Here's Why You Need To Refrigerate Lemon Bars

Although chocolate chip cookies are always an easy recipe to whip up when you're craving something sweet, there's a lot of other classic dessert recipes you should have in your back pocket. For people who prefer fruity desserts, lemon bars are a fan-favorite. If you want to try a twist on a lemon bar, try our recipe for gooey lemon brownies, and if your favorite part of a lemon bar is the curd, you can even make lemon curd in the microwave.

But no matter what dessert you make, you'll want to make sure you've saved the leftovers safely to prevent mold and bacteria. While you can leave some baked goods like banana bread in an airtight container on your kitchen counter, lemon bars always need to go in the fridge. According to Allrecipes, bacteria can grow in lemon bars when kept between 41 and 153 degrees Fahrenheit because of the eggs in the custard filling. To keep your lemon bars delicious and fresh, pop any extra pieces in the fridge so your hard work doesn't go to waste.

Allrecipes explains that lemon bars should go into airtight containers before they go into the fridge. Another tip AllRecipes provides is putting pieces of parchment paper between bars, so the lemon bars don't stick to each other. If you're out of plastic or glass containers, you can also cut up your lemon bars and wrap them in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. The USDA says that you can safely keep lemon bars in the fridge for seven days, but The Kitchn recommends consuming the bars in three days.

If you've made a whole batch just for yourself and can't finish all your lemon bars in a few days, another option is freezing them. According to the USDA, lemon bars keep in the freezer for two to three months. When freezing lemon bars, Once Upon a Chef lets them cool before wrapping them up and putting the treats in the freezer. When you need a quick snack or dessert, you can take the lemon bars out to defrost at room temperature for 30 minutes or overnight in the fridge, according to Allrecipes. If you choose to defrost the lemon bars in the fridge, make sure they're still wrapped and in a container or plastic bag.

Looking for other citrus-filled recipes? These 45 lemon recipes that will satisfy citrus lovers include drinks in addition to sweet and savory dishes, so you can plan an entire menu around this bright fruit.