Overview
If you think that nearly no dish can be finished off without a squeeze of lemon or lime—and by that, we mean a full fruit's worth of juice—then you also understand how difficult it can be to juice citrus. While plucking out all of the microscopic seeds left behind, trying to extract that liquid gold can be difficult on your hands, painful for your skin, and mentally draining.
Although citrus squeezing may appear straightforward, it's actually rather difficult, which is why we adore these citrus juicers. The best kitchen appliances are those that will provide you a lot more for a lot less work.
Features to look out for
Feature 1: Manual vs. Electric
A quick, effective electric juicer is perfect for you if you often organize large parties with citrus-forward creative cocktails or if fresh OJ is a part of your morning ritual. A manual option will work just fine if you're more of a light to moderate juice consumer like I am.
Feature 2: Style
Reamers have a handle connected to a tapered, ridged, inverted cone. You insert the tip into the flesh of a citrus fruit that has been cut in half, twist, and presto—fresh juice! In addition to tabletop manual alternatives and completely electric ones, there are additional handheld options available, such as squeezers that clamp down on the fruits to collect the juice.
Feature 3: Cleaning
Sanitation is important for all kitchen tools used for food preparation. Under warm water, gently scrub a squeezer or reamer with a few drops of dish soap. To reach locations that are difficult to access, such as the tiny holes in a citrus squeezer, you can use a little brush. After that, give it a quick pat with a fresh towel and let it air dry. Some of the components for electric models can be put through the dishwasher.
Reviews
1. Proctor Silex 66331 Alex's Lemonade Stand Citrus Juicer
Product's highlights
With a pulp-control design that actually works, the Proctor Silex Alex's Lemonade Stand model also provides one of the best self-contained pitchers we've discovered.
The Proctor Silex effectively processes all citrus fruits, including enormous grapefruit and tiny limes, and the juice that produced is consistently sweeter than juice from more potent models that frequently over-ream and yield more bitter results. The Proctor Silex juicer may not look like much, but it meets all the criteria for a juicer, and at around $15 right now, it is less expensive than a hand press that can only extract a few tablespoons of liquid at a time.
2. Zulay Professional Citrus Juicer
Product's highlights
With only a single pull of the handle, this commercial-grade juicer from Zulay helps extract as much juice as possible by utilizing gravity and leverage. This traditional juice press is a real worker thanks to its strong construction and cast-iron foundation. It is excellent for pressing huge quantities of any size citrus fruit, from key limes to grapefruits and everything in between, and is frequently used by bartenders who manufacture their own mixers.
One thing to keep in mind is that this juicer will probably need to spend all of its time on a countertop because of how difficult it is to move it into and out of storage due to its size and weight.
3. Chef'n Lemon FreshForce Citrus Juicer
Product's highlights
The portable Chef'n FreshForce Citrus Juicer is a great option for producing lemonade if your kitchen is on the smaller side. There are actually three sizes available: orange, lemon, and lime. Regrettably, there isn't a size for larger citrus, like grapefruit. You can place this juicer immediately over whatever you're preparing, whether it's a pan-seared sole meunière or a spicy summer cocktail, because it's portable and lightweight.
4. Breville BCP600SIL Citrus Juicer
Product's highlights
The Breville Citrus Press is a more affordable version of the Breville 800CPXL, which was our previous luxury pick from our initial tests in 2013. We discovered that it performed similarly but was lighter (though it takes up just as much space). Despite this, it still costs roughly eight times as much as our top pick and runner-up, and it lacks features like pulp control and a pitcher for collecting juice. If you're not careful, it also has a propensity to over-ream fruit, which can leave a harsh aftertaste in the juice that results.
5. BLACK+DECKER CJ625 32oz Citrus Juicer
Product's highlights
This reasonably priced device can be ideal if you want the convenience of an electric juicer but don't want to spend a lot of money.
This 30-watt juicer features an auto-reversing cone to help you get the most juice out of citrus and can juice up to 34 ounces at once. You can also modify the amount of pulp in your juice using the pulp control option. All removable pieces are dishwasher safe for simple cleanup, and the unit has a plastic cover and integrated cable wrap for convenient storage.
FAQs
Before juicing, do you peel citrus fruits?
No need! Using a citrus juicer has the benefit of allowing you to omit this step. You must peel your lemons, oranges, or limes before using a masticating or centrifugal juicer—a juicer that isn't designed exclusively for citrus—to juice them. Extra peels can be frozen for future zesting after you've finished juicing.
How can citrus juice be made clearer?
You'll need to clarify fresh citrus juice if you don't like the bits and murkiness in it. Clarified citrus enhances the elegance of cocktails and extends the life of the juice. The first method is to line a strainer with a coffee filter, pour the juice through, and let it drip through. You will receive a clear, clean beverage since the filter will remove the microscopic particles that cause the juice to be hazy.
Your kitchen would benefit greatly from having a citrus juicer that can produce quick, nutritious juice from citrus fruits. You may experiment with new recipes that call for fresh juice while still having the assurance that the juice is free of preservatives and extra sugar.
Finding a juicer that works for you is crucial since factors like pulp control and cleaning convenience might determine how much you actually look forward to using your juicer. Electric juicers have a distinct advantage in this situation because they make using your juicer simple, increasing the likelihood that you'll use it. You can find all the information you need to choose the citrus juicer that is ideal for you in our reviews of the top 12 citrus juicers currently available on the market, as well as in our Buying Guide.
