What can you do with a manual citrus press juicer?

Introduction

A manual citrus press juicer is a simple kitchen tool used to extract fresh juice from citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruits. While electric juicers are popular, manual press juicers have some advantages. They are more affordable, compact, and don’t require electricity. With some practice, you can quickly juice citrus fruits and get tasty, nutritious juice. So what are some of the things you can do with a manual citrus press? Let’s take a look!

Make Fresh Squeezed Juice

One of the main uses of a manual citrus press is to make fresh squeezed citrus juice. There’s nothing quite like the bright, vibrant flavor of juice straight from fresh oranges, lemons, etc. Here are some ideas for juices you can make:

– Orange juice – Freshly squeezed orange juice is a breakfast staple and much tastier than store-bought. Juice oranges alone or add other fruits.

– Grapefruit juice – Tart and refreshing, grapefruit juice is tasty on its own or mixed with orange juice. Red and pink grapefruits tend to be less bitter.

– Lemonade – For homemade lemonade, just freshly squeeze lemon juice, sweeten with sugar or simple syrup, and add water. Customize with mint, berries, or other fruits.

– Limeade – Just like lemonade but with refreshing lime juice as the star. Sweeten and serve over ice.

– Citrus blends – Get creative and blend different citrus juices together like orange and grapefruit or lemon and lime. Adjust sweetness as desired.

With a manual juicer, you control the ingredients. You can adjust sugar, avoid preservatives, and use organic produce.

Make Citrus Infused Water

Infusing water with citrus fruits is an easy way to add flavor without calories or sweeteners. To make citrus infused water in a manual juicer:

– Juice your citrus and pour into a pitcher of water. Use sliced oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruit or a combination.

– For stronger flavor, muddle or lightly press unpeeled slices before adding to water.

– Add optional mix-ins like cucumber, mint, berries, ginger, basil, rosemary, etc.

– Allow to infuse in the fridge for at least 2 hours, overnight is best.

– Enjoy cold over ice and garnish with fruit slices or fresh herbs.

Citrus infused water is tasty and hydrating. The vitamin C and antioxidants from the citrus provide health bonuses as well.

Make Citrus Flavored Drinks

In addition to water, use freshly squeezed citrus juices to flavor and enhance a variety of drinks:

– Iced tea – For anytime, add lemon, lime, orange slices or juice when brewing tea. Or add citrus juice to already brewed tea.

– Green juice – For a detox juice, press oranges or grapefruit then mix with leafy greens like spinach or kale and blend.

– Cocktails – Fresh citrus brightens cocktails. Make lemon or lime margaritas, grapefruit martinis, orange mimosas and more.

– Smoothies – Blend citrus juices with yogurt, fruit, greens, protein powder, etc. Orange goes well with berries and banana.

– Mocktails – Make non-alcoholic cocktails like a lemon or lime shandy (citrus juice and soda water). Or virgin mojitos with lime, mint and club soda.

Having fresh squeezed citrus juice on hand makes it easy to incorporate into drinks for extra flavor, vitamins and eye-appeal.

Make Homemade Salad Dressings

The acidic taste provided by citrus juice is perfect for making homemade salad dressings and vinaigrettes. Freshly squeezed lemon or lime are most common, but orange and grapefruit also work.

Here are some easy homemade dressings to try:

– Lemon vinaigrette – Whisk together lemon juice, olive oil, Dijon, and herbs/seasonings.

– Lime cilantro dressing – Mix lime juice, olive oil, cilantro, garlic, honey, and salt/pepper.

– Orange poppyseed dressing – Whisk orange juice, oil, honey, mustard, poppy seeds, and vinegar.

– Grapefruit honey mint dressing – Juice grapefruit and combine with oil, honey, mint, and salt.

Making your own dressing allows you to control ingredients and flavors. The fresh citrus juice addsbrightness and tanginess.

Marinate Meats, Fish and Vegetables

Citrus juice is commonly used to marinate meats, fish and vegetables before cooking. The acid helps break down connective tissue and tenderize. Its tangy flavor also infuses into the food.

