Best Manual Juicer
If you love freshly-squeezed juice, but don’t want to splash out on a large and loud electric juicer, then you’ve come to the right place.
Manual juicers can help you get your morning fix of juice without the fear of waking everyone else up.
As well as being silent, manual juicers rely on physical exertion to work, which can be a deeply satisfying process.
There are many different types of manual juicer, not just the kind you can store in a kitchen drawer, and in this guide we’ll explore the different options.
Let’s dive into the best manual juicers available! Here are our top picks…
👑 Our Pick for Best Overall
⭐ Our Other Top Manual Juicer Picks
- Best of the Best: Zulay Professional Citrus Press and Squeezer
- Best Professional Model: Hamilton Beach 932 Commercial Citrus Juicer
- Best for Citrus: Lukasa Manual Orange Juicer
Best Manual Juicer Reviews
Zulay Professional Citrus Press and Squeezer (👑 Top Pick)
Honestly this two in one set from Zulay could feasibly have topped all three of our categories.
It comes with one of the best professional manual juicers and one of the best hand juicers. Oh, and they both also happen to be incredible citrus juicers.
Consistently rated as one of the best manual juicers you can buy, the professional citrus juicer is top of the range when it comes to performance and efficiency.
The manual juicer that comes with is also considered to be one of the best in the category of handheld devices.
If you’re a big fan of fruit juice then this set is exactly what you need in your life. While it’s mainly used to make citrus juice, you can press more than just oranges with this juicer. Grapefruits, lemons, limes – take your pick!
What makes this professional juicer so good?
Let’s find out.
Features:
- Hand press juicer
- Includes handheld juicer
- Heavy-duty cast iron design
- Stainless steel strainer cup
- Dishwasher-safe
- Built-in rubber feet
Drizom Citrus Juicer
This citrus juicer from Drizom takes the form of a typical jug reamer, but with a twist – you can also separate eggs and grate garlic!
While you might only be looking for a juicer, it’s always nice to get something that serves multiple purposes. The kitchen can get cluttered with dozens of appliances when only a few are really necessary.
Aside from the nice bonus of being able to grate and separate, what makes this juicer worth your while?
More than anything else, the price. Value for money is exactly what you get with this multifunctional device for the price of a meal.
Features:
- Jug reamer juicer
- Multifunctional
- Includes 1 12oz cup
- Dishwasher-safe
Mueller Elite Masticating Juicer
This clever-looking machine poses as a handheld device, and costs more or less the same, but provides the user with a very satisfying juicing experience which is pain-free.
While it may not have several functions like the Drizom juicer, this masticating juicer from Mueller has a lot more power under the hood to produce excellent-tasting juice.
With a sophisticated masticating system, this juicer replicates the process of cold-press juicers as it slowly grinds up the fruit to help ensure maximum nutrient retention.
This compact juicer is also very easy to store. If you can’t find space for it as it is, then you can easily detach the separate parts and put them in any drawer or cupboard.
Features:
- Masticating, hand crank juicer
- BPA-free
- Detachable parts
OXO Good Grips Juicer
Any discussion about the best manual juicers should involve the OXO Good Grips citrus juicer.
With a classically simple jug reamer design, this juicer will do the job perfectly.
The 2.5oz cup has indications on it that make measuring out the right amount of juice for cooking or baking simple.
Once you’ve finished juicing, the convenient drip-free spout will ensure every last drop goes where you want it to with no unnecessary mess.
That’s not to mention the two reamer sizes which make juicing citrus fruits of all sizes possible.
Features:
- Jug reamer juicer
- Drip-free pour spout
- BPA-free
- Dishwasher-safe
- Small and large reamer
Hamilton Beach 932 Commercial Citrus Juicer (💯 Best Professional Model)
Hamilton Beach is a great commercial kitchenware manufacturer, and this citrus juicer is proof of that.
The 932 Citrus juicer is a real powerhouse, capable of squeezing every last drop out of most fruits, though it is especially good with citrus fruit.
The extractor arm of this juicer can exert an impressive 2000 pounds of force, which will give you as high a juice yield as you can expect from a manual juicer. You won’t find many manual juicers capable of exerting as much force as this one.
This model is perfect for use at home, or at work due to its heavy-duty design and rubber feet which keep it securely in place. Plus it’s surprisingly straightforward to clean. Take the 4 pieces apart and rinse them off well then you should be good to go again.
Rack and pinion gears ensure that this model stands apart from the competition though. This is what allows you to exert so much pressure on fruit and do so with ease. Simply pull down the lever and watch as your homemade juice comes out.
