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We researched 30+ of the best electric and manual citrus juicers available today before buying the top 8 to test hands-on. We went through 55 pounds of citrus and spent fifteen hours in the kitchen before coming up with our product recommendations. Our culinary team created a comprehensive testing plan that covered everything from juicer performance to the quality and texture of the juice while also assessing ease of use and cleaning and measuring their countertop footprints. Our goal is to help you make the best selection at a price that fits within your budget.
Editor's Note: We updated our citrus juicer review on March 25, 2024, to provide additional product recommendations as alternatives to our existing award-winning choices.
Type: Electric | Suitable Citrus: Lemons, limes, oranges, grapefruit
REASONS TO BUY
Fast and efficient juicing
Great flavor and texture
Quiet motor
Has on/off switch
Easy to clean, dishwasher safe parts
Well-designed drip spout for juicer control
REASONS TO AVOID
Large kitchen footprint
Expensive
Only one reamer for all sizes of citrus fruit
Among the electric and manual juicers we tested, Breville the Citrus Press is the cream of the crop. Its quality materials and powerful yet quiet 100-watt motor efficiently juiced all kinds of citrus fruits for us. There is almost no effort to operate this juicer as it contains an ergonomic handle to press the fruit. While it only comes with one reamer for every size of citrus, the reamer's design features a sharper tip and an above-average width, allowing you to extract the juice from all sizes of fruit. We also love that the reamer has a bar on the bottom, extracting the most juice from the collected pulp in the strainer. We found the drip spout to have the best design of all the models with that feature. While it only has one screen to control the pulp, the flavor and texture of the juice scored highly during our side-by-side taste test. It also produced the highest yield of all the tested models, getting the most juice per pound of citrus.
Since the Breville is one of the largest models we tested, it may not be the best choice for smaller kitchens. However, we feel that the luxury design features make it worth the tradeoff in kitchen real estate to those who juice citrus regularly and desire quality. This juicer is ideal for the person after extra convenience who is willing to pay for features that simplify that daily fresh glass of orange juice. If you are in the market for an electric-style juicer but need a more compact machine the Dash Citrus Juicer is worth considering. A friendly price tag is the tradeoff for suboptimal motor performance.
The Breville model is fast and efficient, producing high yields consistently.
Extra processing time to allow the juice to drain from collected pulp
We chose the Oxo Good Grips 2-in-1 Juicer for testing because its two sharp-tipped reamers increase its versatility across citrus of varying sizes. One smaller reamer for lemons and limes and another larger reamer for oranges and grapefruits easily nest inside one another and snap into place on top of the pitcher for secure juicing. The collecting pitcher also doubles as a measuring cup up to twelve ounces, and the ergonomic design allows for a comfortable grip while in use. The snap-on reamers also provide good pulp control with very little mess. We found that the slower you press the citrus, the less mess is involved in clean-up.
The disadvantages of this juicer relate to its compact size. If working in bulk, it will require more effort to remove the pulp from the screens, and you'll need to empty the pitcher when processing more than a few oranges at a time. The Oxo Good Grips 2-in-1 is for the consumer looking for an affordable, versatile, and compact juicer for easy storage. The handheld Zulay Manual Citrus Press is another good option if you just need to squeeze some lemons or limes every now and again.
The Oxo Good Grips 2-in-1 Citrus Juicer is versatile, containing two sharp tip snap-on reamers that accommodate all sizes of citrus fruit.
Type: Electric | Suitable Citrus: Lemons, limes, oranges, grapefruit
REASONS TO BUY
Auto-reversing cone for maximum juice extraction
Excellent pulp control
Easy pour pitcher with measurements
Cleans easily
Affordable price
Dust cover for storage
REASONS TO AVOID
One reamer for all size fruits
Noisy
The Black+Decker 32oz Juicer appeals to us because of its compact size, modest price point, and versatility. It contains two pulp control screens that collect the majority of the pulp and prevent the consumer from the effort of an additional strain. For a modest price, you get an easy-to-use, easy-to-assemble, compact juicer, complete with a 32 oz pitcher to catch the juice and two separate screens for pulp control. It also features an auto-reversing reamer which allows you to utilize the entire citrus without the bitter flavor from the pith.
