Lemons are one of the most versatile citrus fruits. They are used in everything from lemonade to salad dressings to marinades. With their bright yellow color and refreshing tartness, lemons add flavor to both sweet and savory foods. But how much juice can you actually get from one lemon? The amount of juice in a lemon depends on several factors, including the size of the lemon and how juicy it is. On average, you can expect between 2 to 3 tablespoons of juice from an average sized lemon.

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. This popular saying reminds us that when unfortunate circumstances arise, we should try to make the best of the situation. But to make lemonade, you first need to juice the lemons. Juicing a lemon may seem like a simple task, but there are a few tips and tricks to getting the most juice from your lemons.

First, select lemons that feel heavy for their size and have a slight softness to them, as these tend to be the juiciest. Lemons that are firm and lighter in weight typically yield less juice. Next, roll the lemon on the counter with your palm before juicing. This helps break up the pulp inside the lemon and releases the juices. Then, cut the lemon in half crosswise.

While some people prefer to juice lemons at room temperature, chilling the lemons in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before juicing can produce up to 50 percent more juice. The cold temperature causes the lemon cells to contract, which means the juice sacs shrink and release more juice. However, room temperature lemons tend to have a more aromatic and flavorful juice.

When you are ready to juice the lemons, use a citrus juicer or reamer. A juicer with a ridged cone that can penetrate deep into the lemon will extract the most juice. Gently roll and twist the juicer to maximize the amount of juice. You can also use a simple wooden reamer, though you may need to do more rolling and twisting to get all the juice. As a last resort, you can squeeze the lemon halves by hand over a strainer to catch the seeds, though this method typically yields slightly less juice.