Handy Dandy Lime Juicer

A lime juicer is a necessary kitchen utensil in any Mexican kitchen. Lime juice is called for in so many Mexican dishes, salsas, and drinks. A few examples are guacamole, avocado salsa, pico de gallo, Mexican salsa, and Limonada.

Obviously, it’s not a very complicated device. Cut a lime in half pop a half into the juicer and squeeze away. If you need to juice a lot of limes it sure saves lots of time and energy.

Lime Juicer

You can tell from the picture that our juicer is a very well used tool in our kitchen. Be sure to buy the metal lime squeezer not the colorful plastic ones. They don’t last more than a few uses.

How to Juice Limes Without a Lime Juicer

A good trick for juicing limes if you don’t have a lime juicer is to cut the limes in half, stick a fork in one of the halves pinch the lime and twist. Squeeze as much juice as you need then pick out the seeds. This method works almost as well as using a lime juicer although it’s a bit messier.

Juicing a Lime

Other Kitchen Utensils for a Mexican Kitchen
Cast Iron Tortilla Press
Blue Enamalware

Blue Enamelware

I love the blue enamelware that you find in every kitchen in Mexico. We have tons of the stuff. My favorite pieces are my big enamel stockpot, and my 3 quart saucepan.  Enamelware works well in the kitchen and looks good on the table as serving pieces. Take a look at the enamelware pot used as a serving piece on MattBites. You will like the photography.

Traditional Mexican Blue Enamalware Pots and Pans

It’s dirt cheap, takes a beating and looks great. You’ll find it for sale at any grocery store, market, or corner store. To give you some idea how cheap it is a 4.5 quart enamel dutch oven costs 12.99 on Amazon. You can buy a kitchen’s worth for the price of one high end pan. Enamalware comes in every size and utensil imaginable – from tiny 1 cup pans to large dutch ovens, coffee pots, coffee cups, spoons, and ladles.

One of the drawbacks to using enamel cookware is that it’s very thin. Things tend to burn. If you are making delicate sauces or melting butter you are going to have some problems but for most uses it works as well as much more expensive cookware. It also tends to chip which I happen to like. It gives the piece some character. It makes it look well used and well loved.

If you have the chance, buy some blue enamelware to give your kitchen that authentic Mexican look.

Other Kitchen Utensils for a Mexican Kitchen

Lime Juicer

Cast Iron Tortilla Press

A Cast Iron Tortilla Press for Your Kitchen

A tortilla press is a workhorse in any busy Mexican kitchen. Tortilla presses are used to make corn tortillas quickly and uniformly. The dough or masa is pressed between two plates to form the tortilla.

The tortilla press in the photo is made of metal but you will also find presses made of wood. Tortilla presses are available in many stores that sell specialty cookware.

Nothing beats fresh tortillas, hot off the comal. If you prepare Mexican food regularly, you will want to have a cast iron tortilla press in your kitchen.