Protein content
0.9 g of protein in 1 fruit (84 g) of lemon, or 3.8 g for every 100 kcal it supplies.
Share of this food's calories that come from protein - it is more of an energy food than a protein food.
| Protein per 100 kcal | 3.8 g |
|---|---|
| Protein per 100 g | 1.1 g |
| Protein per serving | 0.9 g in 1 fruit (84 g) |
| Calories from protein | 15% |
| Rank in fruits, per 100 kcal | 2nd of 71 |
| Rank of all foods, per 100 g | 719th of 796 |
| Share of 50 g Daily Value | 2% per serving |
| Protein quality | Incomplete protein |
One 1 fruit, 0.9 g protein.
Every 100 kcal of lemon brings 3.8 g of protein. On that measure it ranks 2nd of the 71 fruits in this database and 539th of all 796 foods on the site. Measured by weight instead, its 1.1 g per 100 g ranks 26th in its group.
Around 15% of the calories in lemon come from protein, so it is more of an energy food than a protein food. It contributes to a day's protein total, but the bulk of what it delivers is energy rather than amino acids - treat it as a contributor alongside a denser source, not as the protein in a meal.
USDA lists 0.3 g of fat per 100 g of lemon, too little for a protein-to-fat ratio to mean much.
Set against applesauce, another fruit entry in the database, a serving carries about 0.5 g more protein (applesauce has 0.4 g per 1 cup).
It is an incomplete protein on its own; pairing it with other plant foods across the day covers the full range of essential amino acids. The serving quoted here is counted by piece at 84 g, and it covers about 2% of the 50 g FDA Daily Value for protein.
Serving sizes
| Portion | Weight | Protein | Calories |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 g | 100 g | 1.1 g | 29 kcal |
| 1 fruit (serving used here) | 84 g | 0.9 g | 24 kcal |
| 1 cup, sections | 212 g | 2.3 g | 61 kcal |
| 1 fruit (2-1/8" dia) | 58 g | 0.6 g | 17 kcal |
| 1 wedge or slice (1/8 of one 2-1/8" dia lemon) | 7 g | 0.1 g | 2 kcal |
Portion weights are the household measures listed on the USDA record; protein and calories scale from the per-100 g figures.
Related
Highest-protein fruits per serving · Most protein-dense foods · Highest protein per 100 g
Quick answers
1.1 g. The 1 fruit serving used on this page weighs 84 g and so carries 0.9 g.
3.8 g. That figure divides its 1.1 g of protein per 100 g by its 29 kcal per 100 g, so it does not depend on serving size.
No. On its own, the protein in lemon is short of at least one essential amino acid; other protein sources across the day fill the gap.
About 2%. One 1 fruit serving has 0.9 g, and the FDA Daily Value for protein is 50 g.
Figures from USDA FoodData Central record #167746 (Lemons, raw, without peel), SR Legacy data. USDA data is in the public domain. Values are the published reference figures for that record, not lab measurements for a specific brand or batch.