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Ingredients
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Fresh Orange Juice
Method
Fresh Orange Juice
Prepare oranges
Rinse the oranges under cool running water. Pat dry. Roll each orange firmly on the countertop with the palm of your hand to help release the juice.
Cut and juice
Cut each orange in half crosswise. Using a manual citrus juicer, reamer, or electric juicer, juice all orange halves into a measuring cup or bowl until you have approximately 12 fl oz (about 1 1/2 cups) of juice. If using a blender, cut segments, remove large seeds, blend briefly, then strain through a fine-mesh sieve for a smoother juice.
Adjust consistency and sweetness
Taste the juice. If it’s very pulpy or intense, stir in up to 1/4 cup (0.25 cups) cold water to reach a balanced flavor and approximate 12 oz serving strength. If you prefer a slightly sweeter drink, dissolve up to 1 teaspoon granulated sugar into a tablespoon of warm water and stir in (ingredient listed as 0 tsp by default; add if needed). For brightness, stir in 1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice if desired.
Serve chilled
Fill a 12 oz glass with ice cubes (about 4, or to taste). Pour the orange juice over the ice. For a carafe (serves 4), multiply ingredient quantities by 4: juice roughly 24 medium oranges to yield about 48 fl oz, add 1 cup cold water if desired, and chill before serving. Garnish with an orange wheel if desired.
Storage
Store any leftover fresh orange juice in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours. Stir before serving; separation is natural.