Lime juice vs Lemon juice - is there a difference and can you detect it? (ingredient, grocery store)

[RobertFisher]

I know they are different types of fruits, but as an ingredient to food and drinks, are they totally interchangeable?

If there is a difference, what is it adn is it detectable by an average person?

[turf3]

Well, I certainly can tell a difference.

[foodyum]

I would sub lemon juice for vinegar before lime juice in some savory recipes.

[ocoilslick]

Grocery stores sell limes that are not ripe, yet. Most lime varieties are ripe when they turn mostly yellow. Sort of like the difference between a Eureka lemon and a Meyer lemon.

[ccm123]

To me, lemon juice tastes more tart than lime juice does.

[burdell]

Originally Posted by RobertFisher

I know they are different types of fruits, but as an ingredient to food and drinks, are they totally interchangeable?

If there is a difference, what is it adn is it detectable by an average person?

If you drink, you need only make two Margaritas, one with lemon, one with lime. You'll quickly learn they are very different.

[gguerra]

Lime is more acidic which should make it more sour. It all depends on the fruit though, some is sweeter than others.

A Meyer lemon as an example is a hybrid of a lemon and orange which technically makes it sweeter than a regular lemon.

[KemBro71]

Of course they are different and I can't imagine not being able to tell the difference.

[turf3]

I find that lime juice tastes like limes and lemon juice tastes like lemons.

[himain]

Yes, total difference