Lemon Cold Storage: From Storage to Ripening in Fruit Cold Storage Rooms

Introduction: Why Lemon Cold Storage Is More Than Just Cooling

Lemons are a non-climacteric citrus fruit with unique post-harvest behavior. Unlike bananas, lemons do not naturally ripen after harvest, but their color, firmness, and market appearance can be managed through controlled storage and degreening processes.

A professional lemon cold storage system must therefore support two key phases:

1. Long-term quality preservation

2. Controlled color development before market release

This makes the design of a fruit cold storage room for lemons significantly different from standard produce cold rooms.

How Lemon Cold Storage Systems Work

Storage and Degreening as a Continuous Process

A commercial lemon cold storage system operates through coordinated control of:

• Temperature

• Relative humidity

• Air circulation

• Gas concentration (oxygen / ethylene)

The system allows lemons to remain physiologically stable during storage and then transition into a controlled degreening or conditioning stage when required.

Lemon Cold Storage Conditions Explained

Recommended Storage Parameters

• Storage temperature: 10–13°C

• Relative humidity: 85–90%

• Air circulation: Uniform, low-velocity airflow

• Ethylene exposure: Strictly controlled or excluded during storage

Incorrect conditions can lead to:

• Chilling injury (below 8°C)

• Peel browning

• Dehydration and weight loss

Maintaining stable lemon cold storage conditions is essential for both domestic distribution and export-oriented operations.

From Storage to Ripening: Lemon Degreening Process

How Color Change Is Managed

Although lemons do not ripen in the traditional sense, ethylene-assisted degreening is often used to improve peel color before sale.

Degreening conditions typically include:

• Temperature: 18–22°C

• Relative humidity: 90–95%

• Controlled ethylene injection

• Timed ventilation cycles

A properly designed fruit cold storage room can switch between storage mode and degreening mode with minimal system adjustment.

Core Features of a Commercial Lemon Cold Storage Room

1. Precision Temperature Control

• Avoids chilling injury

• Stable control range ±1°C

2. Humidity Management

• Prevents peel dehydration

• Reduces post-storage shrinkage

3. Ventilation & Gas Control

• Removes excess CO₂

• Supports optional ethylene control

4. Modular System Design

• Storage + ripening compatibility

• Flexible room zoning

hengliangcooling specializes in integrating storage and degreening functions within a single lemon cold storage project, reducing infrastructure redundancy while improving operational flexibility.

Typical Configuration for Lemon Cold Storage Projects

A standard commercial lemon cold storage setup includes:

• Insulated fruit cold storage room panels

• Medium-temperature refrigeration units

• Ceiling-mounted evaporators with gentle airflow

• Humidification system

• Optional ethylene control or degreening module

System capacity and airflow design are calculated based on carton density, stacking height, and storage duration.

Key Technical Parameters (Reference)

Main Application Scenarios

Citrus Farms & Packing Houses

• Post-harvest storage

• Export preparation

Fruit Distribution Centers

• Quality buffering

• Market-ready conditioning

Importers & Wholesalers

• Arrival storage

• Color optimization before resale

With extensive experience in citrus fruit projects, hengliangcooling supports lemon cold storage systems across multiple climate zones and supply chain models.FAQ: Lemon Cold Storage

What is the ideal lemon cold storage temperature?

Lemons are best stored at 10–13°C to avoid chilling injury.

Can lemons be ripened in cold storage?

Lemons do not ripen naturally, but controlled degreening improves peel color before sale.

How long can lemons be stored?

Typically 2–4 months, depending on variety and storage conditions.

Is ethylene required for lemon storage?

No. Ethylene is only used during degreening, not during long-term storage.

Professional Hengliang Cooling

Designing a reliable lemon cold storage system requires precise control of temperature, humidity, and airflow—especially when integrating storage and degreening functions.

hengliangcooling provides professional fruit cold storage room solutions, offering customized system design, refrigeration integration, and full project execution for citrus storage applications.
Contact hengliangcooling to discuss your lemon storage or conditioning project and receive a tailored technical solution and quotation.