Orange Juice Recipe

Main

1. 1

   Wash and prepare oranges

   Rinse the oranges under cold running water to remove any residue. Pat them dry with a clean towel. Roll each orange on the countertop with the palm of your hand applying gentle pressure to soften the segments and make juicing easier.

2. 2

   Cut and juice

   Cut each orange in half crosswise. Using a manual citrus reamer or an electric citrus juicer, press and twist each half to extract the juice into a bowl or pitcher. If using a blender, peel the oranges (remove as much of the white pith as you prefer) and blend the segments briefly, then strain through a fine mesh sieve to remove pulp, if desired.

3. 3

   Strain and adjust

   If you prefer pulp-free juice, pour the freshly squeezed juice through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth into a clean pitcher, pressing with a spoon to extract as much liquid as possible. Taste the juice. If it tastes a bit tart, stir in up to 1 teaspoon granulated sugar (start with 1/2 tsp and adjust to taste).

4. 4

   Dilute and chill (optional)

   If the juice is very concentrated, stir in up to 1/4 cup cold water to reach your desired strength. Place the pitcher in the refrigerator for 10–15 minutes to chill, or pour over ice immediately.

5. 5

   Serve

   Fill glasses with 2–3 ice cubes each. Pour the orange juice into the glasses. Garnish each glass with a mint leaf, if using. Stir gently and serve immediately for best flavor.