Yes, you can generally store lime juice in a steel bottle, especially one made of food-grade stainless steel. Stainless steel is relatively inert and resists corrosion from the citric acid in lime juice. However, prolonged exposure might cause slight discoloration or impart a metallic taste to the juice.
Factors to Consider
- Type of Steel: Food-grade stainless steel is best. Avoid using other types of steel that might react with the acid.
- Duration of Storage: While generally safe, prolonged storage may lead to subtle changes in taste or appearance.
- Cleaning: Thoroughly clean the bottle after each use to prevent bacterial growth.
Sources Supporting Safe Storage
Several sources indicate the suitability of stainless steel for storing acidic liquids like lime juice:
- Reddit (r/foodscience): A discussion on Reddit's food science subreddit concludes that there's no reason why lemon juice (and by implication, lime juice) shouldn't be stored in a steel container. https://www.reddit.com/r/foodscience/comments/4w31dp/can_lemon_or_lime_juice_be_stored_in_a_stainless/
- Quora: A Quora answer states that citric acid in lime juice is a weak acid and won't significantly affect thermosteel (a type of stainless steel). https://www.quora.com/Could-be-there-any-chemical-reaction-or-contamination-if-I-carry-lime-juice-nimbu-pani-in-a-thermosteel-flask-eg-Milton
- Go Ask Alice!: While primarily discussing lemon water, this source recommends stainless steel containers for storing acidic beverages. https://goaskalice.columbia.edu/answered-questions/it-safe-store-lemon-water-aluminum-bottles
- Cooking Stack Exchange: This site suggests both glass and stainless steel as suitable non-reactive containers for lemon water storage. https://cooking.stackexchange.com/questions/21456/in-what-container-should-i-put-lemon-water-for-storage
- Everich: This site confirms that lemon juice (and by extension, lime juice) will not damage stainless steel water bottles. https://www.everich.com/can-you-put-lemon-in-stainless-steel-water-bottles/
Potential Drawbacks
While generally safe, some sources caution against prolonged storage due to the possibility of minor discoloration or a metallic taste.
