Do juicers work with citrus?

Juicing citrus fruits like oranges, grapefruits, lemons and limes can be a tasty and nutritious way to get your daily dose of vitamin C. But can you actually juice citrus in a juicer? The short answer is yes, you can juice citrus fruits in many types of juicers. However, not all juicers are equally suited for citrus juicing. Centrifugal juicers, for example, tend to do a poor job extracting juice from citrus. On the other hand, citrus juicers and masticating juicers are specifically designed to handle citrus fruits and unlock more of their nutrient-rich juice.

How Do Juicers Work?

To understand which juicers work best for citrus, it helps to know the different juicer types and how they extract juice:

• Centrifugal juicers have a fast spinning metal blade that grinds fruits and vegetables. They work well for juicing hard veggies but tend to get clogged with citrus pulp.
• Masticating juicers (aka slow juicers) crush produce through augers at slow speeds. They handle citrus well and get more juice than centrifugal models.
• Citrus juicers have conical metal cones designed specifically for juicing citrus fruits. Manual and electric citrus juicers apply pressure to squeeze out juice.

Now let’s look at how suitable each type of juicer is for citrus fruits.

Centrifugal Juicers

Centrifugal juicers are the most common and affordable type of juicer. At first glance, they seem like they should have no problem juicing citrus fruits. Their high speed metal blades pulverize produce, so how could they not get juice from a simple orange or lemon?

Unfortunately, centrifugal juicers are not very efficient when it comes to citrus for a few reasons:

• They lack pressure. Centrifugal juicers spin produce at high speeds but don’t apply pressure. Citrus fruits have tough rinds that require compression to squeeze out juice.
• Small feed chutes. Most centrifugal juicers have narrow feed tubes too small for whole citrus fruits. You’d need to cut citrus into small pieces first.
• Clogged strainers. Centrifugal juicers separate juice from pulp using fine mesh strainers. But citrus pulp can get stuck in the strainer.

While it is possible to juice citrus in a centrifugal juicer, you won’t get much juice and the juicer is prone to clogging. Citrus juices with pulp also tend to separate and the foam subsides. For most people, a dedicated citrus juicer or a masticating juicer will be a better choice.

Masticating Juicers

Also known as slow or cold press juicers, masticating juicers crush fruits and vegetables through augers to “chew” out the juice. They run at much slower speeds than centrifugal models. And they can generate the pressure needed to get the most juice from citrus fruits.

Here are some of the benefits of using a masticating juicer for citrus:

Benefit	Explanation
High juice yields	Masticating juicers can extract up to 20% more citrus juice compared to centrifugal models.
Adds pressure	The augers apply compression as they squeeze out juice.
Juices whole fruits	Large feed chutes accommodate whole citrus fruits.
Minimal oxidation	Slow juicing preserves nutrients and prevents separation of citrus juice.

The only real downside to masticating juicers is that they can be more expensive than centrifugal models. But their ability to get the most out of citrus makes them a smart investment for citrus lovers.

Citrus Juicers

Citrus juicers, as the name implies, are designed specifically for juicing citrus fruits. There are manual and electric citrus juicer options. What they all have in common is a conical shaped juicing head made to fit citrus fruits.

Here are the pros of using a dedicated citrus juicer:

• Extracts more juice – Citrus juicers are the most efficient for juicing citrus pound for pound.
• Juices all citrus varieties – Oranges, grapefruits, lemons, limes, tangerines all juice equally well.
• Simple to use – Citrus juicers have simple operation. Cut fruit in half and press onto the cone.
• Affordable – Manual citrus presses are often cheaper than other types of juicers.
• Compact – Many citrus juicers have small footprints and take up minimal counter space.

The only downside is that citrus juicers can’t juice other types of fruits and vegetables. But for someone focused just on citrus juices, a citrus juicer is clearly the best tool for the job.

Top Juicers for Citrus

Now let’s look at some of the best juicers for getting the most juice out citrus fruits.

Tribest Citristar Citrus Juicer

The Tribest Citristar is a motorized citrus press that produces professional-level citrus juice yields. It has a large domed juicing cone with an internal filter basket to separate pulp. The Citristar’s motor provides up to 2000 lbs of juicing force.

Its sturdy base and suction cup feet keep the Citristar stable during juicing. An included cup attaches to the spout to collect juice. The Citristar can juice a variety of citrus fruits up to 3 inches in diameter.

Hurom HP Slow Juicer

The Hurom HP is a vertical masticating juicer powered by a 2nd generation twin-winged auger. The auger spins at just 43 RPM, preserving nutrients in juice with minimal oxidation.

The HP squeezes citrus fruits with a high-torque motor delivering over 40lbs of force. Its small juicing screen holes prevent pulp from clogging the juicer. With the HP, you can expect 20-30% more citrus juice compared to centrifugal models.

Tribest CS-1000 CitriStar Electric Citrus Juicer

With a classic juicing cone design, the Tribest CS-1000 CitriStar makes quick work of large batches of citrus fruits. Its motor generates up to 2,000 lbs of pressure to squeeze every last drop of juice.

