Limes are essential in any home kitchen. They’re the stars of margaritas, limeade, and zesty desserts, and they add a burst of flavor to marinades, salad dressings, and other savory staples.
But what’s the best way to juice a lime? Most people simply cut the citrus crosswise, then squeeze each half by hand or with a press. But it turns out there’s a better way. The trick is to slice the lime into wedges around its core, which exposes more of the flesh. Not only are these wedges much easier to squeeze than lime halves, but they also yield considerably more juice.
How To Get More Juice From a Lime
1. Hold the lime vertically on your cutting board.
2. Cut the lime into thirds vertically. You should end up with two rounded “cheeks” and a flatter middle piece containing the core.
3. Lay the middle piece flat on your cutting board, then cut it in half, trimming away the core.
4. To juice, simply squeeze each wedge into a bowl or other receptacle.
This method can yield up to double the amount of juice compared to a lime cut crosswise. By removing the core, you reduce resistance, which is good news for your joints and your next batch of spicy margaritas. If you prefer to see this hack in action, here’s a helpful video tutorial.
If You Need To Juice a Lot of Limes
This hack works best when you need juice from just a couple of limes. If you’re juicing a whole bunch for a party or a lime-centric recipe, here’s another tip: Microwave your limes for 10 to 20 seconds. (Start with 10 seconds to be on the safe side.) After that, juice them as normal, either by hand or with a citrus juicer. We’ve previously covered this technique for lemons, but it also works well for other citrus fruits.
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Bonus Hack: Store Your Limes at Room Temperature
It’s tempting to refrigerate limes, especially in summer, when hot weather can wither fruit quickly. But refrigerating citrus fruits sucks the moisture out of them, which is why professional chefs always store them at room temperature. Room-temperature limes will consistently produce the most juice. Once a lime is cut, however, it should be refrigerated.
