This strawberry lemonade concentrate is your shortcut to vibrant, homemade drinks bursting with fresh fruit flavor, perfect for any occasion and incredibly cost-effective to make in bulk. This recipe simplifies creating delicious beverages, saving you time and money while delivering superior taste compared to store-bought options.
Key Ingredients for Strawberry Lemonade Concentrate :
- 2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and quartered
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (from about 6-8 lemons)
- 1 cup water
How to Make Strawberry Lemonade Concentrate :
This strawberry lemonade concentrate recipe is wonderfully simple, taking less than 30 minutes to prepare, and yields a consistently delicious and satisfying base for all your fruity drink creations. The vibrant sweetness of strawberries perfectly balances the zesty tang of fresh lemon, offering a refreshing taste that’s both invigorating and comforting.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Prepare the Strawberries: In a medium saucepan, combine the hulled and quartered fresh strawberries with the granulated sugar. Stir gently to coat the strawberries evenly with the sugar. Let this mixture sit for about 10-15 minutes, allowing the sugar to draw out some of the natural juices from the strawberries. This initial maceration step is crucial for intensifying the strawberry flavor in your concentrate.
Cook the Strawberry Mixture: Place the saucepan over medium heat. Cook the strawberry and sugar mixture, stirring occasionally, until the strawberries begin to break down and release their juices, and the sugar has completely dissolved. This should take approximately 8-10 minutes. You want the mixture to simmer gently, but not boil furiously. As it cooks, you can gently mash some of the strawberries with the back of your spoon to further release their flavor.
Simmer and Infuse: Once the strawberries have softened and released their juices, add the 1 cup of water to the saucepan. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer again and let it cook for another 5 minutes. This simmering time allows the flavors of the strawberries and lemon to meld beautifully with the water, creating a rich, syrupy base.
Strain the Concentrate: Remove the saucepan from the heat. Carefully strain the strawberry mixture through a fine-mesh sieve placed over a bowl or pitcher. Press down on the solids in the sieve with the back of a spoon to extract as much liquid as possible without forcing any pulp through. Discard the leftover strawberry solids.
Add Lemon Juice: To the strained liquid, add the 1 cup of freshly squeezed lemon juice. Stir well to combine thoroughly. The bright, tartness of the lemon is essential for balancing the sweetness of the strawberries, creating that classic lemonade profile.
Cool and Store: Allow the strawberry lemonade concentrate to cool completely at room temperature. Once cooled, transfer the concentrate to an airtight container or bottle. It is now ready to be stored!
Why You’ll Love This Strawberry Lemonade Concentrate :
You’ll absolutely adore this strawberry lemonade concentrate for its incredibly versatile and refreshing strawberry-lemon flavor that sings of summer all year round. Unlike bland, watery store-bought options, this homemade concentrate packs a powerful punch of natural fruit sweetness and zesty citrus, allowing you to customize your drinks to perfection. Imagine the delightful burst of sunshine in every sip, a truly irresistible treat that’s leagues beyond anything you’d find pre-packaged.
The best part? Making this concentrate at home is wonderfully economical, significantly cutting down on those impulse buys of expensive bottled drinks. For pennies on the dollar, you can whip up a batch that will yield countless glasses of delicious, custom-crafted beverages. Whether you’re craving a classic icy lemonade, a sparkling rosé spritzer, or even a base for smoothies, this concentrate is your secret weapon. It’s time to ditch the artificial flavors and embrace the pure, vibrant taste of homemade – try this strawberry lemonade concentrate today and taste the difference!
Storing and Reheating Tips :
Properly storing your strawberry lemonade concentrate is key to enjoying its fresh flavor for weeks to come. Once completely cooled, transfer the concentrate into an airtight glass bottle or jar. Store the container in the refrigerator. Your homemade strawberry lemonade concentrate should stay fresh and delicious for up to 2-3 weeks when refrigerated.
To serve, simply mix the concentrate with water or sparkling water to your desired taste. A common ratio is 1 part concentrate to 3-4 parts water, but feel free to adjust based on your sweetness and tartness preferences. While reheating isn’t necessary for a cold beverage, if for some reason you needed to warm it slightly (perhaps for a hot toddy variation), it would be done gently on the stovetop without boiling. Freezing is also an option for longer storage; pour the cooled concentrate into freezer-safe containers or ice cube trays. Frozen concentrate remains viable for several months, and frozen cubes are perfect for instantly chilling and flavoring drinks.
Final Thoughts :
This strawberry lemonade concentrate is a simple yet magical way to enjoy fresh, vibrant flavors at your fingertips all year round. Give it a try and discover the joy of effortless homemade refreshment. It’s a bright, delicious addition to any beverage that’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser!
Read more also:
- Strawberry Vanilla Bean Jam Recipe
- No-Sugar Added Strawberry Jam
- Peach and Lavender Jam
- Canning Fruit Syrups Homemade Recipe
- Our Pinterest
Strawberry Lemonade Concentrate
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- In a medium saucepan, combine the hulled and quartered fresh strawberries with the granulated sugar. Stir gently to coat the strawberries evenly with the sugar. Let this mixture sit for about 10-15 minutes, allowing the sugar to draw out some of the natural juices from the strawberries. This initial maceration step is crucial for intensifying the strawberry flavor in your concentrate.2 cups fresh strawberries, 1 cup granulated sugar
- Place the saucepan over medium heat. Cook the strawberry and sugar mixture, stirring occasionally, until the strawberries begin to break down and release their juices, and the sugar has completely dissolved. This should take approximately 8-10 minutes. You want the mixture to simmer gently, but not boil furiously. As it cooks, you can gently mash some of the strawberries with the back of your spoon to further release their flavor.
- Once the strawberries have softened and released their juices, add the 1 cup of water to the saucepan. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer again and let it cook for another 5 minutes. This simmering time allows the flavors of the strawberries and lemon to meld beautifully with the water, creating a rich, syrupy base.1 cup water
- Remove the saucepan from the heat. Carefully strain the strawberry mixture through a fine-mesh sieve placed over a bowl or pitcher. Press down on the solids in the sieve with the back of a spoon to extract as much liquid as possible without forcing any pulp through. Discard the leftover strawberry solids.
- To the strained liquid, add the 1 cup of freshly squeezed lemon juice. Stir well to combine thoroughly. The bright, tartness of the lemon is essential for balancing the sweetness of the strawberries, creating that classic lemonade profile.1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Allow the strawberry lemonade concentrate to cool completely at room temperature. Once cooled, transfer the concentrate to an airtight container or bottle. It is now ready to be stored!