

Key Takeaways on Lime Weights

To summarize key lime weights and yields:

• On average, 1 Persian lime weighs 44g or 1.5oz
• There are about 23 limes per pound and 91 per kilogram
• A single lime yields around 1⁄4 tsp zest and 1 1⁄2 tbsp juice
• For 1 cup lime juice, juice approximately 16 limes

Understanding how much juice and zest you get from a lime takes the guesswork out of shopping and prepping for recipes. While limes vary a bit in size and juice content, these benchmarks help provide a useful frame of reference.

So next time a recipe calls for a certain number of limes, you can confidently know about how many you’ll need to buy and prepare. Let the zesty lime flavor enhance your favorite dishes!