Recipes often call for the juice of a lemon to brighten up a dish, if it doesn't notate an amount you may be wondering "how much juice is in a lemon"? Look no further, I'm here to answer any questions you may have about measuring lemon juice or lemon zest in the kitchen!
An easy guide to using lemon juice or zest from fresh lemons!
Imagine that you want to try a recipe, and it calls for 1 cup of lemon juice. Unfortunately, you may not use lemons frequently enough to keep a stock of them in your kitchen.
Having no idea how much juice you can extract from a lemon, you run to the grocery store and assume that one or even two would suffice for your recipe. However, once you squeeze that lemon, you find that it only yielded ¼ cup of juice, and you don't have enough!
Jump to:
You're disappointed, frustrated, and annoyed. Sure, you can still cook that dish, but there's a good chance it won't turn out as well.
So next time, instead of just a few lemons, you buy a whole bushel of lemons! Unfortunately, this can lead to unnecessary waste, especially if you weren't planning on using the extras in the near future.
How Much Juice Can One Lemon Produce?
Lemons are available in several different shapes and sizes. Those that are smaller in size by nature produce less juice than larger ones. The amount of juice produced increases as the size of the fruit increases.
You can see how much juice each size has on average by looking at the table below.
Table 1: Lemon Juice per Lemon (based on lemon size)
| Lemon Size | Weight (oz.) | Juice (Tbsp) | Juice (fl. oz.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Lemon | 4 ounces | 2-3 tablespoons | 1-1.5 fluid ounces |
| Medium Lemon | 5 ounces | 4 tablespoons | 2 fluid ounces |
| Large Lemon | 6 ounces | 5 tablespoons | 2.5 fluid ounces |
Juicing Tips and Tricks
The method and tools you use to juice the fruit will also influence how much juice you get. Keep in mind that it's quite normal for some to be more difficult to squeeze than others.
In other cases, the amount of juice you get from one depends on factors like quality and freshness.
The tricks below will help you squeeze every last drop of juice you can out of a lemon:
- Roll the fruit across a hard surface like a cutting board or the counter and press firmly as you roll it to massage its surface. Do this for about 10 to 15 seconds before juicing it.
- Prepare your lemon(s) for juicing by heating it in the microwave for 20-30 seconds, or until it becomes warm. Before putting it in the microwave, be sure to remove the stickers.
- To squeeze as much juice out of a lemon as possible, a reamer or a juicer will help. If you don't have any of these juicing tools, use a tong to hold the lemon and help you squeeze it by hand.
- When using a reamer or a juicer, cut the lemon in half horizontally to get the most juice out of it.
- Cut lemons in half lengthwise if you're going to squeeze the juice by hand. This will allow you to get the most juice out of the fruit by exposing as much of the flesh as possible.
- A fork can help break up the lemon's pulp before you squeeze it or juice it, so use it to poke your fruit a few times.
What Do You Do With Lemon Zest?
You can scrape or cut the brightly colored, yellow peel of a lemon to obtain the lemon zest. The flavor of the zest can often be stronger than the flavor of the juice.
Nevertheless, it's a common way to give dishes a tangy flavor, whether with or without lemon juice.
You can sprinkle zest on pasta to take the dish to the next level. To keep the flavors vibrant, it's important to add it right before serving. Then, grate it right over each serving.
Zest can also be used in baked goods to enhance their flavor. In baked goods, a small amount of fresh lemon zest can make a big difference. For example, adding a pinch or two will help bring out the flavors of a lemony pastry.
With the addition of zest, sauces, dressings, breadcrumb toppings, and more can be made even more flavorful. The richness of flavors can be countered with a sprinkling of it. To prevent it from becoming bitter, add it just before serving.
How Do You Zest a Lemon?
Zesting is a relatively easy process that results in such a vibrant and flavorful addition to food. If you have never zested a lemon before, you'll be surprised how easy it is to do!
To begin zesting, you'll want to first wash and clean the fruit. Lemons from non-organic sources often have a waxy coating, which can be removed by placing them in a colander, adding hot water, and then brushing them with a vegetable brush right away.
Once you've dried them off, you're ready to zest them up. You can use a cheese grater, a Microplane, or a citrus zester. If you're using a cheese grater, use the side with the finest grates.
Remove all of the yellow peel from the lemon by moving it back and forth over the grates. Avoid grating your fingers by keeping a close eye on them.
Typically, a small lemon yields approximately 1 tablespoon of lemon zest.
Recipe Measurements
The juice of one lemon may occasionally be required in a recipe. Are we talking about a small lemon's worth of juice? A medium-sized lemon, perhaps? What about a large lemon, then?
A lemon will always have at least 2 tablespoons of juice, no matter how big or small it is. In addition, if a recipe calls for lemon zest, it often refers to 1 tablespoon of lemon zest.
So, if a recipe calls for 4 tablespoons of lemon juice, you'll need to buy at least 2 small lemons or 1 medium lemon the next time.
On the other hand, if your recipe calls for the juice of one lemon and all you have is bottled lemon juice, you'll need 2 tablespoons worth.
🍋 My Favorite Recipes To Make With Lemons!
- Lemon Blueberry White Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Strawberry Pineapple Lemonade Bars
- Lemon Strawberry Bread With Lemon Zest Icing
- Lemon Bars
- Lemoncello
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📖 Recipe Card
Lemon Juice: How To Juice Your Lemons To Yield The Most Juice!
Ingredients
- 2 medium lemons
- 1 tablespoon honey (optional - great for baking with lemon juice)
(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)
Instructions
- (**see tips below before starting to yield the most juice from your lemons**) Slice your lemons in half horizontally across their widest point. Squeeze each half of your lemon in a juicer, either into a clean storage container or measuring cup.
- Repeat until you have the amount of lemon juice needed. Store for later use if desired.
- Mix lemon juice with honey before using in baking if desired, or mix lemon juice, honey, and water in a pitcher then serve over ice cubes for refreshing lemon water.
Notes
- Yield is ½ cup lemon juice, with 2 servings of ¼ cup each.
- Roll the fruit across a hard surface like a cutting board or the counter and press firmly as you roll it to massage its surface. Do this for about 10 to 15 seconds before juicing it.
- Prepare your lemon(s) for juicing by heating it in the microwave for 20-30 seconds, or until it becomes warm. Before putting it in the microwave, be sure to remove the stickers.
- To squeeze as much juice out of a lemon as possible, a reamer or a juicer will help. If you don't have any of these juicing tools, use a tong to hold the lemon and help you squeeze it by hand.
- When using a reamer or a juicer, cut the lemon in half horizontally to get the most juice out of it.
- Cut lemons in half lengthwise if you're going to squeeze the juice by hand. This will allow you to get the most juice out of the fruit by exposing as much of the flesh as possible.
- A fork can help break up the lemon's pulp before you squeeze it or juice it, so use it to poke your fruit a few times.
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