How long does it take to make Lemonade?

Sugar doesn't dissolve in cold water, so first cook a syrup of water and sugar for 2–3 minutes, until it's clear with no sugar grains, and only then add the fresh lemon juice; dilute with cold water and serve over ice.

7 minTotal

6 minActive time

1 minSetting

Step by Step

#	What to do	How long
1	Heat the sugar with ½ cup water in a small saucepan, stirring	—
2	Let the syrup cool	1 min
3	Squeeze the lemons	3 min
4	Mix the lemon juice and the syrup in a pitcher	1 min
5	Add the water and stir	1 min
6	Pour into glasses and serve cold	1 min

How to Tell It's Done

until the sugar dissolves completely and the syrup is clear

Common Mistakes

Sugar dissolves in the hot syrup, not in cold water: make it ahead and let it cool, and only then mix it with the lemon juice.

More Ways

A syrup of ¾ cup sugar and ¾ cup water, 2 cups strained lemon juice, and 3–5 cups cold water, depending on how sweet you like it.
Limonana: lemon juice, a bunch of mint leaves and sugar syrup; keeps in the fridge about ten days.
Frozen limonana: a peeled, cut lemon (without the seeds), mint, sugar, a little cold water and ice blended together (about 3 minutes, or to the texture you want) and poured into glasses; no syrup and no squeezing.

The full recipe: Lemonade →