If you stocked up on lemons this summer and don’t want to risk them going bad too soon, here’s how you can fix that!

Have you ever tried these essential lemon preservation hacks? From soaking them in water to making lemon-infused salt, these tricks will help make sure your lemons never go to waste again.

Got lemons sitting in your pantry? Here’s how to keep them from spoiling too fast—whether whole or juiced. These clever tips will help you save both the juice and zest in the best possible way.

1. Freeze them in ice cube trays

Start by taking two or three lemons and zesting them. After that, juice them as well. Pour both the zest and juice into the compartments of a regular ice cube tray. Stick the tray in the freezer. Once frozen, pop the cubes out and store them in a resealable glass container or a silicone freezer bag. Keep them in the freezer, ready to use anytime you need a burst of lemon flavor.

2. Use a toothpick (yes, really)

When you slice a lemon in half and only use a little juice, don’t just toss the leftover half in the fridge uncovered. It’ll dry out or spoil quickly! Instead, try the toothpick method. Simply poke a toothpick into one end to squeeze out just a little juice at a time—this way, the lemon stays fresher in the fridge for much longer.