What Citrus Juicer Does Ina Garten Use?

You’ve watched her squeeze lemons into a pitcher of lemonade on Barefoot Contessa. Maybe you’ve tried to copy her recipe for a shrimp scampi that calls for fresh orange juice. Ina Garten makes it look effortless. But when you reach for your own citrus juicer, you get half the juice, seeds in your glass, and a tired hand. That’s when you start wondering: what citrus juicer does Ina Garten use?

The answer is a manual reamer, and she has used a specific model for years. I’ll tell you exactly which one, why she chooses it, and how it compares to other good options. You’ll also learn when a manual squeezer beats an electric one, and what features matter most if you want to get every drop without making a mess. No fluff, no brand-bashing. Just real information you can use the next time you buy a citrus juicer.

Zulay Kitchen

Zulay Metal 2-In-1 Lemon Squeezer Manual -…

SQUEEZE OUT EVERY DROP OF JUICE: Our 2-in-1 lemon squeezer won’t waste a single drop from your favorite fruit! We have designed this lime juicer to be easy on hands. Watch limes, lemons, and small oranges beg for mercy, even with a soft squeeze. The holes at the bottom of the citrus juicer serve as a seed filter to prevent the pulp and seeds from getting in your way.

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If you’re after a sturdy, no-power-needed citrus squeezer that works for lemons, limes, and small oranges, the Zulay Metal 2-In-1 Lemon Squeezer is a solid pick. It uses a simple lever action, a heavy-duty aluminum body, and a built-in seed filter. It won’t rust or crack like some plastic models, and it cleans up in the dishwasher. I’ll mention it more in the comparison table below.

The Juicer Ina Garten Actually Uses

Ina keeps a simple stainless-steel reamer in her kitchen drawer. It’s usually a French-style manual reamer, like the ones from Kuhn Rikon or OXO Good Grips. In past episodes and interviews, she has mentioned buying them at kitchen supply stores. She doesn’t use an electric juicer. She prefers the control a hand-held reamer gives her.

Why not an electric? Two reasons. First, she often juices just one lemon or orange at a time. Plugging in a machine for a few ounces of juice feels wasteful. Second, she likes the pulp amount she gets with a simple twist. Most electric citrus juicers extract too much pith and make the juice bitter. Her method: cut the fruit in half, press the reamer into the flesh, and twist. Seeds stay behind because she holds the reamer over a strainer or uses a sieve.

You can find the exact reamer Ina uses by searching for “stainless steel citrus reamer” at any good kitchen store. They cost under $15. But if you want a two-handled squeezer that does the same job with less hand strain, the Zulay model is a close cousin.

Why a Manual Citrus Juicer Makes Sense for Most Home Cooks

Most of us don’t juice a dozen lemons every day. So a bulky electric machine takes up counter space, collects dust, and often needs an afternoon of cleaning after one use. A manual juicer, on the other hand, lives in a drawer. It takes five seconds to wash.

The real trade-off is leverage. A hand reamer (like Ina’s) requires a strong grip and some wrist motion. For a single lemon, not a problem. For six limes for margaritas, your hand will cramp. That’s where a lever-style squeezer (like the Zulay) helps. You place a halved fruit face-down in the bowl, pull the handle down, and the juice pours through the holes. The design uses mechanical advantage, so you apply less force. Professional bartenders use that style because they can juice a case of limes without blowing out their forearms.

My own experience: I used a glass reamer for years. It works fine. But after I started making fresh lemonade regularly, my wrist complained. I switched to a metal lever squeezer. The difference in effort is dramatic. The Zulay squeezer, for example, has a long handle that multiplies your force. Even a child can juice a lemon with it.

So the question becomes not “manual vs. electric” but “which manual tool fits your hand and volume?” Ina’s choice is the simplest possible solution for small jobs. For medium jobs, a lever squeezer is the crowd favorite.

What to Look for in a Citrus Juicer: Numbers and Details

Not all manual juicers are equal. Here are the specific things to check before you buy.

