Last Updated on October 11, 2021 by Boniface Muriuki
A kitchen without lemon is incomplete! The small, rounded fruit has many crucial roles ranging from cleaning stained cookware to juicing.
If you want to get the best from a lemon, you should extract its juice and store it in airtight containers. This way, you can drink it, cook with it, or use it for cleaning any time you want.
But how much juice is in one lemon? Now that we fathom the benefits of juicing, you must understand the amount of juice you will get from one lemon. This knowledge will help you to plan on your purchases and make better-juicing decisions.
This article elaborates on how you can use a lemon juicer to extract juice from a lemon and how much juice to expect from it. Read on.
How Much Juice Is In One Lemon
Each lemon yields approximately 3 tablespoons of lemon juice. As such, you’ll need 5-6 lemons to fill a cup.
Read here about how many tablespoons make one cup (conversion)
However, you must note that the lemon juice will be directly proportional to the size of the lemon. Here’s a summary of what to expect:
Small Lemon (4 ounces) = 3 tablespoons of lemon juice
Medium Lemon (5 ounces) = 4 tablespoons of lemon juice
Large Lemon (6 ounces) = 5 tablespoons of lemon juice
As such, you’ll need fewer than 5 large lemons to fill the cup. When visiting your grocery, you should know the approximate amount of juice you require to help you to calculate the number of lemons you need.
Fortunately, lemons have a relatively long shelf-life and overbuying will not necessarily result in a loss.
How to Extract Lemon Juice at Home
If you’re keen on getting the most juice out of your lemon, you should follow a few proven techniques as outlined below:
Soften Your Lemon
You must soften your lemon to ease the pressing. To achieve this, you should place your lemon in warm water for 30 minutes. AVOID boiling the lemon.
Roll the Lemon Slightly Before Cutting It
Applying a little pressure on the surface of your lemon is a sure way of softening the lemon, thus guaranteeing more juice.
Rolling the lemon on the surface of your chopping board, or any hard surface will help loosen the membrane in readiness for juice release. However, never beat the lemon so tough to avoid cracking it, which may result in contamination.
Heat the Lemon in a Microwave, Gently
Heating your WHOLE lemon in a microwave for 20 seconds will soften the membranes holding the juice. As such, only a little pressure will result in incredible juice volumes. Never cut the lemon before placing it into the microwave.
Cut Your Lemon Lengthwise as Opposed to Widthwise
Cutting your lemon lengthwise will expose more of the fruit’s interior, thus increasing the surface that comes into contact with the pressure.
Once cut, you can use your fork to loosen up the membranes. Place a container beneath the lemon, insert the fork’s tines, and twist until the juice starts coming out. You should then press it fully using your hands.
Use a Lemon Squeezer
There are many lemon squeezers you can try out. These crucial kitchen gadgets offer an ergonomic grip, thus allowing you to press the lemon hard enough to extract all the juice.
Here’s a guide on how to use a lemon juicer effectively
The lemon juicers can either be electric or manual. While electric ones are more convenient, they are also pricey.
4 Best Citrus Juicers for the Money
1. Cuisinart CCJ-500 Pulp Control Citrus Juicer
Features
- Adjustable reamer with 3 pulp control settings-low, medium, high
- Auto-reversing universal juicer cone
- Final-Spin feature extracts more juice from pulp
- Extra-long Snap-Up spout accommodates more glasses and prevents dripping
- Brushed stainless steel design
- Dishwasher-safe parts and BPA free
2. BLACK+DECKER 32oz Citrus Juicer, White, CJ625
Features
- 30-watt electric citrus juicer with 32-oz. capacity
- Auto-reversing juicing cones provide maximum juice extraction
- Adjustable Pulp Control with Pulp Basket – Pulp collects in the removable basket so you can throw it out or use it in other recipes
- Easy-to-Read Measurement – Markings on the clear juice container makes juicing for recipes easy
- Drip-Free Pour Spout – The container doubles as a pitcher, complete with handle and spout
3. Proctor Silex Alex’s Lemonade Stand Citrus Juicer Machine and Squeezer
Features
- Squeezes citrus fruits including oranges, lemons, limes and grapefruit
- Detachable pitcher with 34 ounce. capacity
- Full color recipe book included
- 2 reamers with nested storage for large and small citrus fruit with pulp control dial
- Dishwasher safe parts
4. BLACK+DECKER 32oz Citrus Juicer, White, CJ650W,Small
Features
- Electric citrus juicer with 32-oz. capacity
- Auto-reversing juicing cones provide maximum juice extraction
- Adjustable Pulp Control – Pulp collects in the strainer so you can throw it out or use it in other recipes
- Easy-to-Read Measurement – Markings on the juice container makes juicing for recipes easy
- Drip-Free Pour Spout – The container doubles as a pitcher, complete with handle and spout
How to Use Lemon Juice
Lemon juice is one of the most widely used juices in any modern kitchen. When it is mentioned, you’re likely to think about its richness in Vitamin C and how it can help boost immunity. And you’re right!
