A Simple Trick for Choosing a Juicy Lemon, According to an Expert

Pithy, dry lemons are disappointing, but learning how to choose the juiciest lemons at the store is easy. I talked to a produce manager to find the best way to tell a dry lemon from a juicy one, and how to store and squeeze them to get the most from your citrus.

A pile of bright yellow lemons — Simply Recipes / Getty Images

If you’re making a recipe that involves lemon juice—say, a homemade salad dressing or sauce—then you’ll want to make sure you bring home the right lemon. Pithy, hard citrus with little juice can be a bummer, and lemons aren’t exactly inexpensive. Luckily, there’s a super-simple way to identify the juiciest citrus in the produce aisle.

How To Choose a Juicy Lemon

Josh Alsberg, co-owner and co-founder of Rubinette Produce Market in Portland, OR, says it’s all about weight and density. You want to choose a lemon that feels fuller (with juice!) than the other ones. “With all citrus, if you pick up two different fruits that are the same size and one feels heavier, that’s the one that’s juicier,” he says.

You may have to test out a few lemons before landing on the right one, but the search will be worth your time. You can also squeeze the lemon to test it out. Look for something that has just the right amount of give. If the lemon is rock hard, it’s probably not very juicy—and it likely won’t ripen more on your countertop or in your fridge.

Lemons ripen best on trees, Alsberg says. In general, the longer they’re on the tree before being harvested, the better. Keep in mind that If a lemon is super-soft, it’s probably too far gone, and it’ll end up going bad before you can use it. (Always look out for mold spots if you’re worried.)

A lemon being juiced with a hand juicer. The juice is going into a small glass bowl on a cutting board with more lemons and sprigs of thyme — Simply Recipes / Getty Images

The Best Way To Store Lemons

Once you bring your juicy lemons home, Alsberg recommends sticking them in the refrigerator so they stay fresher, longer. If you set them in a bowl on the counter—you know, for aesthetics and the occasional whiff of that invigorating citrus fragrance—be sure to use them within a few days because they’ll soften up faster (and eventually will either go bad or dry out).

How To Squeeze the Most Juice From Your Lemons

There are a lot of tricks out there for getting more juice out of a lemon, such as sticking it in the microwave. Before you slice the lemon, microwave it on high for about 30 seconds or until it gets warm. Once the outside is cool enough to touch, cut the lemon and juice it.

If you’re in the market to optimize your juicing experience, Alsberg recommends investing in a juicer. Electric ones will be the most effective, but you can also get a good amount of juice using a hand-press juicer.