• Material. Plastic bodies can crack under pressure. Aluminum with a food-grade coating (like the Zulay) is strong and lightweight. Stainless steel is even better but costs more.
• Seed filter holes. The holes at the bottom of the bowl should be small enough to stop most seeds but large enough to let pulp through. Too few holes and juice pools in the bowl. Too many and seeds slip through. The Zulay has a standard pattern that works well.
• Handle length. A longer handle gives you more leverage. Measure from the hinge to the end. Eight inches is minimum. Ten inches is better for large hands.
• Bowl depth. If the bowl is shallow, the fruit slides around. You want a bowl that cradles a lemon half snugly so it doesn’t squirt sideways. The Zulay bowl depth is about 1.5 inches, which holds most citrus sizes securely.
• Dishwasher safety. Some aluminum squeezers claim to be dishwasher safe but the coating can fade. Check the warranty. The Zulay comes with a lifetime guarantee, so if the coating fails, you’re covered.
• Yield. A good manual squeezer should extract about 80–90% of the juice from a lemon. A poor one leaves behind a quarter of the juice. To test, weigh the fruit before and after. That’s your real metric.

One thing nobody tells you: the ribbed interior of the bowl matters. Ridges help crush the flesh and release juice. Flat bowls are just glorified dishes.

Manual vs. Electric: When Each One Wins

I own both. Here’s when I reach for each.

Manual wins: When I need less than one cup of juice. When I want light pulp. When I don’t want to wash a machine with multiple parts. When I’m juicing a single lime for a beer or a cocktail. When I’m traveling or camping.

Electric wins: When I’m juicing two pounds of oranges for breakfast. When I need fine pulp (electric reamers remove more pith if you use the pulp-control setting). When I want to juice grapefruit (they’re too big for most manual bowls). You can read more about electric citrus juicers if you think you need a powered model.

Ina Garten’s recipes rarely call for more than two or three citrus fruits at a time. So manual is the right call for her. For a family that goes through four oranges every morning, an electric electric citrus juicer options from Cuisinart might save time.

One more point: reamer-style (no handles) versus squeezer-style (two handles). The reamer is cheaper and smaller. The squeezer gives more force. If you have arthritis or weak hands, skip the reamer and get a good lever squeezer. The Chef’n FreshForce juicer uses a similar mechanism and has a soft-grip handle.

Comparison of Top Manual Citrus Juicers

Prices vary, so check current costs on Amazon. The Zulay is generally a third of the price of the Chef’n while delivering similar performance. Its warranty is longer, too.

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of juicer does Ina Garten use?

She uses a simple handheld stainless steel reamer. She has mentioned using the OXO Good Grips reamer and similar French-style tools. She does not own an electric citrus juicer.

Does Ina Garten use an electric or manual citrus juicer?

Manual. She prefers the control and ease of cleaning. In an interview with Food & Wine she said she hates appliances that take up counter space, so a small reamer is perfect for her.

Where can I buy the same juicer Ina Garten uses?

Most kitchen stores sell stainless steel reamers. Amazon has the OXO Good Grips Reamer for about $10. Look for one with a sharp, narrow tip and a wooden or plastic handle. Avoid cheap stamped-metal versions that bend.

Is the Zulay lemon squeezer good?

Yes, for most home cooks. It’s sturdy, extracts juice efficiently, and is easy to clean. The only downside: the bowl is slightly small for large navel oranges. For lemons and limes it works perfectly. The lifetime guarantee gives you peace of mind.

Can I use a manual juicer for limes and oranges?

Yes, as long as the bowl fits the fruit. Limes are no problem. Small oranges (like clementines) work well. Full-size oranges may overhang the bowl of a standard lever squeezer. If you plan to juice a lot of oranges, get a larger model or switch to an electric juicer.

What to Do Now: Your Shortlist

• If you want Ina’s exact tool: buy a stainless steel hand reamer from OXO or Kuhn Rikon. Costs $8–$15. Keeps your kitchen minimalist.
• If you juice more than one fruit at a time or have weak hands: get a lever squeezer like the Zulay Metal 2-In-1. It’s more comfortable and still under $25.
• Check the seed filter pattern. Small holes mean less mess, but you may get less pulp.
• Always weigh your fruit before and after the first few uses. That tells you if the juicer is actually extracting or just crushing.
• Never put a hand reamer in the dishwasher unless it’s solid stainless steel. Wood handles will crack.
• Store your manual juicer in a drawer, not on the counter. It stays cleaner and you’ll use it more.
• If you only juice occasionally, skip the electric machine. A good manual squeezer will last decades with zero maintenance.