Lemons are small fruits with bright yellow skin that are produced by small evergreen trees that belong to the Rutaceae family of flowering plants (originating primarily in China).
They are citrus and have a sour flavor with a bit of sweetness. Lemons are eaten raw and used as a raw ingredient in drinks (like hot tea, sweet tea, soda, even cocktails).
But, let’s get right to it: are lemons considered a stone fruit?
Quick Answer: No, lemons are not considered stone fruit. They do have thin skin and a juicy interior, as well as some seeds (depending on the cultivar), but they lack a central stone.
Are Lemons Stones Freestone or Clingstone?
Lemons are neither freestone nor clingstone because they don’t have a stone that needs to be removed. In fact, there is no stone at all, only little seeds inside of the individual sections of the lemon fruit.
That said, if lemons did have stones, and they came out as effortlessly as the seeds do, lemons stones would most certainly qualify as freestones.
Similar Stone Fruits
- Cherry is a similar stone fruit to lemon in that depending on the species cherries may be quite sour, with just a bit of sweetness (like lemons)
- Olive is another stone fruit that is similar to lemon in that it has such a strong flavor that it is included as a component in certain beverages (mainly cocktails)
- Peach is a stone fruit similar to lemon only in that it has thin skin and a rather juicy interior
Hey, I’m Joey. I’ve been cooking since I was a little kid and love everything about it. You can find my writing about food, kitchen appliances (such as blenders) and much more. Thanks for stopping by!
