Fresh Ruby-red Grapefruit Juice Recipe

Fresh Grapefruit Juice

1. 1

   Wash the grapefruits thoroughly under cool running water to remove any surface residues. Pat dry with a clean towel.

2. 2

   Roll each grapefruit on the countertop with the palm of your hand, pressing firmly. This softens the fruit and helps release more juice.

3. 3

   Cut each grapefruit in half crosswise (across the equator) on a cutting board using a sharp chef's knife.

4. 4

   Using a handheld citrus juicer or a countertop reamer, juice all grapefruit halves into a large bowl or measuring pitcher. If using an electric juicer, follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Strain the juice through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean pitcher to remove pulp and seeds if you prefer clearer juice; press solids gently with a spoon to extract more liquid. Yield should be about 2 to 2 1/2 cups of juice.

5. 5

   Taste the freshly squeezed grapefruit juice. If it tastes very tart or astringent, dissolve 2 tablespoons granulated sugar and 1 teaspoon fine sea salt in 1/4 cup warm water to make a simple sweet-salty syrup. Stir until fully dissolved.

6. 6

   Add the dissolved sugar-salt syrup (or, if juice is already balanced, skip the syrup and use plain cold water) to the grapefruit juice along with 3/4 to 1 cup of cold filtered water to taste. Stir well to combine. The additional water loosens the concentrate and balances intensity.

7. 7

   If using, add 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice to brighten the flavor and stir. Taste and adjust sweetness or dilution: add up to another tablespoon sugar dissolved in a little water for sweeter juice, or more cold water if too intense.

8. 8

   Add ice cubes to the pitcher or directly into serving glasses to chill the juice. Stir once more.

9. 9

   Pour the juice into glasses over ice. Garnish each glass with a sprig of fresh mint, if desired. Serve immediately.

10. 10

    Storage: Refrigerate any leftover juice in an airtight container for up to 48 hours. Stir or shake before serving, as natural separation may occur.