How to Juice a Lime (6 Methods With + Without Juicer | + Freeze it)
How to juice a lime with or without a juicer, using one of 6 methods! Including top tips, FAQs, and how to freeze limes (whole, sliced/wedges, juice, zest) for longer-term storage!
No matter which of the below methods you use, here are a couple of tricks for how to get the most juice out of a lime (and most citrus fruits). These include:• Roll the limes on the countertop to break up/loosen the membranes.• Microwaving them for 20-25 seconds can help also loosen membranes and make it easier to extract the juice.• Slice them lengthwise instead of crosswise when juicing. Make sure to also always work with room temperature limes, as they'll be softer, so easier to juice.
Electric Citrus Juicer Method
Slice the limes in half.
Press each lime section against the reamer and let the machine do its thing.Most electric citrus juicers naturally filter the pulp/seeds from the fresh lime juice.
Citrus Reamer/Handheld Citrus Squeezer
Tabletop version: slice the lime/s in half and, similarly to the electric juicer, place each over the juicer. Twist it back and forth over the reamer to release as much juice as possible.
Hand-held reamer/Hinge-based juicer: first, place a bowl/container beneath where you'll juice the limes. To strain the pulp/seeds, I recommend placing a fine-mesh sieve above it. For the hand-held reamer, simply hold a half piece in the palm of your hand and use your other hand to press the reamer into the cut side of the lime halves and twist back and forth to release the juice. For a hinge-based juicer, place the lime half into the tool and then press it tightly close to squeeze out as much juice as possible.
Fork or Spoon Method
Slice each lime in half and, working on one piece at a time, place them over a sieve-lined bowl.
Press either a spoon or fork into the center of the lime segment and squeeze and twist. Use the fork/spoon to scrape against the lime's sides to extract as much fresh lime juice as possible.
Stand Mixer Method
Slice the limes into lengthwise quarters and place them in your stand mixer bowl.
Cover the bowl using a splatter guard (or a layer of clingfilm).
Turn the mixer on LOW and allow it to crush/squeeze all the juice from the limes.
Finally, pour that mixture through a sieve/nut milk bag.
Skewer Method
Press a skewer (or chopstick) into the non-stem end of the lemon. Pushing it right into the fruit without coming out the other end.
Then simply hold it over a container and squeeze. The pulp and seeds should stay inside while the juice streams out.
Freezer Method
Place the lime/s in the freezer in a Ziplock bag and allow to freeze entirely.
When you need the juice, allow the limes to thaw at room temperature. Then slice in half and squeeze by hand or with a fork/spoon.
Notes
Do limes need to be refrigerated? If you plan to use them within 5-7 days, not necessarily. However, you will extend their shelf life by storing them in the fridge. To do so, I recommend storing them in a Ziplock bag (to stop them from drying out) in the crisper drawer. That way, they can last between 3-4 weeks!Can you freeze limes? Absolutely. In fact, there are several ways that you can freeze limes in the freezer. These include whole, in wedges, or in slices - see the blog post for more details.No matter which you choose, make sure to first wash them well and thoroughly dry them, too.Check the blog post for more storage tips and answers to top FAQs!