What is the best way to juice a lemon with a juicer?

Lemons are a versatile citrus fruit that can add flavor and acidity to both savory and sweet dishes. Their bright, tart juice is often used to make lemonade, marinades, vinaigrettes and more. While lemons can be juiced by hand, using a juicer is an easier and more efficient way to maximize your juice yield.

Types of Juicers

There are several different types of juicers to consider when juicing lemons:

Citrus Juicers

Citrus juicers, also known as orange juicers or lemon squeezers, are designed specifically for juicing citrus fruits. There are two main types:

Manual Citrus Juicers

Manual citrus juicers require some elbow grease to operate. They typically have a handle and reamer (a cone with ridges) that is pressed into a halved fruit to extract the juice.

Electric Citrus Juicers

Electric citrus juicers take the work out of juicing. They have a motorized reamer that spins to help quickly get out juice.

Centrifugal Juicers

Centrifugal juicers use a fast spinning blade to shred produce, then spin the juice away from the pulp through a mesh sieve.

Masticating Juicers

Masticating juicers, also known as cold press or slow juicers, crush and press produce to extract juice. They operate at slower speeds than centrifugal models.

Triturating Juicers

Triturating juicers, also known as twin gear juicers, have two interlocking gears that press and grind produce for juice extraction.

Choosing the Best Juicer for Lemons

When selecting a lemon juicer, here are some key considerations:

• Citrus juicers – Best suited for lemon juicing needs. Allow juicing with minimal prep.
• Centrifugal juicers – Can juice lemons, but require peeling and pre-cutting. Not ideal for only citrus.
• Masticating juicers – Also need lemons peeled and cut first. Typically more expensive.
• Triturating juicers – Work for lemons, but overkill. Most expensive models.

For those who regularly juice lemons, a dedicated citrus juicer is the best option. They are designed for optimum juice extraction from citrus fruits with minimum fuss.

Manual vs. Electric Citrus Juicers

Within the citrus juicer category, there are manual and electric models to choose from:

	Manual Citrus Juicer	Electric Citrus Juicer
Ease of Use	Requires arm strength and squeezing	Switch it on, easier juicing
Speed	Slower juicing	Faster juicing
Yield	Good juice yield	Excellent juice yield
Cost	Inexpensive	Higher price

Electric citrus juicers take minimal effort and extract the most juice, but come at a higher price. Manual juicers require more work, take longer and produce a little less juice, but are budget-friendly.

Tips for Juicing Lemons in a Juicer

Follow these tips to get the maximum amount of bright, fresh lemon juice from your juicer:

Pick Fresh, Firm Lemons

Choose lemons that feel heavy for their size with bright, smooth skin. Avoid soft or shriveled lemons, which indicate dryness.

Wash Lemons Beforehand

Wash lemons in cool water before juicing to remove any dirt or residue.

Room Temperature is Best

Let refrigerated lemons sit out at room temperature for 30 minutes before juicing. The warmth helps release more juice.

Roll Before Juicing

Gently rolling lemons on a hard surface before juicing helps break down some of the membranes, allowing the juicer to extract more juice.

Halve Lemons for Manual Juicers

For manual juicers, slice lemons lengthwise into halves or quarters to fit the reamer. Pushing multiple small wedges at once can clog the juicer.

Peel Lemons for Centrifugal and Masticating Juicers

Remove peels from lemons before juicing in centrifugal and masticating juicers, as the tough peels can slow down or jam the juicer.

Add Water for More Juice

Add about 1/4 cup of water to the juicer while juicing to help release additional juice from the fruit.

Strain After Juicing

Pour lemon juice through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth to remove any excess pulp.

Juice in Batches

When juicing a large quantity of lemons, work in batches. Don’t overload the juicer, which can cause it to slow down.

Clean After Each Use

Disassemble your juicer and thoroughly clean all parts after each use to remove residue that could affect juice flavor.

Storing and Using Lemon Juice

Properly store your fresh lemon juice to retain the most flavor and vitamin C content:

• Pour juice into airtight containers, leaving about 1/4 inch headspace.
• Store juice in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
• For longer storage, freeze juice in ice cube trays, then transfer to freezer bags. Thaw as needed.
• Add lemon juice to marinades, salad dressings, water and tea for bright flavor.
• Use in cooking for sauces, pastries, seafood and poultry dishes.
• Mix with olive oil and herbs for a bread dipping sauce.
• Dilute with water and honey to make lemonade.

Conclusion

Juicing lemons maximizes their tart, fresh flavor to enhance drinks, marinades, sauces and more. The easiest route is using a citrus juicer – either manual or electric. Electric juicers yield slightly more juice with much less effort. But manual models get the job done well at a lower cost. Use firm, fresh lemons for the best results. Roll them before juicing and add a little water for higher juice output. Juice in small batches and clean the juicer properly afterwards. Refrigerate the juice in airtight containers, or freeze for longer storage. With the right juicer and techniques, it’s easy to get the most from your lemons.