First, pick it up. A fresh lime should feel heavy for its size, like a little green rock. If it feels lighter than a ping-pong ball, that lime has started to dry out from the inside out.
Now, give it a gentle squeeze. A good lime gives just a little, like a firm handshake. But if it’s rock hard? That’s a fossil. It’s lost all its juice and will be a nightmare to zest or squeeze.
On the flip side, if it’s soft, squishy, or has a dent that stays after you poke it, run. That squishy texture means the flesh inside is breaking down. It’s not a lime anymore; it’s a science experiment you don’t want to taste.
