In recent years, I had taken to buying bottles of pre-squeezed lemon and lime juice to use for lemonades and salads. I’d considered myself a bit of a genius, at least until I realized that even the tiniest bottles of juice would inevitably become overly sour if I let them sit for too long. So I decided to go back to basics and find the best citrus juicers I can use to extract that sweetly sour flavor fresh out of the fruit.
Once I started looking for juicers, I quickly realized that there are so many different kinds to choose from. From handheld ones to electric juicers, I’ve compiled all of the best options I could find below!
1. Best Overall: Breville Electric Citrus Press BCP600SIL
Let’s kick this list off with an appliance many people would put on their list of the best citrus juicers. This citrus press from Breville is, in many ways, the best of both worlds. Its convenient size should enable you to process any citrus fruit, from limes to grapefruits. Better still, you’ll be able to manually adjust the amount of pressure you apply while the appliance turns the reamer for you.
The 110-Watt juicer itself has a silver, BPA-free polymer base, which some may consider a nuisance. However, it seems to be pretty sturdy. Its motor is strong enough to extract juice efficiently while still being reasonably quiet.
The clean design of the juicer makes it pretty easy to use. The juicing cone on top presses down onto the reamer, which releases the juice through a filter basket into the container below. From there, the juice goes forward to the juice spout, which can be shifted up to prevent dripping. Most of these parts can be taken off the base whenever you need to clean them.
Pros:
- Effortless operation
- No-drip spout
- Works for any kind of citrus
- Parts of it are removable and dishwasher safe
Cons:
- You might not like the plastic build if you had your heart set on metal
- Mid-range price point
2. Best Manual Squeezer: Zulay Kitchen Stainless Steel Lemon and Lime Squeezer
For the rest of the products on this list, I’ve decided to go from manual to electric juicers. With that in mind, I wanted to recommend at least one handheld citrus squeezer since they’re so useful to have in your utensil drawer.
Of all the manual squeezers I’ve seen, this stainless steel one from Zulay is one I can wholeheartedly get behind. Like most handheld squeezers, it’s essentially two spoons with holes in the bottom one. You just need to place half of a lemon or lime so its cut side is facing down, then squeeze the top part down.
The juice should come out with minimal pulp and the grille will even hold back any seeds the citrus might have had. Best of all, handheld squeezers are incredibly easy to clean. Run some water over them and they’ll be good to go.
Overall, this method of extraction is less than ideal for making lemonade. But if you need a spritz of juice for a salad, a fish fillet, or an avocado, it’s one of the best citrus juicers you could get.
Pros:
- Fantastic for food preparation
- Works for limes, lemons, and small oranges
- Stainless steel won’t rust
- Seems to be incredibly durable
- Easy to clean
Cons:
- Relies on your own strength
- Not ideal for making lemonade or other drinks
3. Best Manual Reamer Juicer: Drizom Manual Citrus Squeezer with Built-in Measuring Cup and Grater
Before you think this Drizom juicer is your basic manual reamer, wait until you hear about its features. Granted, at first glance, this is a pretty standard juicer. It consists of a clear 12-ounce container with measurement markings in ounces and milliliters and two reamers of different sizes.
All these parts are made of sturdy, food-grade ABS plastic, with the addition of a silicone anti-slip edge on the bottom of the juice container. That should ensure that the base will stick to your work surface while you’re twisting the citrus over the reamer.
Furthermore, the juicer also comes with a grater that can fit perfectly on top of the juice container, transforming this product into an indispensable, multifunctional food prep tool. Even the smaller reamer has a dual function. If you flip it upside down in the container, it becomes a handy tool for separating egg whites from yolks.
Pros:
- Great multifunctional tool
- Works for any kind of citrus
- The container has convenient measuring marks
- Comes with a grater
- Dishwasher safe
Cons:
- Not great for people who want their juicer to do all the work
4. Best Manual Press: Zulay Kitchen — Tabletop Manual Citrus Press
Press juicers are great tools for squeezing various citruses directly into a cup. In fact, many restaurants and cafes use this exact model from Zulay Kitchen to make freshly squeezed juice. So let’s see what makes this tabletop press one of the best citrus juicers on the market.
Several features make this device stand out from similar ones on the market. For one, its heavy U-shaped base allows you to pull the juicer lever with all of your might without tipping the whole machine over.
According to the manufacturers, it should be able to squeeze thousands of oranges before it shows signs of stopping. Furthermore, thanks to its 5-inch cup, it’ll actually be able to squeeze pretty much any citrus. More importantly, though, it won’t let the seeds slip into your drink.
