How do you use an Azumaya juicer? An all-purpose tool for juice, dressings, and everyday tasks

Do you use a juicer?

When you hear the word "juicer," what comes to mind? Many people probably picture an electric machine that produces 100% fruit juice or smoothies at the flip of a switch. While it's true that these are convenient—operating with just one switch—it's also true that they come with their share of concerns: difficult cleaning, heavy weight, taking up too much space in the kitchen. And if you have small children, you may worry about them touching it.

For anyone who feels this way, we recommend a juicer small enough to fit in both hands. It has no switch, but in exchange, it's incredibly easy to clean—the Azumaya juicer. It works just as well for making juice as it does for whipping up a dressing for your cooking, making it truly an all-purpose player.

The Azumaya juicer stands apart from the rest

Azumaya focuses on the tools that Japanese people have created throughout their daily lives, continuing to share a variety of everyday items so that the skills of master artisans can be passed down. The "juicer" we're introducing here is one such item.

1. You can squeeze without any stress

The mound-shaped dome that the halved fruit is pressed against is tall and rounded, and its grooves have a sharpness that's surprising for a porcelain piece. Palm-sized oranges and lemons fit just right, letting you squeeze out every last drop of juice with no hassle, and the design allows for smooth pouring, too—the result of dozens of prototypes.

After the mound shape is cast, jagged edges called "bari" (mold flash) appear on it. Craftsmen check each piece individually and refine it by hand, finishing it into a beautifully sharp shape.

Even someone using a juicer for the first time can easily squeeze a lemon cleanly.

2. Excellent drainage

The secret behind this excellent drainage is that the spout area is finished with a thinner glaze and thinner clay body than the rest of the piece, giving the spout a sharp, well-defined edge. With rounded, thick spouts, liquid tends to trail down the body, but the Azumaya juicer resists dripping, letting the freshly squeezed juice fall away smoothly and cleanly—a satisfying sight.

The seeds stay in the tray, so you can strain out only the juice. Small seeds may occasionally slip through, but that's part of the charm—proof that it's freshly squeezed. If any bother you, just scoop them out with a spoon.

3. Just the right size

The size is neither too small nor too large—it's just right. The capacity is about 240ml, and even squeezing the juice of a whole lemon fills less than half of the pot. You can also add seasonings and mix them in without any trouble. This just-right size makes it easy to tuck away in any corner of the kitchen, and it looks charming simply sitting out on display, so it's unlikely to end up forgotten at the back of a shelf.

Made entirely in Japan, using Amakusa toseki (Amakusa porcelain stone) from Kumamoto Prefecture and fired in a kiln in Hasami, Nagasaki Prefecture. Craftsmen of Hasami-yaki in Nagasaki finish each piece by hand, resulting in an ease of use with attention to detail that mass-produced items simply can't match. Amakusa toseki is a high-quality porcelain stone that can be used to make porcelain without blending in other materials. Its clear, unclouded white color makes freshly squeezed juice look even more delicious.

Want to know the details? Here's how to use it

Basics: Freshly squeezed orange juice

For those who have longed for freshly squeezed orange juice but never tried it because cleanup with an electric juicer seemed like too much hassle, this is what we'd recommend trying first.

Simply cut an orange in half crosswise, press it against the mound of the juicer, and squeeze firmly. Depending on the size of the orange, you can get about 140 to 160ml of juice from a single one—just the right amount for a morning wake-up drink.

Intermediate: Refreshing lemon dressing

Since the juicer itself has a capacity of 240ml, you can squeeze a lemon and then add seasonings right in the pot to make dressings or sauces. Once you master this technique of going beyond simple juicing, you can put it to use in all kinds of dishes. Since it's charming to look at and compact in size, feel free to bring it straight to the table once your dressing is ready.

Advanced: Sauce for hiyashi chuka (cold ramen)

After squeezing half a lemon, you can add soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil, and more to make a sauce for hiyashi chuka (cold ramen). Unlike store-bought versions, this tangy, lemon-forward sauce is the kind of thing you'll get hooked on after making it just once. It's also fun to experiment with other sauces this way, like ponzu to accompany winter hot pot dishes, or negi shio lemon (scallion-salt-lemon sauce) to drizzle over fried chicken.

Extra: As a yuzamashi (water-cooling vessel)

A yuzamashi is a vessel used to briefly hold hot water to cool it down, used when preparing sencha or gyokuro tea. There are many kinds of tea, and each type of tea leaf calls for a different optimal water temperature. For example, black tea and hojicha bring out their aroma when brewed with boiling water, while gyokuro is brewed slowly with water at 50 to 60°C to draw out its umami and sweetness.

The pot portion of this juicer also works well as a yuzamashi for brewing tea like this. In fact, Azumaya sells a "yuzamashi" separately, but if you've already got a juicer, this is another way to use it—two birds with one stone.

Caring for your juicer

As for care after use, it's incredibly simple. Just wash it with dish soap and a sponge. Pulp tends to collect in the ridges of the mountain-shaped juicer, so be sure to check that area carefully. Since the base of the juicer has a wide opening, a sponge fits in easily, making it a pleasure to clean.

Also, to prevent staining of the vessel, please avoid storing it with juice left inside.

Since it's microwave-safe, you can even warm up freshly squeezed lemon juice in the microwave to make hot lemonade. It can also be used in a dishwasher, but as mentioned earlier, the pouring spout is thin and the ridges of the juicer are delicate, so it's a good idea to leave enough space when placing it in the dishwasher so that other dishes don't knock against it during washing.