Amco Houseworks Bright Citrus Squeezer from Utensils of Mexico

Pick up a new vice and get addicted to fresh citrus juice.

Now that summer has hit, margaritas are singing their siren song and I have a new love. The Amco Houseworks bright citrus squeezer from Utensils of Mexico. It comes in yellow (for lemons, duh) and green (that’s right, you guessed it -lime green) with a ceramic coating cleans like a breeze and manages to work only my thumb more than expected. And I’m hoping that the initial cramping is due only to my zealous demand that all margaritas in the state now be made only from fresh squoze limes. I confess, I’ve been showing off.

Last weekend, I managed to make a full pitcher of the most organically sound, simple recipe fresh margaritas ever to bless the parched lips of my hot sweaty neighbors with this thing. It took a dozen limes. Perhaps, with the large industrial juicer of my fantasies that might not have been a big deal – but small kitchens demand I have to draw the line somewhere. And these babies are perfect.

I spotted the heavy-duty squeezer in the store and grabbed it with gusto. One thing I noticed after the first few limes is that limes are dirty. Very dirty. My cursory rinsing was not up to par and a residue on the Amco showed it. This isn’t a detriment, I’m glad to know. So lesson one – wash those little green demons before you mash their heads in. After this it was smooth sailing. Slice in half, squeeze and toss the rind. I got more juice than the flat fifties retro juicer ever gave, plus no seeds or even hints of seeds – wait do limes even have seeds? I don’t think so. Forgive me; I confess now, I only got the lemon squeezer. It was yellow and happy and I had to have it – plus the lime squeezers were sold out.

But whereas lemonade is nice, and I made some token lemonade. I was on a mission of mercy with salt rimmed glasses to fill and a chicken to marinade. So I stuck to limes. The Amco can be held above a dish to do its stuff with no mess. Put in half a lime, squeeze between the bowl and bottom and from below fresh lime blesses the dish, pitcher, even gin of your choice (if you’re one of those folks). Tilt it before you’re done for the last little eek of love. Then open and toss. And repeat for long as your wee thumbs can go. I found a dozen to be limit, but honestly, we’re usually only crafting for three around here. Usually two limes is a good half of a cup of juice and enough for just about any recipe.

I’m telling you, it’s true that once you go fresh you never go back. Get one, two or three of these and Invite the neighbors over. Marinate some shrimp with lime. Use lemon juice to bleach your hair on a sunny day. Use the yellow one if you want – limes don’t care! You can also get yourself the larger orange model – for fresh juice in single servings. If you must get only one, go orange and apologize to the lemons and limes in turn. It’ll still work and you’ll save the space.

You can find the Amco Citrus Squeezer at just about any retailer who has the sense to carry them, for less than $15 each. If you’re concerned you won’t use it enough, the heft makes it a lasting self-defense option as well. Nothing beats fresh squeezing your citrus, and this is one vice is well worth picking up. [Amco citris squeezer]