Features:
- Hand press juicer
- Rack and pinion gearing
- Stainless steel strainer cone
- Exerts up to 2000 lbs of force
- 1 year Global Care
- Drip cup with swing-out arm
Lukasa Manual Orange Juicer (🍊 Best for Citrus)
With all the great citrus juicers out there, it’s hard to figure out which ones are better. So to find the best citrus juicer we wanted something a bit different.
Here’s where the Lukasa manual juicer comes in. What sets it apart from the sea of citrus juicers is its brilliant design; it’s both a juicer and a travel cup.
If you’ve ever been out and about and wished you had a fresh orange juice to keep your energy levels up, then you need this juicer from Lukasa.
The genius design allows you to easily squeeze the citrus fruit of your choice, then pop the lid on and take it with you. It’s super simple to us, and really easy to clean..
This is ideal for anyone who’s too busy to sit down in the morning, or anyone who enjoys their juice on the go.
Features:
- Jug reamer juicer
- Stainless steel design
- BPA-Free
- Doubles up as a travel cup
The Different Types of Manual Juicer
The handheld device that might come to mind when you think of a manual juicer isn’t the only option.
In fact, there are at least 3 other types of manual juicer aside from that one.
Handheld
The classic manual juicer, the handheld variety is the most convenient in many ways.
Easy to store in any drawer, this type of manual juicer relies on two arms which press together to squeeze juice from the fruit.
They are most typically used for citrus fruits like oranges and lemons, and are among the most affordable juicers available.
Reamers
A reamer in the juice-making sense is a device which is designed to drill into the fruit to extract the juice.
You can get this type of juicer in two forms.
The first resembles a drill bit, which you hold in one hand to use. The other is a jug reamer, which is perhaps the more common of the two. The jug reamer requires you to push the flesh of the fruit down onto a ridged cone, so that the juice can collect in its bowl.
Jug reamers are very common in countries like Spain, and are used to make fresh orange juice.
Hand Crank Strainer
A hand crank strainer is a countertop unit which you feed tougher ingredients into (think leafy greens).
You put the fruit and vegetables into a chute at the top, and then work the crank to get the juice from them.
Hand Press
The last type of manual juicer you’ll see is the hand press.
The hand press is another countertop unit, but this one has a lever instead of a hand crank. This process is easier than the hand crank, and arguably more fun.
All you have to do is pull down the lever and watch as fresh juice is collected at the bottom.
What to Look for When Selecting a Manual Juicer
Now that you’re familiar with the different types of manual juicer, let’s take a look at some of the most important factors to consider before you buy.
1. Type of Juice
Before investing in a manual juicer, it’s worth thinking about what kind of juice you’re interested in making.
The type of juicer you get will determine what you’re realistically able to make. Each is designed to make different types of juice, so bear that in mind.
If you’re a big fan of healthy green juicers for example, you’ll need something heavy-duty like a hand crank strainer. If you prefer citrus juice, then you’re in luck, most juicers can handle citrus fruits.
However, there are juicers that are particularly good at squeezing oranges, lemons, and limes individually.
2. Ease of Use
The ease of use is much more important with manual juicers than it is with the electric counterparts.
Whereas with most electric models all you need to do is push a button to juice, it’s a different story for manual ones.
With manual juicers you will be required to exert physical force to make the juice, this can’t be avoided.
However, there are varying degrees of difficulty and some may be more convenient than others.
If you don’t like the idea of using brute force to squeeze oranges with a handheld device, then you might prefer a hand crank juicer, or even better, the simplicity of a hand press.
On the other hand, if you don’t mind getting stuck in, then you may enjoy the feeling of pressing fruits with a jug reamer.
3. Storage
Depending on the type of manual juicer, you might find yourself trying to find a place to store it.
If convenience is something you value, then you’ll want to go with a handheld device or a reamer. These juicers will easily fit inside any drawer or cupboard, leaving you with the same amount of countertop space you had before.
Hand crank and hand press juicers will take up space though, so if you already have a lot of appliances in your kitchen this could be an issue.
4. Price
You’d think all manual juicers would be cheap, and compared to electric juicers they are. Some models though can breach the $100 mark and prove more of an investment.
While reamers and handheld juicers will be available for any kind of budget, the machines can be a lot pricier.
For that reason you should weigh up what’s more important to you. Whether you want to be able to juice tougher ingredients, whether you can put up with extra physical effort, and if you have the space to accommodate a bigger unit.
Manual vs Electric Juicers
Here it is, the burning question on your mind: why would you choose a manual juicer over an electric one?
Manual Juicers
The Good
The manual juicer is available to anyone who’s interested in making their own juice. Not least because it is incredibly affordable. This makes it hard to ignore them if you’re new to juicing, or just want to give homemade juicing a go.
