Best Manual Citrus Juicer
Looking to buy the best manual juicer for citrus fruits? Those newfangled electric ones can be mighty expensive, and often extract far too quickly, leaving you with a foamy, separated juice that is nowhere near as delicious as it should be!
Hipsters, old folk, broke students and traditional families alike are all still fans of the original, mechanical devices. There are several kinds to choose from, each at different price points and with alternative extraction techniques required.
Which juicer do I need, we hear you cry? Well, here are five for you to check out, from a range of manufacturers, to suit different desires and budgets, based on hours of thorough research.
Assess their pros and cons and figure out which one is for you!
Desperate For Some Citrus ASAP? Here’s Our Top Pick:
OUR TOP PICK
With over 20,000 five star reviews, this hand-held squeezing juicer from Zulay Kitchen was an easy choice for our number one product. Available in eight bright and beautiful colors, it will really stand out in your cutlery or utensils drawer!
Even a child can use this unsupervised - the low profile, easy to squeeze (and store!) design uses sturdy industrial aluminum with a protected coating, and the simplistic design extracts plenty of fruit with minimal pressure.
As it’s dishwasher friendly, you’ll be able to wash it with the rest of your dirty dishes, or rinse it efficiently under a stream of hot water - be sure to get into every nook and cranny. Maintenance is so easy, it’ll serve you fantastically for years to come!
Promising to extract more juice than competing brands, the internal sieve removes seeds for you, more than able to handle a variety of fruits: whether they’re from Mexico, Florida, Lisbon California or Tahiti, it’ll juice all your lemons and limes.
Far more affordable than a reamer or vertical juice press, this handheld device does just as good a job, and though it requires a little effort on your part, think about the muscles you’ll build up by working for that glass of OJ or splash of lemon juice.
Pros:
- Made from durable aluminum with a wipe-clean, non toxic enamel coating
- Small, easy to store - tucks away in a drawer with no problem
- Much more affordable than larger juicers
- Requires minimal maintenance thanks to simplistic, handheld design
Cons:
- Extracting juice takes more effort than when using a reamer or vertical press
EDITORS CHOICE
A charming retro classic, this Westmark juicer is capable of extracting every last drop of delicious fruits, whether you’re a lemon, lime, orange, or grapefruit fan. In bright apple green or rosy red, it makes a wonderful accessory to any kitchen.
The conical pulp reamer and juice container are made from BPA and PVC free, non toxic plastic. With a spout for easy pouring and a transparent strainer insert to catch any seeds or pulp, it’s never been easier to enjoy a cool and refreshing glass of OJ!
Sturdy and solid, the dish itself is able to hold up to 17 ounces (500ml) of liquid at once, with a non-slip ring on the bottom to ensure stability whilst juicing and a much easier experience overall!
Overall, maintenance is easy - just remove the insert and pop everything on the top shelf of your dishwasher, on a regular hot wash with no extra heat. Otherwise, hand wash in warm soapy water with the rest of your dirty dishes.
A clever manual reaming design allows users to really grind down and shred the pulp for additional juice, ensuring that none reaches the liquid thanks to the insert. Pressure is easily added just by pushing down - even kids can do it!
Pros:
- Two attractive colors - won’t get lost in your cupboards!
- 17 ounce capacity for plenty of juice at once
- Transparent strainer catches seeds and pulp to keep your juice free of bits
- Non-slip base for plenty of stability when squeezing
Cons:
- Not as good for fruit on the smaller side - the reamer is too large
BEST VALUE
Crafted from beautiful heavyweight glass, this damage-resistant juicer from Harold Import Co is not affected by the citric acid produced by fruit like other plastic units are, meaning it will be a useful kitchen companion for many years to come.
Ideal for freshly squeezed orange juice, flavoring everyday dishes or whipping up craft cocktails, a pointed reamer makes juicing even easier; where some juicers are too blunt, this baby will ensure you get every last drop.
Rather than incorporating multiple parts, the all-in-one dish style incorporates an integrated handle and pouring spout so you can go from juicer to glass. A deep reservoir collects plenty of liquid for a full cup!
