Do you have a citrus juicer?
If you like to cook, you will be familiar with the fact that many recipes sweet and savory call for lemon or lime juice. Also, you probably like to drink a glass of orange juice now and then, so have you got a citrus juicer? A lot of people buy pre-bottled juice concentrate, but it really doesn't taste as good, as I'm sure we all know.
If you get a small citrus juicer you can make as much citrus juice as you need and want, on demand - it's fast and easy. Most commonly it's a gadget made like a press, where you put the half of the lemon or lime between two sieve pieces and pulling together two handles that crush the fruit.
If you have tried squeezing lemons or oranges by hand, then you know how difficult it is to very much juice out of them. A citrus juicer press or squeezer will get out almost every drop, thanks to the leverage system from the design of the handles. Similar to a nut cracker, even people with small hands, children, and the elderly can juice several citrus fruits easily.
A large electric juicer machine takes up a fair amount of space, but citrus juicers are quite compact items that would not cost more than $20-$30 for a best-quality model that will last your lifetime, or maybe even longer (now there's a creepy thought!). Stainless steel juicers of citrus fruits for instance will not rust or corrode and are strong and likely to be made with an excellent finish and a sound lever mechanism.
Using the citrus juicer is easy, after all all you have to do is cut a lemon, lime or even orange in half, and firmly and slowly close the two handles together. You do this over a cup or a bowl, and the juice catches in here. Clean the gadget well after each use, don't be tempted to just give a quick wipe. A bit of hot soapy water and a scrub to remove to citrus fruit oils, really is necessary as acidic fruits can damage the surface of any juicer machine over time and plus it can leave stains. Most juicers can be placed in the dishwasher also.
There are other kinds of citrus juicers too for instance a reamer, which is a pointed cone with sharp ridges, onto which is pushed the fruit half. You then twist the fruit. Of course it is not so good to use this if you suffer from joint pain in your hands or fingers because the twisting motion required may cause you trouble or just be too difficult. Electric models are available which turn the cone rather than you having to turn the fruit. You still have to hold the fruit though, so it's not fully automatic. We prefer the lever press style personally.
Homemade lemon juice, orange and lime juice are all excellent sources of vitamin C when used raw, or added to cakes and toppings, sauces and other dishes, can really add the zing that makes a meal or a treat special.
