Lime juice is gaining popularity with every passing day. More and more people understand its taste and health benefits, and this constant rise in popularity directly relates to the increase in the number of lime juicers on the market.
While having more competition is great for the consumer, it also means that finding the right squeezer is getting difficult as well. Luckily, there is an effective way of reducing this search time while increasing the chances of finding a good juicer.
How to Find the Right Lime Juicer
The best way to search for a lime juicer is to check for options based on a number of attributes. Have a baseline for the quality and features you want and eliminate any option that falls below it. This way, you can get through a lot of lime juicers in mere minutes and get to one that is actually worth your hard-earned money. These are the key attributes you have to look for in order to find the right lime juicer.
Type of the juicer
There are two main types of lime juicers out there: handheld and those ones with a bowl and reamer.
- Handheld
The handheld squeezes are compact, fully functional, and relatively inexpensive. The only downside is that they require a lot of pressure to work, which can lead to a cramped hand.
- Bowl and Reamer
The bowl and reamer lime juicers, on the other hand, require much less force. They are fantastic if you have to squeeze a lot of limes. Another plus is that they do not make any mess around them as all of the juicer, seeds, and pectin is contained within the juicer.
The only downsides of these are that they take up valuable counter space, and they cost more than handheld options.
Construction Material
The construction material will directly affect the longevity, as well as the performance of the juicer. Ideally, you want the whole juicer to be made out of metal due to its increased lifespan and better squeezing.
Plastic juicers with metal squeezing grates are also a functional and more economical option. All-plastic juicers, on the other hand, can be a hit or miss – and it is best to avoid them if you can.
Cleanliness
The cleanliness of a lime juicer refers to the amount of mess it makes after each use. This should not be an issue with any decent juicer, as they are designed to limit splashes and pour the squeezed juice straight down.
The only way to know if a squeezer makes a mess is to read through customer reviews. If you notice more than a handful of reviews talking about the mess made by a specific lime juicer, then it is not the right fit for you. After all, the last thing you want is your lime juice to come with minutes of cleaning.
Ease of use
This factor is twofold. On the one hand, you should be looking for lime juicers that are easy to use as a whole. For example, a juicer with crazy gear mechanisms or multiple squeezing layers can become a hassle to use if it isn't designed properly.
On the other hand, the squeezer needs to be physically easy to use. The force required to juice a lime should not be high enough to cause hand cramps. In fact, the less force a juicer requires to operate, the better!
Versatility
Limes are not the only citrus fruit that needs to be juiced from time to time. From lemons to oranges, you shouldn’t have to buy separate juicers for them. A well-designed lime juicer should work fine with lemons and other citrus fruits, and any juicer that doesn't isn't worth your consideration.
Ease of cleanup
The last factor you have to account for is the ease of cleanup. Dishwasher-safe lime juicers are the way to go if you will be using them on a regular basis. That said, juicers that require manual washing are also not a bad option as long as you can clean them without much hassle.
If you're buying a lime squeezer with gears or filters—or any other fancy features—just make sure that these features don't increase the cleaning difficulty.
