Struggling With Juicing Lemons? Break Out The Kitchen Shears

Lemons are very versatile and can be used in a wide variety of dishes and recipes. They are commonly used to add flavor to dishes, from savory recipes like grilled fish and roasted chicken to sweet recipes like lemon bars and lemon cakes. Where the rind can also be used to garnish cocktails, the juice can make drinks, like lemonade. Lemon juice is also a common ingredient in salad dressings and marinades, and it can be used as a natural preservative to prevent fruits and vegetables from turning brown.

Lemon juice can also be used to preserve cooked foods like hummus and pesto. Lemon zest and juice are frequently used in baking to add a citrusy flavor to cakes, cookies, and other baked goods. The juice from lemons is even used for cleaning! But with all the ways to use lemon juice, actually juicing a lemon can be hard. Of course, one of the easiest ways to juice a lemon is to cut it in half and use a citrus juicer or reamer to extract the juice, but if you don't have one of those sitting around, don't worry — there is a unique way to juice your lemons.

So what kitchen tool can help you get the most from your lemons? Kitchen shears! Sure, juicing a lemon with kitchen shears is not the most traditional method, but it does work — quite well, in fact! Plus, it's quick and easier than you may think.  

This method was demonstrated by food influencer Kelly Senyei, who goes by "Just a Taste" on Instagram. You simply cut the lemon in half, then squeeze the lemon half between the handles of the kitchen shears. The unique circular space created by the two handles of kitchen shears is perfect for juicing lemons. Plus, the way the shears are designed makes it easy to apply strong pressure to a lemon half wedged between the handles. Once you are done with one side, repeat this method with the other lemon half. Strain the juice to remove any seeds or pulp that may have fallen into the bowl.

Of course, you can use your hands just fine to squeeze juice from a lemon, but it will make your hands a sticky mess, and that stickiness can get everywhere in your kitchen. Plus, your hands aren't always going to get the most juice from your lemons. According to Fox News, Senyei is a professionally trained chef, so her kitchen shear tip is probably worthwhile. But how does it work?

Citrus fruit has a membrane across the actual fruit segments, inside the peel, which holds the pieces together and keeps the juice in so that the fruit doesn't dry out. The shears open these membranes so that the juice trapped inside can come out faster and easier. If you want to get even more juice from your lemons (or other citrus fruits) you can also microwave them to loosen the juice inside the membranes before cutting them open.