Orange Juice Recipe

Fresh orange juice

1. 1

   Prepare oranges

   Wash the oranges under cool running water to remove any dirt or residues. Pat them dry with a clean towel.

2. 2

   Room temperature tip

   If the oranges are cold, let them sit at room temperature for 10–15 minutes or microwave each orange for 8–10 seconds to make juicing easier and yield more juice.

3. 3

   Cut and section

   Cut each orange in half crosswise (through the equator). If using a blender method, peel the oranges and remove as much of the white pith as comfortable to reduce bitterness; if using a manual or electric citrus juicer, halving is sufficient.

4. 4

   Juice the oranges (manual or electric citrus juicer)

   Place each halved orange on the reamer and press and twist to extract the juice into a bowl or pitcher. Continue until all halves are juiced. Strain the juice through a fine-mesh sieve into a pitcher if you prefer pulp-free juice; press the solids gently with a spoon to extract remaining liquid.

5. 5

   Juice the oranges (blender method)

   If using a blender, add peeled orange segments (remove seeds) and 1/4 cup cold water to the blender. Pulse/blend on low for 20–30 seconds until combined but not overly foamy. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a pitcher, pressing the pulp with a spatula to extract as much juice as desired. Reserve pulp if you like extra fiber.

6. 6

   Sweeten and adjust

   Taste the juice. If you prefer it sweeter, stir in up to 1 teaspoon of granulated sugar or honey until dissolved. Adjust water by adding small amounts (1 tablespoon at a time) to reach desired intensity.

7. 7

   Chill and serve

   Add ice cubes to individual glasses or to the pitcher if serving immediately. Pour the fresh orange juice into glasses, garnish with mint leaves if using, and serve cold. Fresh juice is best consumed within 24–48 hours if refrigerated in a sealed container.