Do I need to peel lemons for Breville juicer?

Making fresh lemon juice at home can be a delicious and healthy way to start your day. Lemons are packed with vitamin C, antioxidants, and other nutrients that support immunity and overall health. When juicing lemons, most people wonder – should I peel the lemons first or just juice them whole?

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The Pros and Cons of Peeling Lemons Before Juicing

There are good arguments on both sides of this debate. Here are the main pros and cons of peeling lemons before juicing them:

Pros of Peeling

Removes pesticides and wax coating – Lemons are treated with pesticides and wax coating during growth and storage. Peeling removes this.
Reduces bitterness – The peel contains oils that can add bitterness to lemon juice.
Makes cleanup easier – Peels can clog a juicer. Peeling first prevents this.

Produces smoother texture – Peels can create pulp. Peeling gives a smoother juice.

Cons of Peeling

Loss of nutrients – The peel contains nutrients like flavonoids, vitamins, and minerals.
More work – Peeling each lemon takes more time and effort.

More waste – The peel accounts for about 35% of a lemon’s weight.

Do You Need to Peel Lemons for a Breville Juicer?

Now that we’ve looked at the general pros and cons, let’s focus on Breville juicers specifically. Here are some tips on peeling based on your Breville juicer model:

Breville Citrus Press

The Breville Citrus Press is a manual citrus juicer designed for juicing lemons, limes, oranges and grapefruit. It has a domed strainer that presses down on halved fruit to extract juice.

For this juicer, peeling is recommended for a few reasons:

The strainer has small holes that can easily get clogged with peel and pulp.
There is no motor to power through tough peels.

Peeling ensures maximum juice extraction.

Breville Motorized Citrus Press

This is an electric version of the manual citrus press above. It still uses a domed strainer, but has a motor to automate juicing.

Again, peeling is recommended:

The strainer can handle some peel, but peeling helps prevent clogs.
Motor or not, the hard dome shape is designed for peeled fruit.
Peeling removes oils that cause bitterness in lemon juice.

Breville Juice Fountain

Breville Juice Fountains are centrifugal ejection juicers with fast spinning blades. Popular models include the BJE200XL, BJE430SIL, and BJE840XL.

For these, peeling is optional:

The spinning blades can shred through peels easily.

But some bitterness from oils may remain in finished juice.
Up to you if retaining nutrients in peel is more important.

Breville Slow Juicers

Breville also makes a line of slow juicers like the Fountain Crush Masticating Juicer. These use an auger to crush produce and extract juice.

For slow juicers, peeling is optional:

The auger is powerful enough to process peels.
But pulp and bitterness levels may be higher with peels.

General Tips for Peeling Lemons

If you decide to peel your lemons before juicing, here are some tips for the best results:

Wash Thoroughly

Always wash lemons to remove dirt, debris and surface microbes. Scrub under running water but be gentle.

Prioritize Organic

Peeling is most important for non-organic lemons, which are treated with more pesticides. Always peel conventionally grown lemons.

Peel Thickly

Aim to remove both the outer yellow peel and the bitter white pith beneath. The pith contains the most oils.

Use a Vegetable Peeler

A vegetable peeler allows you to remove peels in broad strips quickly. Y-shaped peelers work best.

Cut Ends Off

After peeling the lemon, trim off a small slice from both ends. This exposes the fruit inside for easier juicing.

Compost Peels

Don’t throw peeled lemons in the trash! Compost them instead so the nutrients go back to the earth.

How Much Juice Should You Expect from Lemons?

If you’re peeling a batch of lemons for juicing, it helps to know lemon juice yields. Here is a table with estimates:

Lemon Size	Peel Weight	Lemon Weight	Juice Yield
Small	1 oz	3 oz	1 oz
Medium	1.5 oz	4 oz	1.5 oz
Large	2 oz	5-6 oz	2-2.5 oz

A few things to note:

Lemons contain about 35% peel and 65% juice/pulp.
You lose the peel weight, but retain more juice versus juicing whole lemons.
Medium lemons yield about 1.5 oz or 3 tablespoons juice each.

How to Store Fresh Lemon Juice

Fresh lemon juice only lasts for a day or two in the fridge. Follow these tips for longer storage:

Use Bottles

Pour juice into clean bottles or jars – avoid open containers. Glass is ideal as plastic can absorb flavors over time.

Leave Some Headspace

Fill containers to within 1 inch of the top. Juices expand as they freeze.

Freeze Promptly

Freeze juice immediately for best retention of nutrients and flavor.

Thaw in Fridge

Keep frozen juice in the freezer until ready to use, then thaw overnight in the refrigerator.

Use Within 1 Year

For best quality and nutrition, use frozen lemon juice within 1 year.

Health Benefits of Lemon Juice

Drinking lemon juice comes with many excellent health perks. Here are some of the top benefits:

High in Vitamin C

Just 1 oz of lemon juice provides over 20% of your daily vitamin C, which supports immunity and collagen production.

Anti-Inflammatory

The antioxidants in lemon juice reduce inflammation throughout the body.

Kidney Stone Prevention

Citric acid from lemon juice may help prevent calcium kidney stones.

Aids Digestion

Lemon juice triggers the release of gastric juices to break food down with ease.

Freshens Breath

Lemon juice neutralizes odors and freshens breath when swished around the mouth.

Anti-cancer Activity

Research shows compounds in lemon peel have anti-tumor effects on skin, breast, lung and colon cancers.

Simple Ways to Use Fresh Lemon Juice

Don’t let your homemade lemon juice go to waste! Here are easy ways to use it:

Add to Water

Add a squeeze of lemon to water for a refreshing, flavored drink. It helps hydrate and detox.

Use in Salad Dressings

Lemon brightens up homemade salad dressings. Whisk with oil, herbs, garlic, mustard, etc.

Make Lemonade

For traditional lemonade, combine lemon juice, water and sweetener. Customize flavors as desired.

Marinate Fish

Lemon juice tenderizes and enhances the flavor of fish. Let fish marinate 10-20 mins.

Bake with It

Add lemon juice to cake, cookie or muffin batters. It enhances flavor and leavening.

Clean with It

Use lemon juice as a non-toxic cleaner for countertops, sinks, appliances, windows, etc.

Potential Downsides of Lemon Juice

Lemon juice provides many benefits, but there are a few potential downsides to keep in mind:

Acidity

The high acid content can damage tooth enamel over time and trigger reflux in some people.

Medication Interactions

Lemon juice may interfere with some medications. Consult your doctor for potential interactions.

Phytophotodermatitis

Applying lemon juice to skin can make it more sensitive to UV rays. Wear sunscreen when outside.

Pesticide Residue

Even peeled, some pesticides may remain if using conventionally grown lemons.

Conclusion

While peeling lemons before juicing takes more time, it often produces better results and is recommended for most Breville juicers. The peel contains oils that make juice bitter, and it can clog juicers. However, you also lose beneficial nutrients in the peel. Ultimately, decide if smooth, pulp-free juice or maximum nutrition is your priority.

No matter what you choose, juicing lemons makes for a tangy, refreshing drink full of vitamin C. Enjoy lemon juice on its own, or use it to add flavor and health benefits to water, dressings, baked goods and more.