Whether you’re squeezing a single lemon for a recipe or juicing a whole bag of oranges to make a pitcher of OJ, at some point, most home cooks will reach for a citrus juicer.
We juiced more than 50 pounds of oranges, grapefruits, lemons, and limes, and the Vinci Hands-Free Electric Citrus Juicer is the best electric juicer we tested. For manual models that are better equipped for juicing fruit in smaller quantities, the Chef’n Juicester Citrus Juicer was the best reamer, and the Chef’n FreshForce Citrus Juicer was the best squeezer.
Our pick
This easy-to-use juicer requires zero manual squeezing, making it the most accessible model we tried. It also yielded more juice than nearly every other model and includes two sizes of pulp strainer.
The virtually hands-free design of the Vinci Hands-Free Electric Citrus Juicer, the only electric juicer we tested that required zero manual force to operate, was both a pleasure to use and to see in action. Apart from opening and closing the lid and placing the fruit on the juicing cone, the machine does all the work for you.
It effectively juices oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruit with speed and precision, resulting in a great-tasting glass of juice in a short amount of time. It was also a top performer when it came to the amount of juice it squeezed. This machine comes with two straining options (for more or less pulp), and the removable parts are top-rack dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup.
Budget pick
This machine requires elbow grease, but its powerful motor enables speedy, efficient juicing. We liked the adjustable pulp strainer and built-in pitcher, which most models we tested lacked.
The Black+Decker Citrus Juicer is effective and fast, and it produces great-tasting juice with less mess. At under $30, it’s also a great value. Unlike the Vinci juicer, this model’s built-in pitcher eliminates the need to dirty an additional vessel while juicing. An adjustable pulp strainer allows for five levels of pulp, and it actually works. Two sizes of juicing cones are convenient for small and large citrus (though the larger cone wasn’t quite big enough for larger grapefruit).
Like most of the models we tested, the removable parts are top-rack dishwasher-safe. If you are prone to hand fatigue, beware that the Black+Decker juicer requires more force to operate than other electric juicers we tested. You have to press the fruit down onto the juicing cone with your hands in order to operate it.
Our pick
This manual juicer captures every drop of juice, and it functions as a pitcher and a measuring cup. A spring-mounted juicing cone helps take pressure off your hand while you squeeze.
If you’re juicing for one or just need a little citrus juice for a recipe, the Chef’n Juicester Citrus Juicer is a great option. The savvy, self-contained design catches all of the juice and measures as you go, with the volume printed right on the pitcher. It can juice up to 1½ cups (a tall glass of orange juice), and the spring-mounted reamer took the pressure off our wrists and hands, making it easier to operate than the handheld reamer we tested. (But it still requires a decent amount of effort.)
The built-in strainer effectively filters out seeds and larger bits of pulp, and the whole thing can be popped into the dishwasher for easy cleaning. Since the Juicester is relatively small and comes apart, it’s easy to store, too.
Our pick
This handheld squeezer is beloved by chefs and bartenders alike, for good reason: Its clever geared hinge makes it easier to squeeze, and the built-in strainer helps with seed control.
The Chef’n FreshForce Citrus Juicer was our favorite manual squeezer, thanks to its smart design and great-tasting results. This squeezer juices smaller citrus like lemons and limes quickly and requires minimal force. The dual-pressure geared hinge takes the load off of your arms and hands, so it’s easier to squeeze. A built-in strainer keeps seeds at bay, making this squeezer ideal for juicing for cocktails or squeezing right over a salad.
