What is the first step in making 1 gallon of lemonade?

The first step in making 1 gallon of lemonade typically involves mixing the ingredients properly to achieve the desired flavor and consistency. While the answer chosen indicates shaking a quart carton of tempered lemonade, it may suggest using pre-made lemonade concentrate or beverage, which isn't usually the starting point for making lemonade from scratch.

When preparing lemonade, the most traditional approach is to begin with a powder or concentrate, reconstituted with water. This means that the act of mixing powdered lemonade with water represents the initial step in the preparation process when you are starting from dry or concentrated ingredients.

Adopting this approach allows for the control of sweetness and tartness by adjusting the amount of water or lemon juice added. As such, the first step would logically involve creating the lemonade base before considering any other mixing or blending methods. In this context, the choice of mixing powdered lemonade with water best aligns with the standard procedure of making lemonade, whether homemade or from a mix.