If you're juicing in large quantities, you'll notice that the pulp control screens fill up faster than larger countertop electric models, and you'll spend more time rinsing it out between fruits. Unlike the Breville model, there is no press to squeeze juice from the pulp collected in the screens, so it's marginally less efficient. It's also noisy, which is not always welcome in homes, especially early in the morning when you're trying to stealthily make that fresh cup of OJ. Still, it is easy for us to recommend the Black+Decker Juicer because it brings the speed and convenience of electric citrus juicers to a very affordable price range. If motor noise is not a concern another electric option with excellent pulp control settings and easy-to-clean features is the Cuisinart Pulp Control.
Black+Decker brings affordability to electric citrus juicers without forgetting about performance.
Type: Electric | Suitable Citrus: Lemons, limes, oranges, grapefruit
REASONS TO BUY
Quiet motor
Easy to use, minimal effort
Beautiful design
BPA-free juicing bowl
Cleans easily
REASONS TO AVOID
Single reamer
Limited options for pulp control
Larger footprint
The Smeg Citrus Juicer is by far the most aesthetic of all the juicers in our testing fleet. Electric models are significantly larger than many of their manual counterparts. Many will choose to leave them on the countertop for convenience, especially if used regularly. Thus, it becomes part appliance, part decor, and the Smeg brings the best of both style and function to the table. We appreciated how easy it is to use while utilizing the powerful yet quiet 80-watt motor.
Perhaps the main disadvantage of this juicer is that the manufacturer recommends only using it for three minutes before allowing it to rest for fifteen minutes, making it difficult to use this appliance for larger quantities of juice. It's also a relatively expensive option. Still, if your citrus juicer lives on display, the Smeg has the most countertop style. For those needing a hand-held option for on-the-go use or just simply wanting a more compact option, the Zulay Manual Citrus Press is an effective juicer.
The Smeg models looks great on your countertop and functions satisfactorily.
Type: Electric | Suitable Citrus: Lemons, limes, oranges, grapefruit
REASONS TO BUY
Good pulp control
Top-rack dishwasher safe
REASONS TO AVOID
Loud motor
Only one reamer
We selected the Cuisinart Pulp Control juicer because of its modest price and features, such as the auto-reversing reamer and its pulp control settings. The pulp control settings allow for more efficiency, as it is unnecessary to strain the juice a second time to remove the pulp. This juicer is easy to clean, containing three separate parts that are top-rack dishwasher safe.
The Cuisinart comes with an extra-long spout feature. However, the Breville has a similar feature that is far superior and more durable. We also found that the Black+Decker model out-shined the Cuisinart's overall performance and efficiency at a more affordable price, while both are pretty noisy. While we loved the pulp control settings and how fast it produced a glass of orange juice, we think that the Black+Decker would be a better choice for most folks. For life on the countertop, though, the Cuisinart has better looks.
Cuisinart Pulp Control, as its name suggests, features a wide range of pulp control settings.
We chose the Zulay Manual Citrus Press based on its sturdy and easy-to-clean manual design and its ability to produce fresh juice in a matter of seconds. It is relatively easy to use, though it's more labor-intensive than the electric models (and some manual ones, too). We found that juicing thick-skinned limes required more effort than lemons. There is a separate reamer for each to better accommodate their different sizes. We were impressed by how little mess it created, and we appreciate the versatility of the double reamer. When we finished juicing, we usually just rinsed it with water and left it out to dry. It's also dishwasher safe.
This juicer is limited to limes and lemons; oranges and grapefruit are too large for this tool. You also will not want to juice in bulk with this model. It also leaves more pulp in the juice than other models we tested, which may matter to some. However, we think this juicer would be an excellent choice for small-batch cocktails or salad dressings, making lemon and lime juice in seconds, then easy to clean and store out of sight until your next Happy Hour.
We found the Zulay Manual Citrus Press Juicer well-designed and easy to clean.
Type: Electric | Suitable Citrus: Lemons, limes, oranges, grapefruit
REASONS TO BUY
Two separate reamers
High yield
REASONS TO AVOID
Motor can stall with lots of pressure
Very loud motor
We selected the Dash Citrus Juicer based on its modest price point and versatility, featuring two different reamers and a range of pulp control settings. We loved the compact size, the rotating arm within the strainer that releases more juice from the collected pulp, and we thought it produced some of the best tasting juice in our side-by-side taste test.