Lemon juice is rich in vitamins and minerals. These nutrients will surely boost your immunity and help you stay a healthier life. As such, the juice is common for making lemonades and preparing meals. Baking lemon cakes and other baking products require that you have enough lemon juice.
However, the uses of lemon juice stretch beyond drinking and cooking.
5 Surprising Uses of Lemon Juice
Remove Stains from Your Cookware
Whether you own red copper, stainless steel, or aluminum pans, lemon juice comes in handy as a reliable stain remover.
To achieve your original shiny appearance on your pots, cut your lemon in half, dip it in salt, and use it to scrub both exterior and interior. Once your pans are clean, you can rinse them off and dry them before storage.
Descale Your Electric Kettles and Keurig Coffee Makers
When you tap water, you’ll likely remain with calcium and iron deposits. With time, they form compounds that will accumulate as debris. If you do not remove them in time, they will be unsightly and affect the performance of your electronics negatively.
If you’ve been frustrated by the rust and the debris, all you need is a lemon! Yes, lemon juice will restore functionality in your electric kettle and coffee maker, within minutes.
All you need is to boil the lemon juice using these appliances. Once it comes to a boil, drain it and rinse the appliance 2-3 times.
Clean Your Marble Countertop
Marble countertops are beautiful but porous. They are highly prone to staining. While you may have minimal control over it, you can easily get the stains off by using lemon juice. Just cut the lemons halfway, dip them in salt, and scrub the surfaces until they are super clean.
Cleaning Your Cutting Boards and Other Wooden Utensils
Utensils such as cutting boards and pizza stones require that you are thorough in your cleaning escapades. They are susceptible to retaining juices and debris that can encourage bacterial growth.
As such, you should use cleaning agents with significant levels of antibacterial properties. One such inexpensive product is lemon juice. Let the juice sit on the boards for 10 minutes and then rinse with hot water.
Remove Odors from Microwave and Dishwasher
Microwaves can become smelly if you fail to clean them thoroughly. The spillages and splatter will result in unwanted odors that may negatively affect the taste of your food.
To avert this, you should use lemon juice to clean it. A quarter cup of lemon juice is enough to steam the heating cavity. Put the juice in a microwave-friendly bowl and heat it until the cavity is filled with the lemon steam. Wipe the interior with a microfiber cloth.
How Much Juice is in One Lemon – The Verdict
Lemon juice is, without a doubt, one of the most effective cleaning agents. Besides, it is rich in Vitamin C and other minerals that are essential in boosting your immunity and keeping your skin smooth.
Given these benefits, it’s useful that you learn how to extract lemon juice at home. The knowledge of how much juice is in one lemon will come in handy.
This article offers an all-inclusive guide on how to extract lemon juice, how much lemon juice is in one lemon, and how to use lemon juice at home. Read through it and get unmatched insights on lemon juice uses.
How Much Juice Is In One Lemon- FAQ
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Is bottled lemon juice the same as the real lemon?
Unlike real lemon, bottled lemon juice has additives and preservatives such as Sodium Metabisulphite (E223) and Potassium Metabisulphite (E224). However, it works just as well as the real lemon.
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How much lemon juice should you drink a day?
It depends on the consumption method. If you’re taking raw lemon juice, then you should approximately 5 tablespoons (two small lemons). If you’re taking lemon water, then you have one glass with a meal and one in between your meals.
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Is it okay to drink lemon juice daily?
Yes, lemon juice is healthy. However, you should take it in excess. Just two glasses of lemon water are ideal. Taking raw lemon juice too often may corrode your enamel due to its high citric acid concentration.
Chef Boniface is a graduate in Culinary Arts from the Institute of Culinary Education, New York. He has worked in several restaurants and is currently the Head Chef at Cavali Restaurant.
He has excelled in developing unique recipes and influencing the menu at the restaurant. He prides himself in sharing his knowledge at thekitchenpot.com where he writes about the best cookware for various recipes.