If you were to ask me what cooking tool I could not live without, I would tell you it’s my Mexican-style lime squeezer.
Limes are one of the most iconic ingredients of Mexican cooking. Not lemons. Limes! To me, limes have a much more concentrated citrus punch, and I like the fresh juice. I have a deep disregard for pre-squeezed lime juice bottles sold at the stores; they taste like airplane food.
What’s complicated about squeezing a fresh lime? Nothing much really. But when you use as many as I do, this squeezer is a delight: gets as much juice as the lime has in a snap, feels heavy and powerful in your hand, and it is easy to maintain and keep clean.
My lime squeezer is as common as common gets. You can find one easily in just about any Mexican kitchen. It is made of cast aluminum, which resists corrosion from the acidic juices. It is super simple to use: open it up, place a halved lime cut side down and just squeeze the juice wherever you want it to go, directly over food or into a bowl or measuring cup. Close and squeeze the long handles that give you leverage to extract all the juice and that’s that. Since it is so big, it works with lemons too… (continue for more information and photos)
Here’s a photo of my lime squeezer…
And from the other side…
Up close you can see the perforated bottom that strains the juice from the pulp…
Here it is, with a big and juicy Mexican lime half ready to go…
And squeeze…look at all the juice coming out!
If you have limes or lemons that are tough and resist being juiced, here’s a hint: roll the lime or lemon, pressing down firmly with the palm of your hand, on a hard countertop until the pulp is softened. This will losen it up and make it easier to squeeze.
Fortunately, cast aluminum Mexican-style lime squeezers like mine are pretty ubiquitous these days and can be found in many department stores and big box stores that sell cookware. If you run into trouble finding one there, a boutique kitchen store is a good bet, or you can look on the Internet.
You will find all kinds of lime squeezers, colorful plastic ones, round ones, electric ones, even squeezers that resemble pliers. Any of these will work, but I stand by my handheld lime squeezer. It works like new even though I’ve had it forever! What’s more, it has bigger holes than usual so more juice comes out faster. Plus, my mom gave it to me, it aged with her and now it is aging with me.
Comments
18comments inLime Squeezer or Exprimidor de Limón
Lisa Sheppard
Jul 27
Retire it to a position of honour and buy a plastic one. The acid in lime eats away at the aluminum adding it to your food.
Pati
Jul 27
Thank you Lisa.
SallyBR
Jul 27
those are better than the ones coated in paint, because the acidity of the limes ends up eating up the paint and yes, they need to be replaced after a couple of years, if they last that long!
another tip I like for juicing lemons and limes – 5 seconds in the microwave, just stick the whole fruit there – it is amazing how that works, the juices will flow like crazy once you cut it!
Pati
Jul 27
Thank you Sally.
Diana - Australia ??
Jul 27
Hand me down lime juicer from Mama… perfect Pati ?? D x
Pati
Jul 27
Yay!
Sylvia shade
Jul 26
Ay Patty i totally agree with you on this no other taste like lime juice and store bought can we talk please!!!! No substitute for this . Love your great hints and your lime squeezer the best ? That is you are yoo
Pati
Jul 27
Thank you Sylvia!
Lori
Jul 26
I couldn’t make Aquachile without my juicer!
Pati
Jul 27
So true!
Cemil
Jan 14
HA !
Thanks so much for posting…you make me realize I was holding the lime upside down 🙂
Pati
Jan 14
😉
Margy
Mar 01
To get even more juice, warm the lime or lemon in the microwave for 10-20sec, just barely warmed, roll on the counter, then juice. I’ve sometimes gotten twice the amount of juice this way. Margy
Arty
Jul 26
killing Vitamin C with heat
Colette
Jun 01
These are easy to source in the United States.I have found many items at Walmart there is a brand called Imusa that has these lime squeezers and many other traditional Mexican implements.
Ross
May 11
For folks that have arthritis in their hands or wrists, try
the “chef’n” line of juicers. They have a little gear mechanism that multiplies the squeeze force of your hand rather than just a simple hinge found on most juicers.
We have their lemon juicer, but it really works well with limes too. They are available from many kitchen gadget stores or online.
http://www.chefn.com/Product.aspx?id=250
Paul Corsa
May 04
In the US the most similar tool would be the metal one sold by OXO- the handles aren’t as long but it does an excellent job with limes and lemons.
Meg Fortino
Apr 22
I love using kitchen tools from my mother and grandmother too. I have a case iron skillet that was my grandmother’s when she first married, so it must be over 80 years old! I’m glad you use your mother’s lime squeezer!