If you’re a fan of freshly squeezed juice—and truly, who isn’t?—then you’ll benefit from adding a citrus reamer to your drawer of kitchen tools. Small and handy, citrus reamers are good for retrieving every last drop of citrus fruits.
But with so many options on the market, it can be overwhelming to decide which product is best for you.
To make your search easier, we compiled a list of the top citrus reamers on the market across six categories, which include the most unique design, best on a budget, juicer’s favorite, top premium, best traditional, and most handy.
Our Top Picks
Best Overall
Kitchen 3-in-1 Manual Citrus Juicer Reamer Cup by Zulay
Most Unique Design
OCTO Citrus Reamer by OTOTO
Budget Option
Brown Reamer by Norpro
What’s the Difference Between a Citrus Reamer and a Juicer?
A citrus reamer is a small kitchen utensil that’s used to extract fresh juice from citrus fruits. The tool is designed with a cone-shaped, rigged surface to remove as much fruit juice from the fruit’s flesh and skin as possible.
Some are designed for small citrus fruits only, like lemons or limes. Others are made to accommodate citrus fruits of all sizes, like large oranges and grapefruits.
The difference between a citrus juicer and a reamer is that a reamer is used by hand and juicers are automatic.
Citrus reamers take longer to use than juicers, but because of their usual small size when compared with juicers, reamers are easier to use for smaller amounts of juice. Juicers are particularly helpful for people who regularly juice large amounts of fruit.
The 6 Best Citrus Reamers Money Can Buy
The following six citrus reamers top-rated products. Available in different styles and materials, and at different price points, the following tools appeal to a range of needs and uses.
Best Overall
Kitchen 3-in-1 Manual Citrus Juicer Reamer Cup by Zulay
The Kitchen 3-in-1 Manual Citrus Juicer Reamer Cup by Zulay is perfectly designed for those who juice often. Far from simple, it contains several components, including a convenient, detachable plastic cup, which can hold up to 17 ounces of freshly reamed juice.
A flip-top strainer prevents seeds from escaping into the juice and its non-slip base keeps the reamer steady while you use it. It comes with two kinds of reamers, one for large and small fruits, and it’s available in five fun colors. As a bonus, use the flip-top strainer for separating egg yolks.
Pros
- Includes two types of reamers
- Available in five colors
Cons
- Hand-wash only
Most Unique Design
OCTO Citrus Reamer by OTOTO
The OCTO Citrus Reamer by OTOTO is so adorable, you’ll have family and friends fighting over who gets to use it! With a unique patented design that resembles a friendly octopus, you’ll always look forward to handling this nifty gadget.
A great tool to buy for your own kitchen or to gift to another, and an especially fantastic white elephant gift, it’s easy to use, clean, and store. This functional product doesn’t have any sharp points, which makes it family-friendly, and it’s also BPA-free and dishwasher-safe.
Pros
- Non-sharp tool for family-friendly use
- Unique design
- Easy to clean
- Handheld
Cons
- Dull edges may require additional effort to juice
The Budget Choice
Brown Reamer by Norpro
What you see is what you get with the Brown Reamer by Norpro. A simple kitchen tool that’s designed to juice fruits and a little more, it’s a low-cost option for those who don’t necessarily juice often, but need a reamer to keep handy “just in case.”
You can use this one to juice small- to medium-sized fruits like lemons, limes, and oranges. It’s made of wood, so be sure to keep it clean by hand-washing only. With the unbeatable price of this product, you can’t help but think, “Why not?” before placing it in your cart.
Pros
- Low price
- Simple design
- Easy to store
Cons
- Made to use on small- to mid-sized fruit only
- Hand-wash only to avoid mold
Glass Citrus Juicer by HIC Kitchen
Just like the juicer your grandmother used, the Glass Citrus Juicer by HIC Kitchen is traditional—and it gets the job done! The pointed cone makes it easier to juice fruits of various sizes, from grapefruits to limes. Its built-in reservoir dish collects fresh juice, and its handle and spout make for easy pouring.
Made from heavyweight glass to resist citrus damage, the vintage-style reamer is designed to last for years to come. To clean, hand-wash only in warm, soapy water, and handle with care.
Pros
- Durable
- Traditional design
- Convenient, built-in reservoir dish, handle and spout
Cons
- Hand-wash only
- Made from glass; must handle with care
Stainless-Steel Citrus Reamer by YARNOW
A premium choice, the Stainless-Steel Citrus Reamer by YARNOW is a sleek, tool with a practical design for everyday use. Made from stainless steel with a lustrous finish, the lightweight product makes the perfect housewarming gift—whether it’s for yourself or a friend!
Easy to use, this handheld tool is conveniently dishwasher-safe. Small and compact, store it easily in a kitchen drawer.
Pros
- Sleek, clean finish
- Dishwasher-safe
Cons
- Higher price point
Lemon Citrus Reamer by Sabo
If you’re someone who enjoys hosting guests, the Lemon Citrus Reamer by Sabo is a great gadget to have in your home. Keep one in the kitchen for preparing fresh-squeezed, spiked lemonade in the summer, and one by the wet bar to make refreshing cocktails during the holidays.
