Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice Recipe

Prepare oranges

Rinse the oranges under cool running water and pat dry. Roll each orange firmly on the countertop with the palm of your hand to soften and release more juice. Cut each orange in half crosswise.

Juice the oranges

Using a citrus juicer (manual or electric), juice all orange halves into the pitcher. If you prefer pulp-free juice, press the juice through a fine mesh strainer into a clean container, using a spoon to gently press remaining juice from the pulp.

Adjust sweetness and consistency

Taste the fresh juice. If it's too strong or pulpy, stir in up to 1/2 cup cold water to reach your desired consistency (this recipe suggests 1/2 cup). If you prefer sweeter juice, dissolve up to 1 tbs granulated sugar in a tablespoon of warm water and stir it into the juice; start with 1 tbs and add more to taste.

Chill and serve

Add ice cubes to the pitcher or place ice directly in serving cups. Pour the orange juice into 4–5 cups (about 8–10 oz / 240–300 ml each). Garnish each cup with a mint leaf if desired. Serve immediately for best flavor.

Clean juicer, strainer and pitcher with warm soapy water after use. Leftover fresh orange juice can be refrigerated in a sealed container for up to 48 hours, but flavor is best within the first 24 hours.