The Seeds of Limes and Lemons

Seed Size and Quantity

• The size and quantity of seeds found in limes and lemons varies by the maturity and size of the fruit. Limes found in a grocery store often appear seedless, but this is frequently due to the fact that the lime was picked for sale before full maturity. If left on the tree, the lime would develop inner seeds just like lemons. When you cut into a lime or lemon, you will see many of the seeds at the cut mark, but others hide deeper in the fruit.

Removing Seeds

• Since the seeds of a mature lime or lemon are plentiful, if you squeeze the lime or lemon juice into a dish, it can be beneficial to use a juicer, which will catch the seeds, or squeeze the lime or lemon over cheesecloth, which will catch both the big seeds and small seeds that come from deeper in the fruit. If you are eating a lime or lemon plain, the seeds can be fished out using the tip of a knife or grapefruit spoon.

What to Do With Seeds

• Like other citrus fruits, as well as apples, pears and peaches, the seeds of limes and lemons both contain trace elements of cyanide, according to food science expert Harold McGee, so they should never be eaten. While the seeds will not hurt you in small quantities, they can make you ill in larger amounts. If you don't intend to plant them, the best thing to do with lime or lemon seeds is to dispose of them. You can do so in your garbage disposal, and the hard texture will help sharpen the blades.

Planting Seeds

• Lime and lemon trees can both be started from seed, but it is a more difficult growing process than starting from cuttings. If you want to start a lime or lemon tree from seed, you can do so using the seeds removed from mature fruits. Wash the seeds to remove any juice and fruit residue, and plant them immediately while they're still moist. If you can't plant the seeds immediately, store them in the refrigerator in a sealed baggie with a wet paper towel until they can be planted.