How to Make Fresh Squeezed Lemonade

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: May 19, 2022 References Approved

Lemonade is a tasty drink, and it can be made simply at home from just a few ingredients! Mix together sugar, water, and lemon juice, and don’t be afraid to experiment with other flavors, like fresh mint or muddled strawberry.

Ingredients

4-6 lemons to make 1 cup (240 mL) of lemon juice
1 cup (200 grams) of white granulated sugar
4 cups (950 mL) of water
Ice (optional)

Makes 4-6 servings

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Making a Classic Recipe

1
Juice 4-6 lemons to get 1 cup (240 mL) of fresh lemon juice. Roll the lemons on the countertop to loosen the juices. Slice them in half widthwise, using a clean cutting board and knife. Use a citrus press, a wooden reamer, or a citrus juicer to extract the juice from enough lemons to make 1 cup (240 mL) of juice.^{[1]
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- If any seeds fell into the juice, use a strainer to sieve them out before moving on to the rest of the recipe.
- You could zest the lemon rind, too. Use a zester, a microplane, or a vegetable peeler, and zest about 1 tablespoon (6 grams) of the yellow part of the lemon peel and add it to the lemon juice. This will add more fragrance to your lemonade, as well as a little bit of bitterness.
2
Make a simple syrup out of sugar and water. In a saucepan, bring 1 cup (200 grams) of white granulated sugar and 1 cup (240 mL) of water to a boil. Once it’s boiling, reduce the heat to low so the mixture is at a simmer, and stir it occasionally. Let it simmer for 4-5 minutes, or until all the granules of sugar have dissolved—the syrup will be clear and the granules will no longer be visible at the bottom of the pan. Remove it from the heat and turn off the stovetop.^{[2]
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- Simple syrups can be stored in a resealable glass container in the fridge for up to 3 weeks. After that amount of time, they might start to crystallize and become harder to use, or they could get moldy.
- Simple syrups are a great way to add sweetener to beverages—if you want to make extra, just double or triple the amount of sugar and water.
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3
Combine the simple syrup, lemon juice, and water in a large pitcher. Carefully pour the syrup, juice, and remaining 3 cups (710 mL) of water into a glass or ceramic pitcher. Use one that is 32 ounces (910 g) or larger. If you zested the lemon peel, add that to the pitcher at this time, too. Stir everything together with a long spoon.^{[3]
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- For a fizzy alternative, switch out the water for 2 cans of soda water. If you do this, enjoy your lemonade right away rather than storing it in the fridge for later.
- If you’re worried about the lemonade being too sweet, start off by adding just a ¹⁄₂ cup (120 mL) of the simple syrup, and then add more if you want.
4
Adjust the flavor to be more or less sweet, depending on your taste. Add more simple syrup (you may have to make more if you used the full cup already) if the lemonade is too sour. Add more lemon juice if it’s too sweet. Similarly, you could also dilute the drink with more water.^{[4]
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- Once you find the perfect proportions for your personal preferences, write down your recipe so you know how to make it the next time you need it.
5
Chill the lemonade in the refrigerator or serve it over ice. Enjoy the lemonade immediately by pouring it over ice in a glass. If you don’t want to dilute the lemonade with more water (from the ice), simply chill it in the fridge for 30-40 minutes before serving. If you have leftovers, keep them in the fridge and enjoy them within 7 days for the ultimate freshness.^{[5]
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- If you’re making lemonade ahead of time for a party, make it the same day so it’s as fresh as possible. You can leave it in the fridge for several hours before it’s time to serve it. Just make sure to give it a good stir in case any of the ingredients settled while it was chilling.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Exploring Add-Ins and Variations

1
Create different flavored simple syrups to dress up a simple lemonade. To make a simple syrup, use 1 cup (200 grams) of white granulated sugar, 1 cup (240 mL) of water, and 1 cup (150-175 grams) of any fruit or a 1/2 cup (15 grams) of any fresh herb. Simmer everything together on the stove for 4-5 minutes, or until the sugar has completely dissolved. Remove the pan from the heat, and let the syrup sit on the stove or countertop for up to 1 hour. Once the time is up, strain out the add-in with a colander, and save the syrup in a resealable glass container.^{[6]
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- Some fun flavors that go well with lemonade: mint, blackberry, lavender, rosemary, strawberry, peach, and ginger.
- Simple syrups will last for about 3 weeks in the fridge.
- Some recipes call for different marinating times, so follow recipe instructions carefully.
2
Muddle strawberries to create a delicious strawberry lemonade. For an individual glass of lemonade, use 1-2 strawberries. For a 32 ounces (910 g) pitcher, use 1 cup (150 grams) of strawberries. Remove the crown (the stem and leaves) with a knife, put the strawberries into a bowl, and use a muddler or wooden spoon to crush them and release their juices. Then simply spoon the muddled strawberry into your glass or the pitcher of lemonade and give it a good stir.^{[7]
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- You could also muddle raspberries, blueberries, or blackberries for other fun variations.
3
Infuse the lemonade with fresh herbs for a new twist on a classic drink. Put a few sprigs of fresh rosemary, lavender, or thyme into a 32 ounces (910 g) pitcher of lemonade, or add in about 1/2 cup (13 grams) of fresh mint leaves. This works best if you have a few hours to let the lemonade and herbs marry.^{[8]
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- Try combining different herbs for different flavor options. For example, mint, rosemary, and raspberry would be delicious, as would lavender and thyme.
4
Blend lemonade with ice to make a refreshing slushy. After you’ve made your basic lemonade, add it to a blender along with 2 to 3 cups (470 to 710 mL) of ice. Mix everything together for 30-60 seconds, or until all the chunks of ice are gone. Serve the slushy right away.^{[9]
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- Depending on how much the ice dilutes the drink, you may want to add more lemon juice or more simple syrup.
5
Mix lemonade and iced tea for a caffeinated afternoon treat. Use equal amounts of each liquid, or adjust the proportions to meet your preferences. More lemonade will make a sweeter drink, whereas more iced tea will give the drink a less-sweet, more mellow flavor.^{[10]
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- This drink is often referred to as an “Arnold Palmer.”
- For an adult version, just add a jigger of vodka to your glass.

Community Q&A

Question

How can I make strawberry lemonade?

Sarah Battilana

Community Answer

Yes, definitely! Try muddling a few strawberries for a glass of lemonade, or 1 cup if you're making an entire pitcher. That way you can enjoy the fruit juices, as well as some chunks of fresh strawberry in your lemonade.
Question

How do I make a single cup of lemonade?

Community Answer

To make a single cup: Juice two lemons and add in 3 tsp of sugar and 1/4 cup of water. Then, mix it with a spoon and serve over ice. It’s super easy to make a smaller batch, just use less lemons, water, and sugar.
Question

Could you make this lemonade with lime?

Community Answer

Of course! Just replace the lemon with lime. You could also try using orange or other citrus fruits!