Unfortunately, the substandard motor function and noise level left us disappointed. The motor would often stall when pressure was applied, and the auto-reversing electric reamer appeared to overly favor one direction. Separating the two screens for pulp control is difficult, increasing cleaning efforts. It contains five parts required to disassemble and hand wash after juicing because these parts are not dishwasher safe. We ultimately found it difficult to recommend the Dash Extractor. We think the Black+Decker juicer is far superior with a similar price and design.
The Dash Citrus Juicer Extractor features a bar attached to the reamer which rotates during juicing to maximize yield.
The Oxo Good Grips Wooden Citrus Reamer was selected for its unique design and affordable price. The shape and sharp tip of the reamer proved to be a smart design. We were impressed by how effective the reamer was at extracting the juice, creating one of the highest yields overall, second only to the Breville. It's simple and small, and nearly any kitchen can hide this product away in a drawer.
While the price and size are on point, the Oxo Wooden Reamer is the only juicer that made our lips pucker because the flavor it produced was extremely bitter and contained the highest amount of pulp. When using this tool, it's easy to press the reamer into (or entirely through) the bitter pith of the rind. This model is as efficient as it is messy, encouraging our testers to wear an apron while using this tool. It requires the most work of any juicer we tested, and it results in an excessive amount of pulp in the juice, too. The Oxo Wooden Reamer would be a great juicer to take on the road as its size is light and compact but be sure to bring a strainer if you do not like a lot of pulp in your juice.
The Oxo Good Grips Wooden Reamer produces both high yield and lots of pulp.
Credit: Trish Matheny
How We Test Citrus Juicers
After hours of research into selecting the best products to purchase, we spent over fifteen total hours testing and demolishing over fifty-five pounds of citrus. Each juicer was subjected to over 15 different tests. To improve accuracy and consistency, we purchased all of the fruit on the same day from the same grocery store to limit the variability between the citrus. We weighed each piece of fruit to select citrus of a similar weight to provide detailed and consistent data. We tested three lemons, three limes, four oranges, and one grapefruit per juicer. We recorded the initial weight of the citrus, processed it through the juicer, and then weighed the juice to obtain a comparable percentage for the maximum yield. We considered which juicer utilized the most citrus and the amount of pulp that remained within the juice after processing. We formed a panel for taste-testing, and we timed how long it took us to juice the fruit, too. To complete our testing, we measured the space each juicer would require within the kitchen.
We rated our citrus juicers across five different metrics:
Juicing Performance (25% of overall score weighting)
Juice Quality (20% weighting)
Ease of Use (20% weighting)
Ease of Cleaning (20% weighting)
Footprint (15% weighting)
Why Trust GearLab
Our team of testers is led by Trish Matheny. Trish worked for over a decade in a professional kitchen, where one of her daily tasks was to prepare fresh-squeezed orange juice for the menu. She has used several kinds of citrus juicers in her professional and personal life. This experience gives her the skills to properly rate and assess the juicers that we selected.
Weighing oranges prior to testing to ensure consistency.
We performed a side by side taste test in addition to our previous testing metrics.
Citrus rinds after testing over 55 lbs. of fruit.
Analysis and Test Results
After testing across five key metrics—Juicer Performance, Juice Quality, Ease of Use, Ease of Cleaning, and Kitchen Footprint—we determined which models stood out amongst the competition. We discuss each metric below, including some of the standout models in each performance area.
Breville the Citrus Press is our favorite electric juice press after many hours of testing and evaluating several top options on the market.
Credit: Trish Matheny
Juicing Performance
While evaluating the performance of each juicer, we considered which juicer produced the maximum yield, the time required for processing, how each juicer handled every size of citrus, and finally, if the juicer would clog during testing.
We tested juicer performance by selecting three lemons, three limes, four oranges, and one grapefruit of similar weight, noting the initial weight and then the weight of the juice produced. We then took the numbers and divided them before multiplying by one hundred to reach the total percentage of yield. We noted the time required for processing, how the juicers handled the different sizes of fruits, and which juicer clogged with pulp.
We selected fresh produce from the same grocery store to limit variability within the fruit, then we weighed the fruit to ensure consistency during testing.
