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Lemonade by the Glass

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on August 22, 2007

Time

15 minutes, plus 2 hours chilling

Yield

Yields about 1 generous cup

Lemonade by the Glass

Ingredients

2 medium lemons, scrubbed well, halved pole to pole, all halves sliced thin3 tablespoons granulated sugar pinch table salt (optional)¾ cup water (cold)

Before You Begin

If you like, scrape the pulp from a couple of mashed lemon slices into the pitcher to make a more pulpy lemonade. Adding 1/2 teaspoon of grenadine turns the lemonade pink and imparts extra sweetness.

Instructions

  1. Mash lemons and sugar (and salt, if using) in small bowl with potato masher or wooden spoon until lemon slices give up their juice, sugar is dissolved, and juice is thickened to syrup consistency, about 4 minutes. Pour half the lemon slices and syrup through small sieve over bowl or saucepan; press on solids with masher or back of wooden spoon to release as much liquid as possible. Discard solids; transfer liquid to serving pitcher. Repeat process with remaining lemon slices. Stir in water until blended. Chill well and stir to blend before serving, over ice if desired.
Lemonade by the Glass

Lemonade by the Glass

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By America's Test Kitchen
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Time

15 minutes, plus 2 hours chilling

Yield

Yields about 1 generous cup

Ingredients

2 medium lemons, scrubbed well, halved pole to pole, all halves sliced thin
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
pinch table salt (optional)
¾ cup water (cold)

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

2 medium lemons, scrubbed well, halved pole to pole, all halves sliced thin
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
pinch table salt (optional)
¾ cup water (cold)

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

2 medium lemons, scrubbed well, halved pole to pole, all halves sliced thin
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
pinch table salt (optional)
¾ cup water (cold)

Test Kitchen Techniques

Why This Recipe Works

For a lemonade recipe full of lemon flavor, balanced by just the right amount of sugar, we mashed sliced lemons with sugar until a syrup was produced (thereby releasing all of the citrus oils and fully dissolving the sugar), then combined the lemon mixture with the correct amount of water.

Before You Begin

If you like, scrape the pulp from a couple of mashed lemon slices into the pitcher to make a more pulpy lemonade. Adding 1/2 teaspoon of grenadine turns the lemonade pink and imparts extra sweetness.

Instructions

  1. Mash lemons and sugar (and salt, if using) in small bowl with potato masher or wooden spoon until lemon slices give up their juice, sugar is dissolved, and juice is thickened to syrup consistency, about 4 minutes. Pour half the lemon slices and syrup through small sieve over bowl or saucepan; press on solids with masher or back of wooden spoon to release as much liquid as possible. Discard solids; transfer liquid to serving pitcher. Repeat process with remaining lemon slices. Stir in water until blended. Chill well and stir to blend before serving, over ice if desired.

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