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    The Heirloom Pantry » Recipe Index » Drinks

    How to Make Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice

    Published: Jan 16, 2022 · Modified: Jul 10, 2022 by Kathleen Higashiyama · The following content may contain affiliate links. When you click and shop the links, we receive a commission.

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    How to Make Orange Juice - The Heirloom Pantry Pinterest

    Learn How to Make Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice with 4 different methods! Freshly squeezed orange juice is a sweet, tangy citrus treat loaded with vitamin C, made with just one ingredient, and can be whipped up in minutes. Serve a pitcher at your next brunch!

    Flatlay orange juice in glasses and sliced oranges.

    Freshly squeezed orange juice is a treat that can make breakfast at home feel like a luxurious brunch! A glass of fresh OJ is refreshing, sweet, and a little tart, and it goes with any breakfast spread. Make it year round for breakfast, or serve it at your next brunch, like Easter, Mother's Day, or just a Sunday brunch at home.

    Make a breakfast juice bar with different juices, like Carrot Orange Ginger Juice, Glowing Skin Green Juice, and Immune Booster Juice. Serve it in a pitcher with a tray of Brioche French Toast with Berries and a fresh batch of Homemade Biscuits with Cheddar and Bacon.

    Jump to:
    • About this Juice
    • Health Benefits of Orange Juice
    • Best Type of Oranges for Orange Juice
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Substitutions
    • Variations
    • Equipment
    • Storage
    • Top tips for Fresh Juice
    • What to Serve with Orange Juice
    • Did You Like this Recipe?
    • How to Make Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice
    • Food safety

    About this Juice

    • Taste - Orange juice is sweet and tangy. It's refreshing and has a beautiful bright citrus flavor.
    • Texture - Freshly squeezed orange juice has some pulp, which is signature to fresh juice. Strain it for a smoother juice.
    • Effort - This juice takes minimal effort! All you need to do is slice the oranges in half and juice them.
    • Time - Make this juice in just a few minutes!

    Health Benefits of Orange Juice

    Oranges are packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Specifically, oranges are high in:

    • Vitamin C - Vitamin C improves immune function, collagen synthesis, and iron absorption. Higher dietary intake of vitamin C has been linked to a lower risk of heart disease, cancer, and death from all causes.
    • Folate - Folate helps with red blood cell formation and contributes to healthy cell growth and function. If taken early in pregnancy, it can also reduce the risk of birth defects of the brain and spine.
    • Flavonoids - Flavonoids are known for beneficial anti-inflammatory effects and can prevent the development of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and cognitive diseases like Alzheimer's and dementia.
    • Carotenoids - Carotenoid antioxidants are responsible for the rich orange color of oranges. They are also beneficial antioxidants that can protect you from disease and enhance your immune system.

    Best Type of Oranges for Orange Juice

    The two main factors for selecting the best oranges for orange juice are the amount of juice per orange and taste. Valencia oranges provide the perfect balance of both since they are both dense and sweet. We are fortunate to have a Valencia orange tree in our backyard, but they are also sold at most grocery stores. Navel oranges also work well for juicing, but typically have slightly less juice than Valencia oranges and a more tangy flavor.

    Ingredients

    Flaylay of oranges, Cara Cara oranges, valencia oranges, blood oranges, and lemons.
    • Fresh Oranges - This juice calls for fresh oranges. The most common for juice are Valencia and Navel, but you can juice a variety of oranges, including blood oranges, Cara Cara oranges, Seville, and more.

    See recipe card for quantities.

    Instructions

    Oranges being juiced with a red Dolce and Gabbana Smeg juicer.

    Learn how to make orange juice with four different methods. For all methods, start with the following steps:

    1. Wash - Wash the oranges with cool water to wash away any dirt.
    2. Press and roll - Press and roll the oranges on the counter back and forth with the palm of your hand. Doing this breaks up the citrus membranes and helps release more juice.

    The remaining steps depend on the method you choose:

    • If using an electric citrus juicer, cut the oranges in half with a sharp knife. Press each half onto the spinning reamer and turn the orange half until the juice is extracted.
    • To use an electric juicer, cut the orange peel off of the oranges with a sharp knife. Try to only remove some of the pith and all of the peel, avoiding the inner fruit. Cut the oranges in half and run them down the chute of the juicer.
    • If using a blender, cut the orange peel off of the oranges with a sharp knife. Try to only remove some of the pith and all of the peel, avoiding the inner fruit. Cut each orange in half and remove the seeds. Place the oranges in the blender pitcher and blend on high. Add a half cup of cold water if necessary then blend again.
    • To use a manual hand juicer, cut the oranges in half with a sharp knife. Press each half onto the spinning reamer and turn the orange half with your hand until the juice is extracted.

    Hint: Rinse the juicing equipment with warm water and soap immediately after you make a batch. Fruit juice can get very sticky and can leave behind bits of fruit, and a quick rinse makes for easy cleanup.

    Substitutions

    • Oranges - Use a medley of oranges for different levels of sweetness or tartness.
    • Tangerines - Add a couple of juiced tangerines for a sweeter juice.