Still, you ought to keep in mind that this device is almost 16 inches tall, 7 inches wide, and 11 inches long. So if you’re already short on counter space, you might want to go for a more compact electric juicer.
Pros:
- Effortless squeezing thanks to a lever-based system
- Great for any sized citrus, but particularly oranges and grapefruit
- Incredibly durable
- Removable and machine-washable parts
- Comes in black, orange, and red
Cons:
- Not convenient for people with small counters
- It may drip immediately after squeezing, so you should have a rag nearby
5. Best Budget Electric Juicer: Proctor Silex Alex’s Lemonade Stand Citrus Juicer Machine
If you’re pressed for cash, you probably don’t want to shell out a hundred bucks for a professional juicer. But that’s no reason to miss out on freshly squeezed juice. Even better, you can have your glass of lemonade while contributing to a foundation for childhood cancer. Fittingly, Proctor Silex donates $1 for every juicer sold to Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation.
Even though this Proctor Silex device is pretty basic, it’s one of the best citrus juicers I’ve found. It comes with two reamers of different sizes, so it should be great at extracting juice from any citrus fruit. Furthermore, you’ll even be able to control the amount of pulp that passes to the 34-ounce container with a pulp dial at the top of the handle.
All of the parts can be detached from the round base and washed separately. Another way to make use of this feature is by popping the pitcher off and carrying it wherever you want to drink your lemonade. Best of all, the device comes with a recipe book, so you can even experiment with your drinks a little!
Pros:
- Incredibly affordable electric juicer
- Adjustable the pulp levels
- Easy to disassemble and wash
- Works on any citrus fruit
- Comes with a recipe book
Cons:
- Made of plastic
- Noisier than most juicers
6. Best Centrifugal Extractor: Breville 700-Watt Compact Juice Extractor
Even though the Breville juice extractor doesn’t exclusively work on citrus fruits, it’s still one of the best citrus juicers you could hope for. However, there are a few rules you ought to abide by if you want to use it to make lemonade. But before we look into those, let’s check out the features.
If you were a fan of top shop commercials a decade ago, you’re probably familiar with these kinds of juicers. This particular one has a 3-inch wide feed tube that can take on whole oranges at once. After you insert the fruits and vegetables you want to use, you push them down with the chute tube to force them through the rotating, titanium-reinforced grater below.
The only thing you should mind is that citrus fruits need to be peeled before going into the chute. The pulp and seeds should end up in the 1.6-quart pulp container. And when you’re finished making juices, you can easily extract and wash all of the dirty parts.
Pros:
- Great for extracting juice from different fruits and vegetables
- Incredibly durable
- Dishwasher safe parts
- 6-quart pulp collection container
Cons:
- Complicated design means that the cleanup may be bothersome
- Can be pretty loud
7. Best Design: Smeg CJF01CRUS Citrus Juicer One Size Cream
Lastly, I wanted to mention another electric citrus juicer, if for no other reason than for its vintage-looking design. The Smeg Citrus Juicer has an adorably curved shape that comes in six eye-catching colors. The body of the juicer is covered in die-cast aluminum powder, which lends it a metallic sheen. Furthermore, there are company logos on either side of the device with a stainless steel spout in between.
Of all the removable parts, the only thing that isn’t made of stainless steel is the collection tray. Fortunately, the reamer and the strainer are, so they’ll be easy to keep clean. Even the tray shouldn’t present a problem either if you regularly wash it.
However, this spectacular unit does have one or two shortcomings. Its base may be a tad too narrow to handle the strength of its motor. But if you remember to get a good grip on the juicer when you use it, that shouldn’t be an issue. The price point may be a deal-breaker, though, since it’s one of the most expensive juicers you’ll come across.
Pros:
- Cute design that comes in 6 colors
- Can handle any citrus fruit
- 80-Watt motor with a pressure sensor
- Stainless steel detachable parts
- Easy to clean
Cons:
- The most expensive product on the list
- Perhaps a bit unstable
Final Thoughts on the Best Citrus Juicers
Now that we’re at the end of our journey, you can see why each of these products deserved its spot on my list of the best citrus juicers. Still, if I had to give a gold medal to one of them, I’d award it to the Breville Electric Press, because it successfully combines different juicing methods.
But really, any one of them could be crowned the winner. If you love putting lemon or lime juice in salads, you just need a simple handheld squeezer. However, if you love making all sorts of fruity beverages, an electric juicer or centrifugal extractor could be a better choice for you! As long as you shop according to your needs, you can’t go wrong.
