Procedure To Use Analog and Digital Refractometers with Video Demonstration

Calibrating Your Refractometer

To ensure the refractometer is working properly and to obtain the most accurate reading, calibrate the refractometer by following the procedures using distilled water first before proceeding with a juice sample.

The Brix measurement of water is 0 and should read as 0 on your refractometer. If this is not the case, calibrate your refractometer by:

  • turning the screw at the top of the analog refractometer until it reads 0 (after Step 4)
  • pressing the ZERO button on the digital refractometer (after Step 5)

Once you have completed these steps, you may continue with a juice sample. Please remember to clean the refractometer with distilled water and wipe dry between samples. 

Watch the video below for a demonstration on how to calibrate an analog refractometer.

Procedure to use Analog Refractometer

  1. Collect and handle refractometer carefully. Inspect the refractometer prism for any scratches, chips, or anything else that can interfere with the reading.

  2. Ensure the refractometer prism surface is cleaned with distilled water and dry.

  3. Lift the refractometer's daylight plate. Place a small amount of juice (2-3 drops are sufficient) onto the prism of the refractometer. Close the daylight plate.  The juice on the prism plate should be free from the bubbles or floating particles of pulp or other matter.

  4. Look through the eyepiece while pointing the prism in the direction of good light (not directly at the sun).

  5. Focus and take the reading of where the base of the blue color sits on the scale and record the % percentage sugar (°Bx).

  6. Clean the refractometer immediately with a damp tissue and dry thoroughly.

Watch the video at the end for a demonstration on how to take Brix measurements using an analog refractometer.

Procedure to use LCD Digital Refractometer

  1. Collect and handle refractometer carefully. Inspect the refractometer for scratches, chips, or anything else that can interfere with the reading.

  2. Ensure the refractometer prism surface is clean and dry.

  3. Turn on the refractometer.

  4. Using a pipette, place a small amount of solution (2-3 drops are sufficient) into the well of the digital refractometer.  The sample in the well should be free from the bubbles, floating particles of pulp, or other matter. 

  5. Press the START button to obtain your reading.

  6. Clean the refractometer immediately with a damp tissue and dry thoroughly.

Watch the video below for a demonstration on how to take Brix measurements using a digital refractometer.


Video Demonstration: Using Digital and Analog Refractometers to Measure Brix of Juice