How to Make Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice | The Heirloom Pantry (2024)

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

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.

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 and cancer.
• Folate - Folate helps with red blood cell formation and contributes to healthy cell growth and function.
• Flavonoids - Flavonoids have beneficial anti-inflammatory effectsand 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

• 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

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.

Pro tip - 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 Juiceis 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 ourKitchen 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 shakeif the ingredients separate in the refrigerator.
• Garnishthe glasses with sliced oranges for added flair.
• Add an ice cubeto 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?

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