Lemons will be juicier if you do 1 unusual thing before squeezing

Lemons are a useful staple to keep in your kitchen due to their versatility and strong flavour, which makes them a great addition to lots of different meals, both sweet and savoury. Some people like lemon juice with sugar on pancakes, others will drizzle it into pasta sauces, chicken dishes and soups. It is also popular in baking and helps add a kick to cakes, mousses, and desserts.

However, sometimes it can be difficult getting the most out of lemons, which is where a handy trick comes in. If you heat your lemons up in the microwave before squeezing them, you will be able to get more out of them.

You don't need to microwave the fruit for too long - 20-30 seconds will do. This will result in the fruit's juice capsules bursting, which means less effort is required for you to squeeze the lemon by hand.

A technique offering similar results consists in rolling the lemon on your kitchen counter or a chopping board. This movement, and pressure on the fruit, will also help to break the juice capsules open.

One culinary producer at food website The Kitchn said that after trying the microwave trick for 20 seconds, they were able to produce much more juice than lemons that came straight out of the fridge.

The expert summarised: "This small step is definitely worthwhile if you're planning to juice lemons, or any other type of citrus, with 20 seconds on high being the best place to start."

David Angelo Musso, a foodie and culinary teacher with a large TikTok following, explained that the traditional way of "squeezing citrus of any kind is with your hands". However, this isn't always possible for people with limited mobility or for those who lack strength in their hands.

He suggested using the fork trick, which involves sticking the utensil into a lemon half and using your other hand to jiggle the lemon around.

Another of his tips is to place the lemon half in between the arms of a pair of kitchen tongs and apply pressure. The juice will come out easily and you won't have to squeeze as hard as you would just using your hands.

One user commented: "Tongs are so much easier when someone has arthritis." Someone else suggested under the video: "A spoon works too."

Another kitchen expert, Catherine Fulvio, said that she likes to get the most out of her lemons by rolling them or using the microwave hack. After her lemons come out of the microwave, she sticks a skewer into the top of a whole one and squeezes. She explained: "This is the best and quickest way to get your juice out of a lemon."