# lemon juice as a preservative?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lemon-juice-as-a-preservative/519384>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 29, 2009, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lemon-juice-as-a-preservative/519384 "2009-11-29T21:50:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![dapple](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@dapple](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dapple)\
**Post date:** [November 29, 2009, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lemon-juice-as-a-preservative/519384/1 "2009-11-29T21:50:22Z")

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why does lemon juice prevent apple slices from turning brown? how would putting a base or neutral substance on an apple compare?

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**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\
**Post date:** [November 29, 2009, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lemon-juice-as-a-preservative/519384/2 "2009-11-29T22:06:46Z")

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It reacts with free oxygen so the oxygen doesn’t react with the fruit enzymes that cause the browning.