Fresh Orange Juice Recipe

Fresh Orange Juice

1. 1

   Prep oranges

   Wash the oranges under cool running water and dry them. Roll each orange firmly on the countertop with the palm of your hand to loosen the juices. Cut each orange in half crosswise.

2. 2

   Juice oranges

   Using a citrus juicer (manual or electric), press and twist each orange half to extract the juice into a pitcher or bowl. If you prefer pulp-free juice, strain the collected juice through a fine mesh sieve into a clean pitcher, pressing gently on the solids to extract as much liquid as possible. If you like pulp, skip straining.

3. 3

   Adjust consistency and sweetness

   Taste the juice. If it seems too strong or very concentrated, stir in up to 1/2 cup (125 ml) cold water to dilute to your preference (this recipe includes 1/2 cup as a starting point). If you prefer sweeter juice, dissolve the optional 1 teaspoon granulated sugar in a tablespoon of the orange juice or in 1 tablespoon warm water, then stir the syrup into the juice until fully incorporated. Refrigerate briefly if you prefer chilled juice without ice dilution.

4. 4

   Serve

   Fill serving glasses with 2 ice cubes each (about 8 cubes total for 4 servings). Pour the orange juice over the ice. Garnish each glass with a mint leaf if using. Serve immediately for best flavor.

5. 5

   Storage

   Store any leftover orange juice in an airtight container in the refrigerator and consume within 48 hours. Stir gently before serving, as natural separation can occur.