You might think a ripe lemon is rock-hard, like a baseball. Surprise: it’s not. A perfectly ripe lemon should have a little give when you gently squeeze it in your palm. Think of a stress ball that you’ve used for a week—firm, but with a bit of spring.
However, don’t be a lemon-squeezing monster. If you press so hard you leave thumbprints, you’ve gone too far. A lemon that feels mushy or spongy is past its prime, like a forgotten banana in your gym bag. Aim for that Goldilocks zone: not hard as a rock, not soft as a pillow.
