Key Takeaways
• Pick thin-skinned lemons and limes for juicier results. ||| • Roll fruit before cutting to extract more juice. ||| • Slash citrus lengthwise for improved squeezing efficiency.
Pick Fruit With Thin Skin to Achieve Full Nutrition.
Weight should always come first when selecting lemons or limes; heavier fruit often contain more juice. Look for thin skin rather than thick or overly firm peels – thin-skinned citrus is often easier and juicer to squeeze than those with thicker peels which typically mean more pith and less liquid content.
Bring Citrus Fruit to Room Temperature.
Cold citrus straight from the fridge yields less juice; to maximize maximum juice yields allow lemons and limes to sit at room temperature for at least 20-30 minutes prior to juicing as warmer fruit has more flexible membranes that release juice more readily when squeezed.
Roll Fruit Before Cutter
Before cutting, place the lemon or lime on a tabletop and roll it firmly under your palm, applying gentle pressure without crushing. This helps break down internal membranes and loosen juice deposits for easier extraction once cut.
Cut Lengthwise and Not Crosswise
Slash citrus lengthwise from top to bottom instead of cutting it across its middle for improved squeezing efficiency and reduced resistance from fruit structures, thus permitting juices to move more freely from each segment of a longcut fruit. This technique exposes more juicy segments for efficient squeezing. Length cuts also allow more juice flow.
Use Your Hands First and Tools Second
Hand squeezing can often be more efficient for small amounts of juice extraction than using a juicer. When hand-squeezing, squeeze hard while twisting slightly to extract as much liquid as possible from your produce. When using handheld juicers instead, press slowly while rotating them so as to maximize output rather than rush through their squeeze cycle.
Microwave for A Few Seconds
Microwaving lemon or lime fruit for 10-15 seconds in the microwave can dramatically increase juice yield, as its interior softens from being heated by microwave radiation, making it easier for juice release. Be careful not to overheat as fruit should remain warm but not hot when removed from microwave heating.
Juicing Through a Strainer
Juicing over a fine strainer allows you to press harder without worry over seeds, giving more pressure during each squeeze without pausing midway to remove debris or stems from the juicer’s path. This enables maximum juice extraction.
Re-Squeeze After Resting
Following an initial squeeze, give the citrus half some time to recover before giving another go at pressing. As juice continues to gather within after pressure has been released, additional liquid may collect within; sometimes this second squeeze yields unexpected amounts of extra juice!
Properly Store Cut Citrus To prevent drying out and preserve remaining juice for later use, store cut halves tightly wrapped and cut-side down in your fridge to maintain their freshness and preserve any potential drying out issues. Doing this helps preserve their remaining potency for later consumption.
Extracting more juice from lemons and limes doesn’t require brute force; rather, proper technique plays a significant role. These small habits reduce waste while saving both money and making cooking with citrus more efficient every time it is reached for.
