I’m sure I’m not the only one who has come across a recipe that called for “the juice of one lemon” and thought to themselves, “But how much juice is in one lemon?” And since I use a lot of lemons in the kitchen and in homemade cleaning solutions, it seemed like a question worth answering!
As it happens, one average-sized lemon will give you approximately 3 tablespoons of juice. If you’re looking to get the maximum amount of juice out of a lemon or other citrus fruit, there are a few tricks that can help!
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Jillee’s Take:
How Many Tablespoons Of Juice Are In A Lemon?
As you might expect, the amount of juice in a lemon largely depends on its size, but you can expect a medium-sized lemon to yield about 3 tablespoons of lemon juice. You could easily use 3 tablespoons of bottled or frozen-then-thawed lemon juice in recipes that call for the “juice of 1 lemon.”
Some recipes call for a more specific amount of lemon juice, so it also helps to know how many lemons you’d need to juice to get a certain amount. You can reasonably expect 3 medium lemons to yield about 1/2 cup of lemon juice, while 5 medium lemons should give you about 1 cup of juice. (See the table below for more.)
Regardless of the size of the lemon in question, you can safely expect to get at least 2 tablespoons of juice out of it.
How Big Is A Medium Lemon?
All this talk about medium lemons may have you scratching your head and asking, “But how big is a medium lemon?” Here are some guidelines to help clarify:
- A medium-sized lemon is around 2-3 inches in diameter and length.
- A medium lemon weighs 4-5 ounces. (Four medium lemons will weigh around 1 pound.)
- You should almost be able to close your hand around a medium lemon.
How Many Lemons? Juice By The Numbers
| Quantity | Juice Yield (Tbsp) | Juice Yield (oz) | Juice Yield (mL) | Juice Yield (g) | Juice Yield (cups) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 medium lemon | 3 Tbsp | 1.5 oz | 44 mL | 45 grams | 1/5 cup |
| 2 medium lemons | 6 Tbsp | 3 oz | 88 mL | 90 grams | .375 cup (about 2/5) |
| 3 medium lemons | 9 Tbsp | 4.5 oz | 132 mL | 135 grams | .563 cup (about 1/2) |
| 4 medium lemons | 12 Tbsp | 6 oz | 176 mL | 180 grams | 3/4 cup |
| 5 medium lemons | 15 Tbsp | 7.5 oz | 220 mL | 225 grams | about 1 cup |
Juicing Lemons: How To Get The Most Juice From A Lemon
When shopping for lemons, look for fruits that yield when you squeeze them — a sign of a juicy lemon! When you’re ready to juice it, use my tried-and-true technique for getting the most juice out of citrus, which involves zapping it in your microwave and rolling it around on the countertop.
There are plenty of useful juicing tools out there too, like my favorite 2-in-1 hand juicer — it’s compact, easy to use, and keeps the seeds contained! (If you’re using your hands, you can always squeeze lemons over a fine mesh sieve to catch any seeds.)
“Cut off the top and bottom of the lemon if it’s big [to make it] easier to squeeze. I have a Meyer lemon tree and sometimes the lemons get huge, so we bought an orange juice squeezer instead. You can also quarter [lemons] if they’re too big.”
– OGT Reader Kate C.
How Much Zest Is In A Lemon?
Another handy thing to know about lemons is that a medium lemon will yield about 1 tablespoon of lemon zest. (It’s worth noting that you’ll have a much easier time zesting a lemon before cutting or juicing it!)
Only need lemon juice? Why not zest your lemon anyway and freeze it for later? Use a microplane or the smallest holes on your grater to remove the zest while avoiding the (bitter) white pith.
You can also peel your lemons and save the peels for later. (You might be surprised by how many uses for lemon peels there are!)
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Juice Is In Half A Lemon?
If a medium-sized lemon yields 3 tablespoons of juice, half a lemon would yield about 1 1/2 tablespoons of juice.
How Much Juice Is In One Large Lemon?
A large lemon weighing 5-6 ounces would yield about 4 tablespoons of juice.
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How Much Juice Is In One Small Lemon?
A small lemon weighing 3-4 ounces would yield about 2 tablespoons of juice.
How Many Teaspoons Of Zest Are In One Lemon?
One medium lemon will yield about 1 tablespoon (or 3 teaspoons) of lemon zest.
How Big Can Lemons Get?
A lemon grown in Israel holds the current record for the world’s heaviest lemon — it weighed 11 pounds and 9.7 ounces and had a circumference of 29 inches!
Are Lemons A Healthy Food?
You can find nutrition facts for lemons on the USDA website.
When Life Gives You Lemons, Make These Recipes
If you love the flavor of lemon like I do, you’re going to love these recipes!
Conclusion
Lemon lovers will surely save themselves time and effort after learning how much juice is in a lemon! Just remember that medium lemons yield about 3 tablespoons of juice, and any lemon will give you at least 2 tablespoons of juice. (But I’ll keep buying an extra lemon for good measure — there are so many ways to use the juice and peels, I know it won’t go to waste!)
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How do you use lemons at home?
Good information.,We have a few recipes that call for lemon juice. I just wish the acid wasn’t so hard on my poor hands.. We just use an old fashioned juicer.m l definitely want to look for a juicer like the one pictured .l’ve made lemon cookie, a version of Starbucks Lemon bread. My mother makes a dessert – an old family recipe that uses the lemon juice and egg whites and yolks frozen. It’s kind of like a Custard.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.A trick I have learned for using that juicing tool is to cut off the top and bottom of the lemon if it’s big and it will be easier to squeeze. I have an improved Meyer lemon tree and sometimes the lemons get huge. We bought an orange juice squeezer instead. You can also quarter them if they’re too big.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.For Eureka and other lemons that are generally harder skinned, leaving them out a few days often makes them softer and juicier.