5 from 4 votes

How to Juice a Lemon without a Juicer

No juicer? No problem! Don’t let the lack of a juicer keep you from enjoying every last drop of lemony goodness. With just a few easy steps, you can extract fresh lemon juice by hand—no special tools needed! Perfect for lemonade, salad dressings, or zesty desserts, this simple method is great for both kids and adults. Learn how to juice a lemon without a juicer and get squeezing in no time!


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Marcie smiling in kitchen.

Why We Love Juicing Lemons by Hand

  • Quick and easy– Get every last drop from your lemons when you follow our steps on how to juice a lemon without a juicer!
  • Inexpensive– No need to spend money on juicers or squeezers.
  • Convenient- All you need is your hands!
  • Kid-friendly– If kids are helping you out in the kitchen, they may find this traditional approach easier. And no chance of getting their fingers pinched while using a handheld juicing device.

🍋 Choosing your Lemons

When juicing a lemon, make sure it’s ripe—not too hard and not past its prime. Unripe lemons are usually firm, dull or green skin, while overripe ones can be squishy or have wrinkled skin. A perfectly ripe lemon should be bright yellow, feel heavy for its size, and give slightly when gently squeezed—signs that it’s juicy and ready to use

child holding lemon

👩‍🍳 Instructions

Step 1: Roll your whole lemon on a hard surface in order to loosen up the inside membranes.

Step 2: Slice lemon in half.

Step 3: Squeeze your lemon with both hands over a small bowl (we usually use a Pyrex glass measuring cup with spout), rotating the lemon as you squeeze.

Step 4: Discard any seeds from your bowl.

Hands juicing a lemon over a pyrex measuring container.

❓ FAQ

How do you get the MOST juice out of a lemon?

To ensure you get the most juice out of a lemon, you need to make sure your lemon is as soft and malleable as possible. There are a couple different ways to soften a lemon before slicing: (1) ROLL the whole lemon on a hard surface to loosen its membranes [this is our preferred method]; (2) SOAK it in a bowl of warm water for 10-20 minutes; or (3) HEAT a whole lemon in the microwave for 20 seconds.

How long does freshly squeezed lemon juice last?

Lemon juice should last for 2-3 days in the refrigerator.

Erupting lemon volcano with red paint and bubbles.

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mom and child hands squeezing lemons into pyrex measuring cup
5 from 4 votes

🍋 How to Juice a Lemon Without a Juicer

Prep: 1 minute
Cook: 1 minute
Total: 2 minutes
Need fresh lemon juice but don't have a juicer? No worries! Check out this simple and efficient way to juice a lemon without a juicer!

Equipment

  • 1 small bowl
  • 1 Spoon

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lemon (rinsed)

Instructions
 

  • Roll lemon on hard surface to loosen membranes on inside.
  • Slice your lemon in half.
  • Squeeze your lemon with both hands over a small bowl (we usually use a Pyrex glass measuring cup with spout), rotating the lemon as you squeeze.
  • Use a spoon to scoop out any seeds from the bowl.

Video

Notes

  1. To loosen up the lemon’s inside membranes, roll your whole lemon on a hard surface prior to slicing. 
  2. Rotate your sliced lemon as you squeeze it to ensure the maximum amount of juice is extracted from each segment.

Nutrition

Calories: 31kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 1gSodium: 2mgPotassium: 149mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 24IUVitamin C: 57mgCalcium: 28mgIron: 1mg

The nutrition facts provided are calculated using a third-party tool and are estimates only. Actual nutritional content may vary based on the ingredients and brands you use, as well as portion sizes. For accurate results, please consult a registered dietitian or nutritionist.

Course Side Dish, Snack
Cuisine American

Categories:

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5 from 4 votes (1 rating without comment)

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6 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    bookmarked!!, I like your web site!

  2. 5 stars
    I couldn’t resist commenting. Perfectly written!

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