Abqnb® Sunfold Handheld Citrus Press

Design theme: Fresh Citrus Prep

The Sunfold press uses two hinged handles to squeeze a cut citrus half between a domed upper cup and a perforated lower cup. The juice drains through the holes into a glass or bowl below, while the cup catches many of the seeds.

In the kitchen

Slice a lemon or lime crosswise and set one half in the cup with the cut face toward the drainage holes. Hold the press above the receiving bowl and bring the handles together steadily. A smaller fruit or a smaller piece will fit more easily when a half sits above the rim.

The hinged design gives your hands leverage as the cups close around the fruit. Squeeze slowly over the bowl so you can see where the juice is going. When the flow slows to a few drops, release the handles and take out the rind. Ripe fruit often presses more easily than firm fruit. For a larger lemon, cut it into a size the cup can hold without wedging. If a recipe calls for a measured amount, press into a small bowl first and then spoon or pour the juice into the measure.

Use it for a quick squeeze over roasted vegetables, a spoonful of juice for salad dressing, or the citrus base for a cocktail. If a recipe calls for zest, remove the outer zest from the whole fruit before slicing and pressing.

Fresh citrus often goes in at the end of cooking. A squeeze can brighten a finished bean salad or balance a rich pan sauce just before serving. For a simple dressing, mix the juice with a pinch of salt, then whisk in oil and taste before adding more acid. If small seeds slip through the drainage holes, use a fine strainer over the bowl. Pressing one half at a time gives you an easy way to stop once you have the quantity you need.

When making a pitcher of lemonade, juice the fruit into a separate bowl and check for stray seeds before pouring. Stir in the juice gradually and taste as you go. Lemons vary in both size and acidity, so a count of whole fruits is less useful than a measured amount of juice.

Care and handling

Choose a cup wide enough to catch any sideways drips. Keep fingers away from the hinge and the gap between cups as the handles close. Empty the rind before pressing the next piece so the dome can move freely.

Open both handles for washing and rinse pulp out of each drainage hole. Use a soft brush around the hinge and dry with the press open before returning it to the drawer.

Choose your option

Sunfold is available in Lemon Yellow or Forest Green. Both options use the same hinged shape and perforated cup. Each purchase includes one press. The handle gives you a way to apply steady pressure without holding the slippery cut fruit in your palm. Store the clean, dry tool in a drawer where the handles can lie flat. Keep it near a cutting board if lemons and limes are a regular part of your cooking.

Gallery shows the Lemon Yellow design concept.