When it comes to citrus juicers, your primary concern is to extract the maximum amount of juice from citrus fruits, regardless of their type or size. But there are different types of juicers on the market, of which some have the best performance while others have the most appealing designs. Therefore, choosing the best product among them is not an easy task. So, we have created a full buying guide to help you get the most out of your investment.
Types of Citrus Juicers
There are two types of citrus juicers on the market: manual squeezers and motorized juicers. As a result, their working method is also different, which we have explained in the below sections.
Manual citrus squeezer
This squeezer has a bowl-shaped hollow structure in a manual squeezer where you have to place half of the citrus fruit in an inverted manner. Once done, press both handles with as much force as you can. Make sure that you are using a large bowl for collecting the juice because it will drip from the sides of the squeezer. Subsequently, open it, adjust the position of the fruit, and again compress the handles. This will help you extract the maximum juice out of the fruit pulp. If you're looking to squeeze some limes for a margarita now and again, a simple manual squeezer may be all you need.
Motorized citrus juicer
Another type of citrus juicer you can find on the market is one reinforced with a motor. It has a reamer or cone that will scrape the pulp from the citrus fruit. You need to place the flat surface of the fruit over the conical tip of the reamer and then press it down slowly. This will activate the motor, enabling the cone to rotate automatically. As it rotates, the ridges in the reamer will squeeze out the juice from the pulp. On releasing the pressure, the motor will automatically stop its operation. Cookbook author and food blogger Jessica Fisher has used both a manual and electric juicer. She says that "[f]or quick jobs involving 1 to 2 oranges (or other citrus fruits), I use the manual. If I'm juicing many lemons to freeze the juice, I use my electric citrus juicer." Consider what the primary use of your juicer will be before determining which option you want.
Features to Look for When Shopping for a Citrus Juicer
Container volume
While choosing a citrus juicer, check the volume of its juice container. Some products have a flat and shallow containers. Therefore, they won’t be able to hold much juice, which is why they are ideal for regular use. However, if you want to use the juicer to make fresh lemonades or citrus cocktails at a party, you need to go for a product with a large juice container. Usually, these containers have a volume of 1 liter that will be enough to make multiple glasses of lemonades or drinks.
Reamer size
Some citrus juicers are reinforced with universal reamers so that you can extract juice from different fruits having any size without extra effort. Such a reamer is designed to scrape out the pulp and squeeze it for extracting juice from a wide range of citrus fruits. However, there are products where you will get two different-sized cones. The smaller cone is best suited for extracting juice from small fruits like lemons, lime, and more. On the contrary, if you want orange juice or grapefruit juice, you need to replace the smaller cone with the larger one.
Pulp settings
A citrus juicer typically comes with three different pulp settings: low, medium, and high. If you want to use the fruit pulp for some other dishes, you need to set the appliance at a low setting. But in case you want to squeeze out the juice from all the fruit pulp, make sure to keep the juicer at a high pulp setting.
Material
The cones or reamers, sieves, and fruit containers are made from plastic, meaning they’re easier to clean in dishwashers. They’re also light and won’t break if you accidentally drop them on hard surfaces like the floor. Moreover, most products have stainless steel housing to ensure that the motor is protected from damage. This material is more durable and can withstand a high amount of wear and tear without succumbing to the damages.
Top cover
In some juicers, the top lid is mainly used to cover the reamer and sieve so that they don’t get damaged from dust and dirt. However, there are a few products where the lid helps extract all the juices from the pulp stuck between the ridges of the reamer.
Base
A citrus juicer often comes with anti-slip bases to prevent the appliance from moving unexpectedly from its position while you are pressing the fruit onto the reamer. It would also be better to get a juicer with suction cups at the base because they will prevent marring spots on your kitchen countertop or island top.
Different Types of Spouts Found in Citrus Juicers
To make sure that you can pour the liquid easily into a glass from the juicer’s container, most products are reinforced with a spout. This conical projection makes sure all the juice is transferred to the glass with no wastage. However, there are two types of spouts: snap-up and built-in spouts. In some products, you will find that the juice container’s edge is designed as a built-in spout with a conical lip so that you can pour down the liquid without creating a mess. The snap-up spouts are built outside the product and almost behave as dispensers. If you push them down, the juice will flow freely from the container to the glass kept under it. And when you don’t want to use the juice, simply push up the spout, and it will prevent any drip.
Citrus Juicers vs. Regular Fruit Juicers
There are considerable differences between citrus juicers and regular fruit juicers that you should know before deciding which one to purchase.
- A citrus fruit juicer has a reamer with sharp ridges that will scrape the pulp from the fruit. In regular juicers, blades are there at the bottom.
- The citrus fruit juicer is specifically made to squeeze out the juice from citrus fruit pulp. On the contrary, other juicers grind and crush the food particles and then produce the juice.
- You won’t have to use a sieve with the citrus juicer, but you need to strain the juice separately if you use regular juice-making appliances.
