Manual citrus press

If you often prepare cocktails and freshly squeezed juices, you cannot do without a hand press . This kitchen gadget allows you to quickly extract liquid from citrus fruits. There are a wide variety of tools suitable for this purpose, from mechanical juicers to sophisticated electric models. To choose the right option for yourself, get acquainted with different types of presses.

Varieties

Freshly squeezed citrus juice is used not only as a drink - it is added to meat marinades, sauces, and smoothies. Fruits must be preserved carefully so that pulp and seeds do not end up in dishes. The easiest way to cope with this task is a simple cone press . It is a container with a jagged protrusion inside. By pressing the cut fruit against it, you can quickly squeeze out the juice. It is filtered through the mesh bottom of the container and flows into a special tray.

A type of press without a bowl is a toothed cone on the handle . By screwing it into the cut fruit, you can squeeze out the liquid. This device is not very convenient, since it does not separate the bones and does not protect against splashes.

Three more press models are often used in home kitchens:

tongs - a hard plastic product used to compress the fetus;

tongs with a head - consist of two parts, one of which has a container for half a fruit, and the second has a bulge. When the handles of the tongs are squeezed, the juice is squeezed out;

funnel - the device is inserted directly into the whole fruit. Then you need to lightly squeeze the citrus with your hands, and the juice flows through a funnel.

In addition to small manual juicers, there is a larger desktop model - a vertical press with a fruit container . At the top of the product there is a lever mechanism that allows you to squeeze juice out of a large amount of raw materials.

Principle of operation

There are three types of mechanisms for juicers:

• manual - works only under the influence of physical force, without mechanical devices. This category includes all types of cone presses, simple tongs and funnels;
• hinged - used in forceps with a head. The hinge allows you to squeeze fruit without straining your wrist. Thanks to strong squeezing, in addition to the juice, aromatic oils are extracted from the peel;
• lever – installed in tabletop juicers. When the lever is lowered, the fruits in the container are compressed and the juice flows into a glass placed below.

The lever mechanism is considered the most effective operating principle, since it operates faster and with maximum use of raw materials.

Advantages and disadvantages

Cone presses are the easiest to use. They are compact, do not take up much space in the kitchen, and are easy to clean. The main disadvantage of such a product is the need to apply physical force. Hands get splashed with juice while working.

Pliers with a hinge mechanism are much more effective. They squeeze the maximum juice out of citrus fruits, adding aromatic notes of oils from the zest. The tool creates less stress on your hands and is easy to maintain and store. The downside is the significant splashing of juice. In addition, the volume of the recess on the tongs must be selected according to the size of the fruit - a lemon press is not suitable for oranges and grapefruits.

Countertop juicers are equipped with a built-in vessel that minimizes splashing. Many models are equipped with nozzles for citrus fruits of different sizes. Another plus is fast work with virtually no effort. But the sieves of tabletop presses do not strain out the pulp well. If you need to process a lot of fruits at once, you have to rinse the strainer during the squeezing process. The large size of the device creates storage problems.

How to use?

The usual way of using a press in the form of tongs looks like this: cut the lemon in half, put it in the juicer cut side down and squeeze. But experienced bartenders offer a more effective method. From half of the fruit, remove the part of the peel opposite the cut and place it in the bowl of tongs with this side down. The double cut not only ensures optimal juice release on both sides, but also facilitates the flow of liquid.

Criterias of choice

Start your juicer search based on how often you plan to use the device. For home cooking, it is more profitable to purchase a compact product such as a cone or tongs. In a bar where cocktails and freshly squeezed juices are often ordered, a tabletop model with a lever is necessary.

Here are five more criteria to think about:

material - it determines the durability of the press. The most durable tools are made from cast iron or stainless steel. Since you will have to work with sour fruits, choose a product with an acid-resistant coating. If you are going to buy a juicer with plastic parts, make sure that they do not contain the harmful compound BPA.

size – in a small kitchen, a compact, lightweight press that is easy to store would be a good choice. Lever models usually take up a lot of space on the table, so they are purchased for bars and cafes;

volume - some juicers are equipped with built-in containers. The capacity of such vessels is small, so preparing large quantities of juice becomes a problem. It is better to choose models in which you can use any glass;

ease of care - to avoid the accumulation of bacteria and mold, the press must be washed regularly. It is easiest to care for devices with removable parts;

non-slip surface - rubber coating on the bottom, suction cups on the legs, non-slip handles make the tool safe. This is especially important if you choose a countertop juicer.

An important factor when buying a press is the price of the device.

For cones it starts from 200 rubles. Metal tongs from highly rated manufacturers cost from 3,000 to 5,000 rubles. The price of a desktop model can be three times higher.