Electric or manual reamers handle oranges and lemons
If you want to juice only oranges, lemons and other citrus -- and money is no object -- reviewers point to the Breville Die-Cast Citrus Press 800CPXL (*Est. $190) . Unlike most citrus juicers, the Breville Die-Cast combines a spinning cone with a power-assisted lever. It costs more than other citrus presses, but owners and professionals alike say that you get a handsome, durable machine for the money. Reviews in prominent food magazines say that the Breville juicer squeezes every drop from the fruit with very little effort from the user. Its features include a drip-stop spout, safety switch and two filter baskets (for pulpy or pulp-free juice).
More than 160 owners posting to Amazon.com, and more than 30 on Cooking.com, give the Breville Die-Cast 800CPXL scores in the 4.5-star range. Users generally say this model is efficient, solidly built and easy to use and clean. A few, though, complain of its weight and report problems with the handle or the motor. More than 20 reviewers also post feedback on Breville's site. Several note that after years of consistent use, the model does burn out, but that the performance is so stellar as to merit the purchase of a second machine. In addition, the model was a top pick by Everyday with Rachael Ray Magazine and is very popular in user reviews.
Although the Breville Die-Cast outclasses every other citrus juicer, some juicers costing far less do nearly as good a job. Top among these is the Black & Decker CitrusMate Plus CJ625 (*Est. $20) , which replaced the similar, though slightly larger, Citrus Juicer CJ525. Its interchangeable cones (one for small fruits, one for large) rotate first one way, then the other to extract the maximum amount of juice. Made of dishwasher-safe plastic, the Citrus Juicer CJ625 includes a clear measuring pitcher with a handle, an adjustable pulp filter and cord storage. One professional foodie magazine gave the older Black & Decker CitrusMate Plus CJ625 product top marks for design, effectiveness and ease of use. Plus, more than 300 reviewers rated the CJ525 a high 4.5 stars out of 5.
The newer version doesn't get quite as high ratings, however. The Black & Decker CitrusMate Plus CJ625 earns an average rating of 3.5 stars from nearly 90 consumer reviewers. Most reviewers say that the juicer works well enough for small batches of fruit or occasional use. It is, however, fairly noisy and can be difficult to clean. For the low price (it costs about a tenth of the top-rated Breville Die-Cast Citrus Press 800CPXL), reviewers say that you get what can be expected. It's a fine functioning juicer with some drawbacks and limited durability but, for $20, it gets the job done.
Another inexpensive model, the Cuisinart CCJ-100 (*Est. $30) , attracts mixed reviews. In a relatively dated review, editors at Bon Appétit magazine say this juicer works very efficiently, especially with oranges and grapefruit. They also appreciate its drip-stop spout. User reviews are far less positive. There are nearly 50 owner reviews at Cooking.com where it earns a high 4.2 out of 5-star rating, but most of the reviews are exceedingly brief. Despite the decent score, most say it is easy to use, although a few say it requires too much pressure. Some also cite issues with durability and noise. However, the 160 users posting reviews at Amazon.com are less favorable, giving this model only 2.5 stars out of 5 on average. The chief complaint is that the machine moves around during operation, often creating a mess as the short dispensing spout is jerked out of the glass.
For slightly more money, we found good user reviews for the Tribest CitriStar Citrus Juicer (*Est. $45) . The model was previously fairly difficult to find, but is now widely available at Amazon.com, Target and Walmart. While this juicer wasn't mentioned in any of the professional reviews we found, it does receive very high marks from the users of Amazon.com. Nearly 100 users rate the juicer 4.5 out of 5 stars. Most of these are relatively recent reviews with several users noting that they were glad they took a chance with the lesser-known product. The quite, easy-to-clean machine has a strong enough motor to easily churn out a jug of orange juice. Some users say that the juice receptacle is on the smaller side. Additionally, some question the durability, saying that the motor fades after a year or two (a criticism we found for many, more expensive juicers as well).
For those who only juice citrus fruits once in a while, a manual citrus squeezer is a good choice. Two brands of manual citrus juicers stand out above the rest -- Amco and Oxo. Reviews say that the Amco Houseworks Enameled Citrus Squeezer (*Est. $14) is effective. And while using it is easy, it is also a bit counterintuitive. Despite the rounded base, the fruit is actually placed cut-side up and then flipped inside out. Editors at two cooking magazines are impressed with how much juice it is possible to extract with this tool, although they admit that some hand strength is required. The manufacturer says this product is dishwasher-safe, but experts agree that hand-washing is best to prevent the enamel from flaking off.
The Amco Citrus Squeezer is also named a Budget Buy at ConsumerGuide.com and one of the top 20 favorite kitchen tools of the editors of Real Simple. ConsumerGuide.com's expert reviewer notes that Amco sells several differently sized (and colored) models for squeezing limes, lemons and oranges. Some users say despite the range of sizes, even the largest option is too small to properly squeeze grapefruit. There is also a slightly more expensive version of the tool, the Amco 2-in-1 Citrus Squeezer (*Est. $18) which is appropriate for both lemons and limes. Users appreciate the space-saving features, but report the hinges wear down and break.
The editors of the popular cooking site TheKitchn.com also give very positive feedback for the Chef'n FreshForce Citrus Juicer (*Est. $200) . The juicer features an extra gear mechanism and an easy-to-squeeze handle to better extract juice. Unfortunately, Amazon.com users say that the extra mechanism is made of plastic and breaks easily.
For those who prefer to buy only one tool, the Oxo Good Grips Citrus Juicer (*Est. $14) is also well reviewed. This model has a reversible insert with a small cone for juicing lemons and limes and a larger one for oranges and grapefruit. This insert snaps directly onto the cup, which is marked for measuring. Editors at several magazines agree that this juicer easily extracts plenty of juice from oranges, lemons and limes, although its inverted cone makes it a bit harder to clean than other manual juicers. Some users also note that despite the rubber-rimmed bottom, the cup is prone to tipping and cracking.
For those who want a space-saving, simple tool for juicing, there are several well-rated reamers. While some have additional features, most reviewers say that a simple wood reamer performs the best, but there is not a ton of difference between brands or models.