Far easier to use and much more budget friendly than an electric machine, this dish is simple to maintain, requiring only a hand wash in hot water with dish soap. From spout to handle it’s only 6 inches long, so you’ll have no trouble storing it away.
Unfortunately there isn’t a seed or pulp catcher, but the transparent dish means you can easily spot them and remove them should that be a problem. Fans of pulpy juice - rejoice! You’ll be able to enjoy all those extra nutrients with ease.
Pros:
- Pointed, angled reamer for easy extraction of juice
- Heavyweight glass is difficult to break and won’t be impacted by citric acid
- Affordable - far more so than a commercial unit or electric model
- Handle and spout for easy pouring - child friendly
Cons:
- There isn’t a filter for seeds and pulp - some people might be happy about this, however!
RUNNER UP
Exerting up to 2000lbs of force with minimal effort on your part, this commercial juicer from Hamilton Beach utilizes an extractor arm to allow for maximum juice output, whilst preventing any pulpy residue. Pricier, yes, but incredibly convenient!
Uniquely designed, the multifunctional, removable four ounce juice cup easily holds the juice of one full orange, lime or lemon; collecting any drippings and ensuring the counter stays clean, it also swings away out of use if you want to use your own cup.
All of the metal components are resistant to wear and tear when exposed to citric acid, thanks to an enamel finish that also prevents scratching. That means your juicer will stay looking beautiful and shiny for the foreseeable future!
Thanks to Sure Grip feet, the juicer is held firmly in place with no danger of tipping over. Removable parts, including the cup, strainer, cone and funnel, are all removable and easily cleaned using warm, soapy water.
Whilst, as pointed out, this is the priciest juicer on our list, it’s definitely worth the investment for those with mobility difficulties, particularly in their hands and arms. It could bring back a little bit of lost independence!
Pros:
- An iconic juicer - first manufactured in 1932, it has been perfected over decades of use
- Built in a multifunctional, removable juice cup - also useful for measuring in cups!
- Exert up to 2,000lbs of pressure with little effort, so it’s excellent for those who struggle with regular handheld juicers
- One year’s warranty and Global Care from Hamilton Beach
Cons:
- Expensive compared to other juicers - but it is intended for commercial use
RUNNER UP
Last but certainly not least, we have another vertical commercial juicer, this one a little more affordable than the above. Gourmia’s Large Citrus Juicer has a similar number of five star ratings and may be a better option for buyers on a budget.
Made with the best of materials, a cast iron base and handle have been paired with stainless steel and plastic coated components. Protected from citric acid, they’ll stay sturdy - and shiny looking - for much longer.
Using the pull handle, you can exert much more pressure on your halved fruits than you otherwise could using a manual squeezer or reamer. This means not only will you be enjoying your juice faster, but there’ll be more of it overall!
Sleek and slender, though it’s 27.5 inches tall, the press has a low profile design that can be easily stored away - or leave it out and on display, as it looks like quite an impressive gadget to any visiting friends and family.
Securing the device couldn’t be easier thanks to integrated suction cups; simply adhere it to your countertops or any other non-porous surface, and the strong grip of those included cups will do the rest of the work.
Pros:
- Cast iron, stainless steel construction - long lasting, durable design
- Entirely manual, but allows users to add way more pressure - an affordable alternative to the electric juicer
- Heavy duty, secured by suction cups for added stability when juicing
- Includes an additional strainer for removing unwanted pulp and seeds
Cons:
- Still on the pricey side when compared to the handheld reamers and squeezers we’ve highlighted - could be worth it if you drink a lot of juice!
Best Manual Citrus Juicer Buying Guide
Manual Juicing - Which Style Is Right For You?
Squeezing Hand Juicer
The most inexpensive and easy method of juicing is by using what’s referred to in cooking circles as a ‘squeezer’!
With these, you place half a lime, lemon, or small orange between two spoon-like handles, connected by a hinge, and press down to release all of that juicy goodness.
This is great for a quick splash here and there, but if you’re looking for more yield, you’ll want to upgrade to one of the below.
