Writing my cookbook, I learned a nifty trick from Chef Jonathan Waxman for when you just need a squeeze of lemon. You cut around the lemon like you’re cutting around the core of an apple, leaving the center and creating these flat wedges that squeeze extra easily and produce lots of juice with a minimal amount of seeds. I use that trick all the time, but not when I want to use the juice of a whole lemon. When I want all the juice out of a lemon, like when I’m making a blender salad dressing, I use a technique that makes the job a lot easier, especially if the lemon is full of seeds.
Here’s what I do: I put a strainer on top of the blender, slice the lemon in half and squeeze like crazy. Seeds fly left and right but it doesn’t matter because they all get caught by the strainer.
This is really just a time-saver. Of course you could always just cut the lemon in half and pick the seeds out, but I find that to be time-consuming, especially when there are a lot of seeds and you’re worried about one falling into the blender and ruining your dressing. So this way, you plop the strainer on, get all the juice you can out of the lemon, and put the strainer in the sink to wash later. It’s a good trick to know about. In other news: who thinks I have a hairy arm?
There is also this nifty little gadget that is all-in-one. Found in a lot of Hispanic stores as well as kitchenware stores.
http://www.amazon.com/Amco-Enameled-Aluminum-Lemon-Squeezer/dp/B0002V23BG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1377810031&sr=8-1&keywords=lemon+squeezer
I saw these in use at Bottega Louie and when I found them wholesale at Surfas, I got some just for fun (I think $3 for a gross of them). They’re more for the serving side and less useful for cooking, but pretty cute. At the very least, they make for a funny novelty gift for the cook who has everything… AND they catch seeds!
http://www.amazon.com/Regency-Stretch-Wraps-Halves-Wedges/dp/B0000VLIUA
We have a little, plastic hand held widget called a citrus reamer that gets out every, last, drop. No squeeze, although you still need the strainer.
https://www.google.com/search?q=citrus+reamer&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a
love my lemon reamer. the best. ever
I had a déjà vu moment because this was one of the 24 Essential Kitchen Tricks and Tips posted on Serious Eats today. I wonder what other nifty tricks are out there. Everytime I come across one I kick myself for not thinking of that.
I’ve seen a lot of people squeeze cut side up and strain through hand. (It’s how I usually do it). Bonus: hands smell great ;-). Also, press & roll lemon on counter 1st, and lately I’m finding I get more juice cutting it the long way. (Using hands, not reamers or other tools).
I’m not exactly sure how you cut the lemon. Picture please. Normally, I just cut my lemon into quarters and put into one of those Mexican lemon squeezers mentioned in the comments.
go for it.
You really need to get what Christine recommended–just halve the lemon, squeeze, and you’ve got all the juice and none of the seeds (it also works well for limes). I have very few unitaskers, but I use this all the time for mixed drinks and dressings.
i was just thinking how hairy your arm is.
Excellent tip. I use this method to make Greyhounds with grapefruit juice.
thanks for this article , there’s other food and recipes in this blog
http://the-best-food-recipes.blogspot.com/
where are the acknowledgements for the recipes you put on your blog, Sophie?
I love hairy arms :)
I actually almost didn’t read the post because of the hair:) maybe Craig could do those shots?:)
or use your hand to strain the seeds…no mess