    Variations

    • Grapefruit - Add a grapefruit for a tarter juice. Grapefruit is rich in antioxidants and can help reduce blood pressure and cholesterol levels. It is also high in vitamin C, Beta-carotene, Lycopene, and Flavanones.
    • Carrot and Ginger - Carrot and Ginger add nutrients and spice to standard orange juice. Our Orange Ginger Juice is a refreshing blend of these bright and zesty flavors.
    • Mimosa - Enjoy your fresh squeezed orange juice with equal parts champagne or Prosecco for a fun weekend treat.
    • Tangerine - Tangerine juice will be sweeter and less tart than orange juice.
    • Satsuma - Satsuma juice will be even sweeter than tangerine juice so it is best for those who prefer their orange juice extra sweet.

    Equipment

    There are a few different ways to make orange juice. You can either use an electric citrus juicer, centrifugal juicer, a blender, or a hand juicer. You will also need a knife and cutting board. Once you make your own batches of fresh juice, you can store them in glass bottles.

    To explore more kitchen items to make your kitchen complete, head to our Kitchen Essentials Shop.

    Storage

    Fresh Orange Juice can be kept in an air-tight glass pitcher or in glass bottles for up to 3 days in a refrigerator. This ensures you get the most out of the vitamins and nutrients before the juice goes stale. The glass bottles are great because you can take them to go and reuse them.

    Top tips for Fresh Juice

    • Give the juice a shake if the ingredients separate in the refrigerator.
    • Garnish the glasses with sliced oranges for added flair.
    • Add an ice cube to chill the juice.

    What to Serve with Orange Juice

    We enjoy orange juice both on its own and as part of a large breakfast. Here are some tasty breakfast dishes to accompany your OJ.

    • Scrambled Eggs with Cheese, Tomatoes, and Arugula
    • Brioche French Toast with Berries
    • Bacon and Egg Breakfast Rice Bowl
    • Homemade Biscuits with Cheddar and Bacon

    Did You Like this Recipe?

    If you liked our orange juice how to, rate and comment below! For more delicious and nutritious juices, check out these favorites:

    • Carrot Orange Ginger Juice
    • Immune Booster Juice
    • Glowing Skin Green Juice
    Oranges being juiced with a red Dolce and Gabbana Smeg juicer.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    5 from 3 votes

    How to Make Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice

    Learn How to Make Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice with 4 different methods! Freshly squeezed orange juice is a sweet, tangy citrus treat loaded with vitamin C, made with just one ingredient, and can be whipped up in minutes. Serve a pitcher at your next brunch!
    Prep Time10 mins
    Total Time10 mins
    Course: Drinks
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 2
    Calories: 123kcal
    Author: Kathleen Higashiyama

    Ingredients 

    • 4 oranges large

    Instructions

    Orange Prep

    • Wash - Wash the oranges with cool water to wash away any dirt.
    • Press and roll - Press and roll the oranges on the counter back and forth with the palm of your hand. Doing this breaks up the citrus membranes and helps release more juice. Select one of the juicing methods below.

    Electric Juicer

    • If using an electric citrus juicer, cut the oranges in half with a sharp knife. Press each half onto the spinning reamer and turn the orange half until the juice is extracted.

    Electric Centrifugal Juicer

    • To use an electric centrifugal juicer, cut the orange peel off of the oranges with a sharp knife. Try to only remove some of the pith and all of the peel, avoiding the inner fruit. Cut the oranges in half and run them down the chute of the juicer.

    Blender

    • If using a blender, cut the orange peel off of the oranges with a sharp knife. Try to only remove some of the pith and all of the peel, avoiding the inner fruit. Cut each orange in half and remove the seeds. Place the oranges in the blender pitcher and blend on high. Add a half cup of cold water if necessary then blend again.

    Manual Hand Juicer

    • To use a manual hand juicer, cut the oranges in half with a sharp knife. Press each half onto the spinning reamer and turn the orange half with your hand until the juice is extracted.

    Notes

    Fresh Orange Juice can be kept in an air-tight glass pitcher or in glass bottles for up to 3 days in a refrigerator. This ensures you get the most out of the vitamins and nutrients before the juice goes stale. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 123kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Potassium: 474mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 24g | Vitamin A: 590IU | Vitamin C: 139mg | Calcium: 105mg | Iron: 1mg
    Keyword: blood orange juice, fresh orange juice, fresh squeezed orange juice, freshly squeezed orange juice, homemade orange juice, how to make fresh orange juice, how to make orange juice, orange juice, orange juice recipe, recipe orange juice, valencia orange juice
    Tried this recipe?Mention @theheirloompantry or tag #theheirloompantry!

    Food safety

    See more guidelines at USDA.gov.

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    About the Author

    Kat Higashiyama and Alec Totto are recipe developers, food photographers, and the authors behind The Heirloom Pantry. Since 2017, they have shared recipes inspired by their Japanese and Italian heritage and California and Hawaii roots. They reside in San Jose with their two dogs, Peeps and Paisley. Read More…

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