If you get a recipe that calls for a specific amount of lemon juice squeezed from fresh lemons, it can be hard to know just how many lemons to buy. It would be so much easier if more recipes just called for "juice from three lemons".

One lemon yields approx 2-3 tablespoons of lemon juice. But there are some factors to consider when going by this method. First, you will get more juice when you squeeze with a lemon or lime juicer than you do when you squeeze by hand. Second, the type of lemons can make a difference. Those with thinner skins also yield more juice than ones with thicker skins.

So when you are buying lemons for lemon juice, to get the most juice for the least amount of money, select thin-peel lemons and use a lemon juicer.