Another reason they’re suitable for everyone is that they won’t be cause for lost sleep in any household. Something that is often overlooked with electric juices, due to their power and convenience, is how loud they are when pressing juice.
Don’t like cleaning up after yourself? Seriously, who enjoys getting pulp off their juicer. Especially when it involves disassembling a machine and getting into all the nooks and crannies.
By being easy to clean, manual juicers allow you to make and enjoy your juice without stressing about the aftermath.
Finally, most manual juicers are highly portable. So portable, in fact, that you can take them with you anywhere. This makes juice on the go a possibility, as long as you can get the fruit, you’ll be able to make the juice wherever you are.
The Bad
While we just sung the praises of manual juicers, there are some downsides you should be aware of.
First, if you like to be adventurous and experiment with different fruits and vegetables for your juices, you may find it difficult with a manual juicer. Handheld juicers and reamers will be useless, and the machine types will still require some cutting and preparation for tougher ingredients.
Then, there’s the matter of speed. It typically takes much longer to juice with the manual models than electric ones. Plus, the process is 100% reliant on you being able to exert physical force, so if you’re feeling groggy in the morning that freshly-squeezed orange juice might seem like wishful thinking.
Electric Juicers
The Good
All you have to do is push a button. That’s it. If that isn’t efficient, I don’t know what is. As a result, you can get your juice in half the time, and even get on with your morning routine as the fruit is being squeezed for you. As you can imagine, this saves you a lot of time.
You are only limited by your imagination when it comes to the type of juice you want to make. You’re not confined to orange juice. This gives you the flexibility to experiment, and the ability to make the healthiest, greenest, most nutritious juices you can think up.
Bigger containers mean you’ll be able to make more juice in a much shorter period of time. This is great for families and individuals who love to batch their juices for consumption at a later date.
You’re more likely to end up with your preferred consistency when you work with an electric juicer, due to the various settings and sharp blades involved.
The Bad
Even the more affordable electric juicers can be as much as 5x more expensive than manual juicers. This means that if you’re on a budget, they might be a stretch.
Electric juicers need to be plugged in at all times, meaning they are very much static units that have to stay put. This rules out the possibility of making fresh juice when you’re on the road or out of town.
On top of that, they are large and bulky. They will take up a lot of your precious countertop space. This also makes them much more challenging to clean quickly. Even though many of them have dishwasher-safe parts, you’ll still have to take it apart and ensure there’s no juice or pulp left over.
Related: Best Affordable Juicer
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Frequently Asked Questions About Manual Juicers
How does a manual juicer work?
This depends on the type of manual juicer you use.
Handheld juicers rely on the user using their strength to squeeze the fruit. Place the fruit between the two arms, and squeeze with your hand to extract the juice. If you’re using a jug reamer, you’ll cut the fruit in half first (usually a citrus fruit), and press it down onto a ridged cone.
Hand presses and crank-operated juicers work with machinery that springs to life once you turn the crank or pull down the lever.
How do you juice a lemon with a hand juicer?
First, ensure the lemon is soft to make the process easier.
Grab a bowl or glass and put it on a flat surface to collect the juice
Next, cut the fruit in half, and then cut each end of the lemon. Place a half of the lemon flesh-side down into the holder of the hand juicer. Now, holding it over the bowl, squeeze both arms of the hand juicer together until you’ve extracted as much juice as possible from the lemon.
Can you use a hand blender for juicing?
It’s possible to use a hand blender for juicing, but not recommended.
If you have an immersion blender you can make thick juice which retains a lot of the nutrients of the fruit or vegetable.
But since a hand blender is slightly less powerful, you might struggle to use it for juicing unless you cut the produce into very small pieces.
Even then, it could get a little messy. Hand blenders are best used for making smoothies, so if that’s not what you’re looking for, stick to a manual or electric juicer.
A Final Word on Manual Juicers
Using a manual juicer can be very rewarding, and can help you make very nutritious homemade juices.
If you’re not against the idea of using a bit of force to squeeze the fruit, then you should absolutely give them a go. After all, most of them are cheaper than a fresh juice you can buy at a juice stand!
For detailed information on the health benefits of juicing, see these websites:
- Juicing for Health and Weight Loss – WebMD
- Is Juicing Healthier Than Eating Whole Fruits and Vegetables? – Mayo Clinic
- Is Juicing Good or Bad? – Healthline
Related: Best Cold Press Juicer
Thanks for recommending! My family loves drinking fresh pulpy orange juice every morning. Will buy Zulay Professional Citrus Press and Squeezer.