The CS-1000 has a large capacity pulp container that makes for easy, continuous juicing. An included pitcher catches juice coming out of the stainless steel spout. Weighing just 10 lbs, the Citristar is easy to move and store.

Eurolux Electric Orange Juicer Squeezer

The Eurolux Electric Orange Juicer delivers fast citrus juicing thanks to its durable 140W motor. The large cone squeezes juice from oranges, grapefruits, lemons and limes in seconds.

It juices fruits up to 3” diameter. The integrated strainer separates pulp from juice. An anti-drip spout prevents messes while pouring juice into glasses. Suction cup feet keep the juicer steady during operation.

Manual vs. Electric Citrus Juicers

With dedicated citrus juicers, you have the choice between manual and electric models. Manual citrus presses rely on your arm strength to lower the pressing lever. Electric juicers use a motor to power the pressing mechanism.

Here’s how manual and electric juicers compare:

	Manual Citrus Juicer	Electric Citrus Juicer
Juicing Speed	Slower	Much faster
Juice Yield	Good	Excellent
Labor Intensive	Yes	No
Price	Very affordable	More expensive

As you can see, electric juicers are generally faster, more efficient and easier to use. But manual presses still get good juice yields and cost a fraction of the price. For occasional citrus juicing, a manual press will serve you just fine.

Tips for Juicing Citrus

Follow these tips to get the maximum amount of nutrient-rich juice when juicing citrus fruits:

• Roll citrus fruits on a hard surface before juicing. This helps break down the pulp inside.
• Juice citrus fruits at room temperature. Cold fruit will yield less juice.
• Drink juice right after making it to get the most benefits. Citrus juice oxidizes and loses nutrients quickly.
• Alternate juicing different citrus varieties. Their distinct flavors complement each other.
• Peel citrus fruits if you want to avoid bitter flavors from the rind.
• Save citrus peels to make zest or dehydrate for seasoning.

Juicing Citrus vs. Eating Whole Fruit

Juicing citrus fruits removes the beneficial fiber contained in the pulp. So drinking citrus juice isn’t nutritionally equal to eating the whole fruit. However, juicing makes it easy to consume large amounts of citrus fruits and get a concentrated dose of vitamin C.

Here’s how juicing and eating whole citrus compare:

	Juicing Citrus	Eating Whole Citrus
Fiber	Removes fiber from pulp	Retains all fiber
Nutrients	Concentrates most nutrients like vitamin C	Provides complete nutrition profile
Antioxidants	May degrade some antioxidants during juicing	Preserves all antioxidants intact
Enzymes	Destroys some enzymes from oxidation	Keeps enzymes intact
Blood Sugar	Causes quick spike in blood sugar	Blunts blood sugar response thanks to fiber

For the highest nutritional value, eating whole citrus fruits is ideal. But juicing makes it easy to consume large amounts of produce. The best approach may be a mix of juicing citrus and eating it whole.

Juicing Citrus Peel

The outer peel or zest of citrus fruits contains beneficial nutrients and oils. Adding some peeled citrus rind to your juice can boost the nutrition. But citrus peels also contain bitter flavonoids that may result in unpleasant flavors.

Here are some pros and cons of juicing citrus zest:

Pros	Cons
Increases antioxidant content Adds flavor from citrus oils Provides fiber	Can create bitter taste Needs to be peeled first Can clog some juicers

For the best results, peel your citrus first with a vegetable peeler or zester. Then add small amounts of zest when juicing other ingredients like apples or carrots to mask bitterness.

Preparing Citrus for Juicing

Properly preparing citrus fruits before juicing can maximize your juice yields. Follow these steps:

1. Wash thoroughly under running water.
2. Roll back and forth firmly on a counter to soften insides.
3. Remove any stickers or wax coatings.
4. Cut fruit in half across the center.
5. Squeeze halves to soften and loosen pulp.
6. Cut into smaller wedges if needed to fit feed chute.

Storing citrus right can also maintain juiciness. Keep citrus fruits at room temperature up to one week. Refrigerate in air-tight bags in the crisper drawer for 2-3 weeks.

Troubleshooting Citrus Juicing Problems

Having trouble getting good citrus juicing results? Here are some common problems and solutions:

Problem	Solution
Low juice yield	Press fruit firmly onto juicing cone Ensure juicer is assembled correctly Roll fruit before juicing to soften pulp
Bitter taste	Peel citrus first to avoid zest Juice citrus with sweeter fruits/veggies Drink juice immediately
Pulp in juice	Ensure juicer strainer is installed properly Thinly peel citrus to remove excess pith Use a finer mesh strainer
Juicer clogging	Alternate juicing other produce Cut citrus into smaller pieces Clean juicer regularly

Conclusion

Citrus fruits can be juiced in many types of juicers. But to really maximize the amount of nutrition you extract, a masticating juicer or dedicated citrus press works best. Apply pressure and roll fruits before inserting into the juicer. Drink juices immediately after making for optimal freshness. While juicing removes beneficial fiber, it makes it easy to consume large quantities of citrus fruits. Overall, juicing citrus at home can be a healthy habit as part of balanced diet.