In addition to a six-inch fruit reamer, this one includes a channel knife, a paring knife, and a zester for peeling and garnishing. To boot, it’s also durable, dishwasher-safe, and easy to clean.
Pros
- Four-in-one multi-tool
- Durable
- Dishwasher-safe
Cons
- Designed to use with small and mid-sized citrus fruits only
How To Use A Citrus Reamer
Like just about anything else, using a citrus reamer is easy—once you get the hang of it!
Follow these five steps to juice fruit with this marvelous product:
- Cut your citrus fruit in half using a knife.
- Select a container, cup, or bowl, depending on how much juice you plan on collecting. Overtop the dish of your choosing, hold half of the citrus fruit in one hand and your citrus reamer in the other hand.
- Insert the pointed end of the cone into the center of the citrus fruit.
- Rotate the citrus reamer while pressing the fruit against it. Fresh-squeezed fruit juice should dribble into the dish below.
- Continue twisting it until all the juice has been removed from the fruit.
In the process of juicing your fruit, you’ll likely come across seeds and tissue, known as pith. To remove this debris, you’ll need a strainer. Fortunately, some citrus reamers also come with a built-in strainer.
To speed up the process and make juicing easier, especially if you’re preparing a good amount, place the uncut citrus fruits in a bowl of warm water and let it sit for 20 minutes beforehand.
By the time you’re ready to juice, you’ll notice the fruit is more tender and easier to manipulate. You can also roll the citrus fruits on your kitchen counter to further soften their skin afterward.
Do I Really Need A Citrus Reamer?
If you’re wondering, “Can’t I just use a fork to juice fruit?” the answer is yes, but it’s certainly not convenient.
In a scenario where you don’t have a citrus reamer available, a typical kitchen fork is your next-best alternative. But if you don’t have to rely on a tool that’ll likely cause a mess, then this tool is certainly preferable!
Unlike forks, which are designed to spear food, citrus reamers are made to cut through the fruit’s flesh to release the fresh juice inside. These tools feature ridges, which pierce the soft tissue of fruit. Rotation grinds down the fruit’s flesh to release as much juice as possible.
Because this common home kitchen tool helps to collect as much juice as possible from citrus fruit, it’s been in use since the 1700s! Keep reading to learn about the history of this handy tool.
History of Citrus Reamers
It’s no wonder why this incredible product is so useful; they’ve been around for more than 200 years!
Citrus reamers were first invented in 1767 as a way to extract fresh juice from lemons. Back then, the intent wasn’t to use lemon juice for cooking or cleaning, but as a solution to fighting disease. Around this time, lemon juice was identified as curing scurvy, which is caused by a lack of vitamin C in the body.
The first patent for a handheld citrus reamer was filed in the United States. In 1867, the first automatic ones were introduced in 1945, which popularized the tool for cooking, baking, and bartending.
The Reamer Collection at the Cuero Heritage Museum in Cuero, Texas, is home to more than 2,300 citrus reamers from around the world! The collection was donated by H. Wayne Adickes, a former executive of an American packaging company, and displays his personal collection!
Many Options To Choose From
Like many other kitchen gadgets, citrus reamers fulfill a specific purpose. Nonetheless, there are many types on the market, so you’re guaranteed to find a style that works best for you, regardless of how often you use it.
Citrus reamers are available in handheld, tabletop, and electronic versions. Some are made from wood, metal, or glass, while others are made from plastic or ceramic. Some, like the Lemon Citrus Reamer from Sabo, are made using several materials. Some materials, like wood and glass, should be hand-washed to ensure their longevity, while others are dishwasher-safe.
Other Uses for Citrus Reamers.
Aside from using citrus reamers to collect fresh-squeezed fruit juice to drink, you can also use the juice you collect in other recipes.
You may use fresh-squeezed lemon or orange juice, for example, to make flavorful marinades, like this citrus chicken marinade. Or use lemon juice to add a crisp edge to this Indian Fried Chicken. You can also add the juice to fruit smoothies, alcoholic or nonalcoholic beverages, like tea or this refreshing coral citrus sparkler, and to water as a flavoring agent.
If you’re a fan of mojitos, use your citrus reamer as a muddler substitute–like with these tasty triple-citrus mojitos. If Bloody Marys are more your style, use the tool to extract tomato juice from any size tomato!
Use the juice you collect to flavor desserts, like tangy, popsicles, and homemade sherbet.
You can also use lemon juice, in particular, as a natural cleaner and deodorizer!
Citrus Reamers and Fresh Goodness Every Day
Now that you know about the convenience of citrus reamers, as well as the many options available on the market, you’ll surely need one of these handy tools to keep in your kitchen cabinet!
Even if you don’t make your own fresh-squeezed orange juice or use citrus fruit juice as a flavoring agent in cooking, having a citrus reamer may encourage you to do so—at least more often!
Keep reading all about Orange Trees and lemon trees to learn more about the different citrus varieties you can juice with and even how to grow your own trees at home.
Shopping for your orchard can get overwhelming, fast. So if you’re looking for advice on tools and supplies, then you’re in the right place!