Last Updated on June 9, 2018

Betty e-mailed the Kitchen Shrink that she had some limes that were especially firm and wondered if there was a “secret” to getting the most juice from them.

Now there is a question that I get so frequently that I put a sidebar in Sara Moulton Cooks at Home with some tips that will help. Both lemons and limes vary in juiciness and in firmness and you want to get all the juice you can when you squeeze them. I have found that any of the following three methods help a lot. Before you cut the lime in half to squeeze it:

• Roll it on the counter, pressing down firmly on it 5 or 6 times. Or,

• Pierce it once with the point of a knife and nuke it in the microwave for 20 seconds. Or,

• Bake it in a preheated 300 degree F oven for 10 minutes.