Fresh Orange Juice Recipe

Fresh Orange Juice

1. 1

   Prepare oranges

   Wash the oranges thoroughly under cool running water to remove any residue. Pat them dry with a clean towel.

2. 2

   Bring oranges to room temperature (if cold)

   If the oranges are refrigerated, let them sit at room temperature for 10–15 minutes or roll each orange firmly on the countertop with the palm of your hand a few times to loosen the juice.

3. 3

   Cut and juice

   Cut each orange in half crosswise. Using a manual citrus juicer or an electric juicer, press and rotate each half to extract the juice into a bowl or pitcher. Continue until all 6 oranges are juiced. Strain the juice through a fine-mesh sieve into the pitcher if you prefer pulp-free juice; leave it unstrained if you like pulp.

4. 4

   Adjust consistency and sweetness

   Taste the juice. If it seems too concentrated, stir in up to 1 cup of cold filtered water a little at a time until you reach the desired strength. If you prefer sweeter juice, dissolve up to 1 teaspoon of granulated sugar in a tablespoon of warm water and stir into the juice until fully dissolved; add gradually and taste as you go.

5. 5

   Chill and serve

   Add ice cubes to glasses (if using) or chill the pitcher in the refrigerator for 10–15 minutes. Pour the fresh orange juice into glasses, garnish each with a mint leaf if desired, and serve immediately for best flavor.

6. 6

   Storage

   Store any leftover juice in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours. Stir or shake gently before serving, as natural separation may occur.