America's Test Kitchen LogoCook's Country LogoCook's Illustrated LogoAmerica's Test Kitchen LogoCook's Country LogoCook's Illustrated Logo

Best Lemonade

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on November 9, 2012

Yield

Serves 6 to 8

Best Lemonade

Ingredients

1 large lemon, sliced thin, ends discarded1 ½ cups sugar 7 cups cold water 2 cups fresh lemon juice (from about 12 lemons)Ice (for serving)

Before You Begin

Look for large, slightly soft lemons—they tend to be extra-juicy. Store the lemonade in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Instructions

  1. Using potato masher, mash lemon slices and sugar in deep bowl until slices release their juice and sugar begins to dissolve. Stir in water and lemon juice until sugar completely dissolves. Strain out lemon slices and chill or pour over ice before serving.
Best Lemonade
Photography by Daniel J. van Ackere. Styling by Catrine Kelty.

Best Lemonade

Headshot of America's Test Kitchen
By America's Test Kitchen
Save

Yield

Serves 6 to 8

Ingredients

1 large lemon, sliced thin, ends discarded
1 ½ cups sugar
7 cups cold water
2 cups fresh lemon juice (from about 12 lemons)
Ice (for serving)

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

1 large lemon, sliced thin, ends discarded
1 ½ cups sugar
7 cups cold water
2 cups fresh lemon juice (from about 12 lemons)
Ice (for serving)

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

1 large lemon, sliced thin, ends discarded
1 ½ cups sugar
7 cups cold water
2 cups fresh lemon juice (from about 12 lemons)
Ice (for serving)

Test Kitchen Techniques

Why This Recipe Works

Our Best Lemonade recipe maximizes the bright flavor of fresh-squeezed lemon juice and lemon zest, and adds just enough sweetness to temper its tartness. We muddled (or mashed together) one thinly sliced lemon with sugar to sweeten the lemonade. In this process, the sugar crystals absorb the intense flavor of the oils in the lemon peel and bring out the lemon’s flavor, making for a lemonade recipe that can cool down any summer day.

Before You Begin

Look for large, slightly soft lemons—they tend to be extra-juicy. Store the lemonade in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Instructions

  1. Using potato masher, mash lemon slices and sugar in deep bowl until slices release their juice and sugar begins to dissolve. Stir in water and lemon juice until sugar completely dissolves. Strain out lemon slices and chill or pour over ice before serving.

Gift This Recipe

Enjoyed this dish? Let others know by sharing it as a gift recipe.

Keep Exploring

This is a members' feature.