A squeeze of lemon over fish, lime juice for a dressing, a jug of fresh lemonade: citrus turns up in almost every kitchen. The right tool gets more juice with less effort and keeps the pips out. This guide compares the three manual tools, what each one does best and how to care for it.
The short answer
- A lemon squeezer is the quick hand press for half a lemon or lime, straight over the pan, plate or glass.
- A citrus press works the same way and is made for oranges as well.
- A squeezer with a bowl collects the juice of several fruits, ready to measure and pour.
Many home cooks keep one hand press and one squeezer with a bowl. Here is how to choose.
The lemon squeezer: one press over the pan
A lemon squeezer is a hinged hand press with two handles. Place half a fruit cut-side down in the bowl and squeeze: the pressing plate turns the peel inside out, the juice runs through the holes and the pips stay behind.
- Best for: lemon over fish, salad or pasta, lime for cocktails and guacamole, a dash of juice in tea.
- Keep in mind: it is meant for lemons, limes and small oranges, and presses one half at a time.
The Hi Nature® Lemon Squeezer is a heavy-duty zinc alloy press for lemons, limes and small oranges, with a built-in filter that keeps pips out of your glass. It comes in matte black or silver, in a gift box.
The citrus press: lemons, limes and oranges
A citrus press is built on the same principle: fruit in, handles closed, juice out. The difference is the fruit it is made for. It is meant for oranges as well, which makes it the all-rounder for anyone who juices more than the odd lemon.
- Best for: orange juice for a sauce or glaze, lemon for dressings and baking, limes for a round of drinks.
- Keep in mind: like every hand press, it works one half at a time, so a full jug takes patience.
The Hi Nature® Citrus Press is cast in zinc alloy and has a comfortable ergonomic handle. The perforated bowl filters the pips as you squeeze. It is dishwasher safe.
The squeezer with a bowl: juice, measure, pour
You will know this one: a ridged cone on top of a container. You press half a fruit onto the cone and twist, and the juice collects underneath. That makes it the tool for recipes that ask for an exact amount or for the juice of several fruits.
- Best for: lemonade, marinades, lemon curd, cakes and dressings in larger batches.
- Keep in mind: it needs both hands and a spot on the worktop, so it is less handy over the pan.
The Hi Nature® Lemon Squeezer Bowl juices lemons, limes and oranges straight into a 400 ml stainless steel container. A built-in seed filter stops the pips and a dual spout pours from either side. It has no plastic parts and is dishwasher safe.
The three citrus tools at a glance
- Fruit: the lemon squeezer is meant for lemons, limes and small oranges; the other two take oranges too.
- Quantity: a hand press for one or two halves, a squeezer with a bowl for several fruits.
- Where the juice goes: a hand press sends it straight onto the food or into a glass; the bowl holds up to 400 ml.
- Cleaning: the citrus press and the squeezer with a bowl are dishwasher safe; the lemon squeezer is best washed by hand.
Which citrus tool for which job?
- A squeeze of lemon over fish or pasta: lemon squeezer, straight over the plate.
- Lime juice for cocktails or guacamole: lemon squeezer or citrus press.
- Orange juice for a sauce, glaze or dressing: citrus press.
- Lemonade or a marinade: squeezer with a bowl, which collects and pours.
- Baking with the juice of several lemons: squeezer with a bowl.
Care: keep your citrus tools clean
- Rinse the tool under warm water straight after use, before pulp and sugar dry on.
- The Hi Nature® Citrus Press and Lemon Squeezer Bowl are dishwasher safe. For the Lemon Squeezer, hand washing is recommended to preserve the finish.
- Use a soft brush for the holes and the filter, where pips and pulp collect.
- Dry hand presses before they go back in the drawer, hinge included.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a lemon squeezer and a citrus press?
Both are hand presses that work the same way. As a rule, a lemon squeezer is made for lemons and limes, while a citrus press is meant for oranges too.
Which way round does the lemon go in a lemon squeezer?
Cut-side down, facing the holes. It looks the wrong way round, but that way the press turns the peel inside out and the juice runs straight through the holes.
How do I get more juice out of a lemon?
Use fruit at room temperature and roll the lemon firmly under your palm before you cut it. Then cut it across the middle, not from tip to tip.
Can I juice an orange with a lemon squeezer?
Small oranges fit in a lemon squeezer. For larger oranges, use a citrus press or a squeezer with a bowl.
Conclusion
There is no single best citrus tool, only the right one for the job. A lemon squeezer is the quick press for a lemon or lime over the pan, a citrus press handles oranges as well, and a squeezer with a bowl collects juice by the batch. Rinse and dry them straight after use, and they will serve you well for a long time.
Related Products from Hi Nature®
Find the citrus tool that fits the way you cook:
1. Lemon Squeezer
- View the product
- Heavy-duty zinc alloy press for lemons, limes and small oranges, with a built-in filter. Matte black or silver, gift box included. Hand wash recommended.
2. Citrus Press
- View the product
- Manual zinc alloy press for lemons, limes and oranges, with a comfortable ergonomic handle. The perforated bowl filters the pips. Dishwasher safe.
3. Lemon Squeezer Bowl
- View the product
- Stainless steel squeezer with a 400 ml bowl, a built-in seed filter and a dual spout. No plastic parts. Dishwasher safe.