Manual Reamer
These circular devices with a protruding, ridged cone in the center, extract juice in two ways - from the pressure of your palm pushing down onto the fruit, as well as tearing the flesh of fruit apart against said cone, which is known as a ‘reamer’.
Often they have bowls or cups beneath them, making transference or storage much easier.
Commercial Grade Mechanical Press
Often more expensive than their smaller, hand-sized counterparts, these vertical presses use the force you can put against a handle to extract juice by pressing fruit between two plates - this is directly extracted via a tube to an awaiting cup below, so it’s the device most often used in a commercial setting (unless they opt for electrical!)
Features To Look Out For:
Food-Grade, Non-Toxic Materials
Not only is important to pick a reliable, durable manual juicer - one that’s going to fall apart after two or three uses is no good! - but you also need to make sure the materials used are free of toxins like BPA, parabens and phthalates.
Common choices include wood and stainless steel - those of a wooden variety are usually much more affordable, being a handheld reamer as opposed to the manual ones set inside a collecting container or dish.
Stainless steel is probably the most durable, as well as being the easiest to take care of, provided you clean it regularly enough and dry off to prevent rusting. It will, however, cost you more for a metal juicer than a wooden or silicone one!
Ease of Use
Depending on your personal situation and how able you are, you might want to prioritize getting a juicer that requires as little strength as possible.
You need to expend a lot more effort to get the same amount of juice from a hand unit as a commercial grade, mechanical unit would require!
You also don’t want it to take forever to extract said juice, so if you’ve got the budget to opt for the vertical press, it’s definitely worth the step up in price for the time and effort you’ll save over time, and the quality of juice!
Amount of Juice Produced
Ideally, you want the juicer of your dreams to extract as much juice as is possible from citrus fruits - of course, this will vary between products, and depending on the quality of the fruits you use, so it can be difficult to determine this.
Although manufacturers will of course claim that their juicer yields the most lemon, lime or orange juice, checking the customer reviews of that product to determine whether or not their claims are valid can only serve you well!
Maintenance and Cleanup
Using a juicer is supposed to be efficient! You don’t want to have to spend ages wiping sticky countertops or having to wash your clothes afterward because the product you opt for isn’t made well!
Likewise, if it’s possible to get a juicer that can be rinsed clean in hot soapy water, or even better, is dishwasher friendly (provided you’re lucky enough to have one!), and easy to disassemble for cleaning, you’ll save yourself a lot of time and effort.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you use a manual juicer?
With a handheld juicer, you simply squeeze your fruit between the two separate pieces, which usually look like spoons, over your desired vessel.
With a reamer, which is the kind of manual juicer you press fruits downwards into, you can get double the extraction, but it requires the pressure of you pushing down onto the cone, as well as you moving the fruit clockwise and counterclockwise to shred the fruity flesh and release more juice.
What can I do with lemons after juicing?
If you’re trying to live a zero waste lifestyle, or you just tend to use a lot of lemon juice, there are several things you can do with the leftover halves!
For instance, spoon some sea salt into each half and then pop ‘em into a mason jar, squashing the contents so it’s all compact before you seal.
When left in a cupboard for a few months, the salt draws the rest of the moisture from each lemon, leaving behind a beautiful salty brine.
This liquid is excellent for breaking down the skins further to create an incredible flavor - you’ll eventually have edible preserved skins, perfect for adding some punch to salads or dips.
You could try something sweeter and put all your spent citrus halves into a jar, bowl or jug, then add sugar - about the same in grams as all of your fruit. If left overnight, when you wake up you’ll be rewarded with a beautiful, sweet yet tangy syrup that’s ideal for diluting with water, adding zest to a cocktail, or soaking a cake with.
Can you juice citrus fruits like lemons or oranges with the skin on?
Yes! By juicing the skin as well as the pulp in an electric juicer (sadly, handheld or manual ones won’t be up to the job) you can gain plenty of additional nutrients - lemons, in particular, have peels that contain plenty of antioxidants and vitamin C.
If you don’t want to juice the skin, but you don’t want to waste it, you could always make candied peel to top a dessert with!
