How to Get More Juice Out of a Lemon (Clever Hack)

Lemons are next in line after onions and garlic when it comes to everyday cooking. They are also the most common go-to option when trying to salvage a bland savory dish or perk up a baked dessert.

Either way, this tangy fruit has never failed to surprise with its versatility. Plus, lemons are loaded with essential vitamins and minerals that have many health and beauty benefits. Its acidic nature also makes it a star ingredient for cleaning purposes around your home.

Whatever the reason, getting the maximum juice out of every lemon just makes good sense. Applying elbow grease is the easiest way to extract the  lemon juice, but it often leads to a lot of waste. If you believe in the motto ‘waste not, want not’, learning the right way to get more juice out of a lemon can come in handy.

Here are some easy-peasy, surefire ways to get more juice out of a lemon without the need for any sophisticated gadgets. Many of the methods yield more juice simply due to breaking the membranes in the fruit’s flesh to allow more juice to flow out.

Rest assured, these seven methods will get the maximum amount of juice out of even the stingiest lemon.

Method 1: Microwave It First

Microwaving a lemon whole will ensure that you get 30 to 40 percent extra juice out while squeezing it. Warming up the lemon loosens the pulp, making it easier for you to extract more juice.

Single-Step Method: Microwave the lemon for 30 sec & squeeze out the juice

• Heat the whole lemon in the microwave on high for 30 seconds.
• Allow the lemon to cool down a bit, then use a knife to slice it in half.
• Squeeze the loosened pulp over a bowl to extract the juice.

You can also freeze the lemon if you won’t be using it right away. It can go directly from the freezer into the microwave to loosen the membranes holding the pulp.

Method 2: Cut It Lengthwise

It is normal practice to cut a lemon crosswise. However, to get more juice out of a lemon for your next cup of lemon iced tea, try cutting it lengthwise and see the difference. Use a spoon, knife or fork to crush the juicy pulp of the fruit to extract more juice with less effort.

Things you’ll need:

• Lemon
• Knife
• Spoon
• Chopping board

Single-Step Method: Cut lemon lengthwise & use spoon to extract the juice

• Place the lemon on the chopping board and slice it in half lengthwise.
• Holding it over a bowl, push a spoon inside the pulp and rotate it. This will puncture the membranes and allow the juice to flow out.
• Finally, squeeze the lemon normally to extract any remaining juice.

Method 3: Twist a Fork in It

A fork’s sharp tines can also be used to pierce the lemon’s membranes, making it easier for the juice to flow out freely. Don't keep that watermelon lemonade waiting, go ahead and try this hack.

Things you’ll need:

• Lemon
• Fork
• Knife
• Chopping board

Single-Step Method: Insert and twist a fork inside half a lemon

• Slice a lemon in half crosswise.
• Holding it over a bowl, jab a fork in the center of the pulp and rotate the fork while squeezing the lemon continuously. You can also move the fork up and down to loosen the pulp.
• Remove the fork and give the lemon a good final squeeze to collect the very last drop of juice.

Method 4: Roll It First

Rolling is like a warm-up session for the lemon before you start working on it. It helps loosen the tight pulp and break the membranes to enable easier and faster juicing.

Single-Step Method: Roll the lemon before squeezing the juice out

• Firmly press and roll the whole lemon back and forth on a chopping board or a firm and clean countertop. However, do not exert so much pressure that it causes the skin of the lemon to break open.
• Slice the lemon in half crosswise and squeeze out the juice normally.

Method 5: Put It in a Lemon Squeezer

If you would like a little help for this everyday struggle, get a lemon squeezer or a reamer. If you have a thing for gadgets, you can also get an electric juicer to get more juice out of a lemon.

Things you’ll need:

• Lemon
• Lemon squeezer
• Knife
• Chopping board

Single-Step Method: Squeeze a lemon half with the lemon squeezer

• Slice a lemon in half crosswise. You can also slice off the pointy tip of the rind.
• Place the lemon half inside the squeezer with the pulp facing down.
• Hold the squeezer over a bowl and press the top handle down with your dominant hand. Continue to press until the handles are close enough together to hold with one hand.
• Collect the juice and use as needed.

Method 6: Traditional Squeezing

Sometimes nothing can beat old-fashioned elbow grease to prepare a hearty cup of warm lemon tea. If you find the other methods too messy or time consuming, simply exert as much force as you can with your hand to squeeze the juice out of a lemon.

Things you’ll need:

• Lemon
• Knife
• Chopping board

Single-Step Method: Squeeze the juice out of a lemon half with your hand

• Cut a lemon in half crosswise.
• Holding it over a bowl, squeeze the lemon with your hand. Once you feel that no more juice can come out, rotate the half a little and squeeze it again.
• Repeat the rotate-and-squeeze process until all the juice has been extracted.

Method 7: Peel Before Squeezing

If you feel jabbing the fruit is quite ruthless, try peeling and squeezing the lemon. The tough rind is what protects the delicate pulp and makes it difficult to extract the juice. With no rind, a few squeezes should get the job done.

Things you’ll need:

• Lemon
• Knife
• Chopping board

Step 1. Peel the rind off the lemon

• Use a knife to peel the rind off the lemon. If you find it difficult to peel with a knife, you can use a peeler.

Step 2. Slice the lemon in half and squeeze out the juice

• Slice the lemon crosswise into halves.
• Squeeze each half over a bowl to extract all the juice.

Tips

• Wash the lemon as well as your hands before juicing it to avoid any impurities getting into the juice.
• Use the tine of a fork to deseed the lemon before squeezing the juice out to avoid the seeds getting into the juice.
• If you store lemons in your refrigerator, let it sit out until it’s at room temperature to make it easier to get more juice out of a lemon.