You don't need to refrigerate key limes if you're using the key limes in a few days.
However you should refrigerate key limes to keep the key limes fresh and extend the key limes shelf life.
You can store whole key limes in a sealed container or in a resealable bag in your refrigerator's crisper drawer and they will last up to a month in the refrigerator.
If you want to store your key limes longer you can submerge the whole key limes in water in a sealed jar or container and place them in the fridge, which can preserve the key limes and the key limes flavor for several months.
If the key limes are cut they should always be kept in the refrigerator.
Wrap the exposed cut end of the key limes with plastic wrap or place the cut key limes in a sealed container to prevent them from drying out.
Mexican lime is also the same as Key lime.
Mexican lime is another common name for the Key lime and the scientific name for the Key lime is Citrus aurantifolia.
Mexican limes or Key limes are also smaller, rounder and have a thinner and more tart rind than the common Persian lime.
When Key limes are ripe, the Key limes will be a bright yellow color and feel plump and slightly soft to the touch and a ripe Key lime will also have a fragrant and zesty aroma.
The Key limes sold in Grocery stores are often green as they are picked green to improve the shelf life of the Key limes.
But once a Key lime is ripe it should be a bright yellow or predominantly yellow, which indicates the Key lime is juicier and has a sweeter and more balanced flavor than a very sour green Key lime.
The size of ripe Key limes is between 1 inch to 2 1/2 inches in diameter.
Key limes are harvested in Florida from June through September, with some Key limes being available all year long.
Key limes are also known as Mexican Limes, West Indian Limes, and even Egyptian Limes.
Although the Key lime is treated as a species in botanical classification, the Key lime originated as a natural hybrid between the Citrus micrantha and the Citrus medica.
The Key lime also has a thinner rind and is smaller, seedier and more acidic and more aromatic than the Persian lime.
Key limes are small, yellow, highly acidic and intensely aromatic limes that have a floral, slightly sweet bitter flavor, and the more common regular or Persian limes are larger, green in color and less acidic and also have a tangier and more potent flavor, which makes them better for dishes that are savory.
Key limes have thinner skins, more seeds and are often used in desserts such as the Key lime pie, and Persian limes are the standard limes for general use such as in marinades and drinks.