Orange Juice Recipe

Prepare oranges

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

Room temperature tip

If oranges are refrigerated, let them sit at room temperature for 10–15 minutes or warm them for 10–15 seconds in the microwave to yield more juice.

Roll and halve

Roll each orange firmly on the countertop with the palm of your hand to loosen the juices. Cut each orange in half crosswise.

Juicing

Using a manual citrus juicer or an electric citrus press, juice all orange halves into a bowl or pitcher. If using a blender, peel the oranges (remove as much white pith as possible), place segments in the blender, pulse briefly until broken down, then strain through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth into a pitcher to remove pulp if desired.

Adjust consistency and sweetness

Taste the juice. If too strong, stir in up to 1 cup cold water, a little at a time, until you reach your preferred strength. If you prefer sweeter juice, dissolve 1 tsp sugar into a tablespoon of warm water or add 1 tsp simple syrup, then stir into the juice. Add 1 tsp lemon or lime juice if you want a brighter flavor.

Chill and serve

Refrigerate the juice for 15–30 minutes to chill, or serve immediately over ice cubes. Stir before pouring if the juice has separated. Serve in glasses and enjoy within 24–48 hours for best freshness.

Storage

Store leftover juice in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours. Shake or stir before serving as natural separation may occur.