FAQs About Orange and Citrus Squeezers April 4, 2010 394 Comments
If you like fresh squeezed juice but do not like the hassle that comes with making it yourself, then perhaps the solution for you is a orange squeezer. If you unsure of what one is or why it may work for you, this article will attempt to answer the most common questions that you might have about them.
What exactly is a orange squeezer?
Orange squeezers are manually operated devices that physically resemble a nut cracker with a type press at the hinge end. You take one half of a piece of fruit and place it inside the press and then squeeze the handles together. This action is what presses the juice from the fruit. Once you have it all out, simply discard the waste.
Why would I want to use a orange squeezer?
For the fresh juice, of course! But more than that, because it is easy to use and easy to clean up. Most of them are dishwasher safe, but even if the one you get is not, it is only a matter giving it a quick wash in the sink. Because they are manual, you do not have to deal with trying to find a place on your counter to set it up nor do you have to deal with disassembling it just to clean it.
What should I look for in a orange squeezer?
Orange squeezers come in a variety of styles. The more popular ones are made either aluminum or stainless steel. Most of the aluminum models are coated with an enamel to help protect the metal whereas the stainless steel versions do not need such coating. A world of caution when using the enamel coated ones is that you must keep an eye on them for signs of the enamel flaking off.
Handle length is also something to consider. The longer the handle, the more leverage you will have which means you will need less effort to squeeze any given piece of fruit. On exceptionally tough pieces, you will either be thankful for the long handles or you will find that short handles leave much of the fruit un-juiced.
Going a bit beyond the basics, some orange squeezers come with various accessories and attachments. These run the gamut from useable to gimmicky, but as long the basics are to your satisfaction, the extras are just added bonuses and should not be your sole deciding factor.