This Is the Best Handheld Citrus Juicer We've Tried, by a Country Mile

9.2

The Fluicer

$17 at Amazon

Like

• Squeezes far more juice from citrus than other handheld juicers
• Design allows you to use full force of both arms
• Catches seeds in a grate so you don't have to fish them out
• Three sizes available for juicing lemons, limes and oranges
• Lays flat for easy storage

Don't like

• Despite the flat design, it still takes up slightly more total space than most handheld juicers

A balmy later summer day calls for a refreshing drink. I'm talking margaritas, daiquiris and lemonade. What do they all have in common? Citrus juice. But the liquid gold that fuels so many summer sips can be a chore to extract. That's why Dreamfarm's efficient new $17 Fluicer -- also known as the best handheld citrus juicer ever made -- is my favorite accessory for summer.

The Fluicer (a portmanteau of "flat juicer") is a smart reimagining of where the points of pressure should land on any half of a lemon, lime or orange. With a solid build and efficient design, the clever kitchen brand has squeezed out a serious upgrade to that basic, clunky juicer collecting dust in the back of a drawer or home bar. It's all enough to make this lemonade and margarita enthusiast smile as we roll into fall.

Most handheld juicers kind of suck

I've always been disappointed with the efficiency of standard handheld citrus juicers. Small citrus fruits don't produce a ton of juice as it is, especially limes, which is why it's critical to get as much from each one as possible. Most handheld juicers I've used get the first 70% or so with relative ease but have a much harder time extracting the last bits that are closer to the rind. When making a batch of margaritas or lemonade, I often ditch the juicer altogether and rely on a small spoon to twist and dig out the good stuff. It's an effective method but requires most of the muscle to come from just one hand and can get tiring. 

A simple design nuance makes the Fluicer more effective

The basic concept of the Fluicer is similar to the bulb-head citrus juicer most of us are used to, but a few key differences make it a much better tool. Any half of citrus fruit you stick inside is not only getting squeezed front to back but also bent in half, resulting in more complete extraction. The Fluicer also encourages a butterfly-style double-handed squeeze, allowing you to use the full force of both arms. As the juice drips out of the bottom the seeds and pulp are caught in a small grate. 

What's left in the Fluicer is a fully drained piece of citrus. In the receptacle below, you'll find more juice than if you'd used any other manual citrus-juicing tool or method. 

Best Juicers for 2023 See at Cnet

The Fluicer is made of strong plastic and folds up for easy storage

The Fluicer is well constructed from sturdy, dishwasher-safe plastic. When not in use, the Fluicer folds up flat to about 1 inch in height, meaning it'll actually take less space than those other handheld juicers.

For a citrus lover, the new Fluicer is a must-have kitchen tool and makes an excellent gift, too. The small model (sized for limes) is just $15. The medium Fluicer (made for lemons and limes) is just two bucks more. The large Fluicer (fits limes, lemons and oranges) is $20.

Be wary of knockoffs 

There are loads of cheap Fluicer lookalikes on Amazon, but a friend of mine who bought one griped about how it was much flimsier than the real thing and seemed prone to snapping.

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