Squeeze Fresh Lemon Juice (Print Version)
Simple steps to extract fresh lemon juice ideal for various culinary uses.
# Recipe Ingredients:
→ Produce
01 - 1 fresh lemon
# Directions:
01 - Wash the lemon thoroughly under running water.
02 - Roll the lemon on a countertop with your palm, applying gentle pressure to help release the juice.
03 - Cut the lemon in half crosswise.
04 - Hold one half over a bowl or glass, cut side up to catch seeds, and squeeze firmly with your hand or use a citrus juicer to extract the juice.
05 - Repeat the juice extraction with the other lemon half.
06 - Optionally, strain the juice using a fine mesh strainer to remove pulp and seeds.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Fresh lemon juice tastes nothing like the bottled stuff and costs pennies.
- Once you know this technique, you'll squeeze lemons without thinking, adding brightness to everything from salads to cocktails.
02 -
- A cold lemon from the refrigerator will fight you—warm it slightly or microwave it for 10 to 15 seconds to coax out every drop.
- Rolling matters more than you'd think; skip this step and you'll squeeze harder and get less juice.
03 -
- A quick roll on the counter is the secret weapon that changes everything—it literally doubles the juice you'll extract compared to squeezing cold.
- If you don't have a citrus juicer, your hand works perfectly fine; the real power comes from rolling first, not from expensive tools.