Credit: Trish Matheny
We found that the Breville produced the highest yields overall, and it performed well with each size of citrus even though it only has one reamer. We like that this machine has a press to extract extra juice from the pulp collected in the pulp strainer tray, maximizing output in a way other juicers do not. It's fast, too. We also found that the Black+Decker created one of the highest yields, although it had a longer processing time to drain the juice from the collected pulp. The simple Oxo Wooden Reamer produces an impressive amount of juice, but it's a very messy and pulpy affair.
The Breville model creates high yield quickly and efficiently.
Credit: Trish Matheny
Juice Quality
We understand that juice quality is important to every consumer, so we taste-tested each batch of juice from every juicer to evaluate the juice based on flavor, texture, and color. We took special consideration for those consumers that do not prefer pulp in their juice and recommended an additional strain for the juicers that do not contain adequate pulp control. Models that press into the pith create a less pleasant, more bitter juice.
We considered the amount of pulp in each our of tests, noting which juicers needed to be strained an additional time.
Credit: Trish Matheny
In addition to our first round of testing, we decided to perform a side-by-side taste test, juicing two oranges per juicer to determine which juicer produced the best flavor. We found that while some juicers do not perform to our standards overall, like the Dash Citrus Juicer Extractor, they can still produce a delicious glass of orange juice. Among our favorites for juice quality are the Dash Extractor, Breville, and Black+Decker juicers, which produce quality flavor with excellent texture. These models don't leave a lot of pulp in the juice, and they don't dig through the pith, avoiding bitter flavors.
The Breville consistently produces high-quality, delicious juice.
Credit: Trish Matheny
Ease of Use
We understand how important it is that your citrus juicer be efficient and easy to use. This metric was evaluated based on the labor required to extract the juice. We also assessed the time it took to assemble, juice, and store each juicer after each batch of testing. Along the way, we noted which juicers stayed in place on the countertop while juicing and how much mess each left behind.
We found the Oxo Good Grips 2-in-1 Juicer well-designed and very easy to use.
Credit: Trish Matheny
We found that the Breville blew the competition away with its fast and efficient design. However, the Oxo Good Grips 2-in-1 and Black+Decker required less effort than we initially thought to juice the citrus during testing. They required more time to allow the juice to strain through the collected pulp. The electrical juicers were almost always easier to use when compared to the effort it took to process juice with the manual models.
Ease of Cleaning
We evaluate the amount of effort required to clean and store each juicer. We started by determining the number of removal parts and whether or not the parts needed to be hand washed or were dishwasher safe. Then we used a stopwatch to record the exact time required to clean up after each batch of juice. Next up, we assessed the mess that had resulted from each batch of juice and if the juicer had any hidden nooks and crannies where citrus may become jammed.
The Smeg is easy to clean, featuring top rack dishwasher safe parts.
Credit: Trish Matheny
The Breville, Black+Decker, and Smeg models are equipped with top-rack dishwasher safe parts and require only a minimal amount of effort to clean the motorized base. The manual citrus juicers and presses were almost always easier to clean than their electrical competition. We often only needed a quick rinse and time on the drying rack to clean the manual models.
The Black+Decker juicer contains three separate top rack dishwasher safe parts for easy cleanup.
Credit: Trish Matheny
Kitchen Footprint
To evaluate the kitchen footprint, we considered the amount of space each juicer would require within the kitchen. We measured the size and dimensions of each juicer ranging from our smallest juicer, the Oxo Good Grips Wooden Reamer, to the largest juicer, the Breville.
The Smeg juicer is our favorite for countertop aesthetic, though it takes up a fair amount of kitchen space.
Credit: Trish Matheny
The size of the juicer is relevant to the consumer based on the amount of space they have in their kitchen and how often they plan on juicing. If you have plenty of space in your kitchen, then models like the Breville significantly decrease the amount of effort it takes to make a fresh glass of juice. If your space is limited, smaller electrical models like the Black+Decker and much smaller manual models like the Oxo Good Grips 2-in-1 are a better choice because of their more compact size.
We tested over fifty five pounds of citrus in order to push each juicer to its performance limits.
Credit: Trish Matheny
Conclusion
We hope our research and testing have helped you feel informed about which citrus juicer is best for your specific needs and budget. Whether you are juicing bulk citrus, looking for a high-quality option, or a simpler model that meets your needs without breaking the bank, we believe this review can help you find the most satisfactory solution for your juicing needs. See our other kitchen reviews for great advice on the top-rated salad spinners, the best meat thermometers, and more.