Some marinade ideas include:

– Chicken – Lemon, lime, orange or grapefruit juice. Bonus flavor from garlic, thyme, oregano, etc.

– Steak – Lemon, lime or orange juice helps tenderize. Add soy sauce, garlic, Worcestershire, etc.

– Fish – Lemon and lime work well to marinate fish like salmon, tuna and shrimp.

– Vegetables – Marinate mushrooms, zucchini, eggplant, etc in lemon or orange juice mixes.

– Kabobs – Quick marinade for meat or veggie kabobs with oil, citrus juice, herbs.

Marinating with citrus juice helps boost flavor and makes for more tender results when cooking. Let foods marinate anywhere from 30 minutes to overnight.

Bake Cookies, Cakes and Other Desserts

Freshly squeezed citrus juice and zest can help enhance many baked goods with flavor and moisture. Here are some ways to use them:

– Cakes – Add lemon, lime, orange or grapefruit juice and zest to cake batters and frostings. Works well in pound cakes, citrus olive oil cakes, and layered cakes.

– Cookies – Lime and lemon work great in shortbread. Orange goes well with almond cookies. Add juice and/or zest.

– Meringues – Fold lemon, lime or orange juice into meringue for citrus flavored, light cookies.

– Fruit desserts – Use citrus juice over fresh fruit, in fruit crisps and pies, cheesecakes and more.

– Icings and glazes – Mix powdered sugar with juice and zest for fresh citrus icings. Also brush on glazes while baking.

Clean and Freshen with Citrus Juice

Citrus juice has natural acidic and anti-bacterial properties that make it great for household cleaning and freshening:

– Kitchen cleaner – Mix lemon juice with baking soda and vinegar for an all-purpose cleaner. Also great for stains, kitchen surfaces, microwaves and more.

– Bathroom cleaner – Scrub tile and fixtures with lemon juice mixed with baking soda or salt. Helps disinfect.

– Windows/glass – Mix equal parts lemon juice and water for a streak free glass cleaner. Also works on mirrors.

– Remove stains/pet smells – Rub lemon or lime juice on stained clothes or carpet. Also eliminates pet odors around the house.

– Garbage disposal – Freshen up the sink by pouring lemon, lime or orange juice down the disposal on occasion. Helps remove odors.

Citrus juices are inexpensive, natural cleaners. Their fresh scents leave your home smelling clean too.

Benefits of Manual Citrus Juicers

Now that we’ve covered the many uses, let’s look at some of the benefits that manual citrus press juicers have over electric juicers:

Benefits	Description
Cost	Manual juicers are much more affordable, usually $15-25 versus $100+ for electric.
Compact size	They take up very little storage space and are easy to keep on your kitchen counter.
Portable	Lightweight and no electricity required makes them easy to use anywhere.
Easy to clean	Manual juicers have few parts that can be quickly hand washed.
Versatile	Can juice all sizes of citrus fruits from limes and lemons to full grapefruits.

For those on a budget, with limited kitchen space, or who only occasionally need to juice citrus, a manual press is a great option.

Tips for Using a Manual Citrus Press

While easy to use, here are some tips to get the most juice out of a manual citrus press:

– Roll citrus on the counter or heat briefly in the microwave to soften before juicing
– Press down on the handles slowly and steadily, don’t force
– Press pulp against strainer to extract remaining juice
– Clean strainer basket frequently when juicing large amounts
– Disassemble press and clean parts after each use
– Occasionally soak in warm soapy water to remove stains

Take care of your manual citrus press and it can provide fresh juice for years to come. The right techniques will help maximize the juice extracted.

Conclusion

A manual citrus press juicer is a handy tool that has many uses beyond making orange juice in the morning. With minimal effort, they provide fresh, flavorful citrus juice that can enhance drinks, marinades, baked goods, homemade cleaners and much more. Compared to electric juicers, they have advantages of being inexpensive, compact, and easy to use. With some creativity, you can get a lot from a simple manual citrus press.