Freshly squeezed homemade orange juice is both delicious and simple to prepare using ripe, sweet oranges!
INGREDIENTS
- 3 medium or large oranges
- 1 cup chilled water (adjust the amount to your preference)
- 2 tablespoons sugar (optional, adjust to taste)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
INSTRUCTIONS
- Peel the oranges and remove any seeds (if using non-seedless oranges). Also, discard any white strings from the fruit.
- Slice the fruit into medium pieces and add them to a blender (you should have about 2.5 cups of sliced fruit).
- If any seeds remain while slicing, remove them.
- Add water, sugar, and lemon juice to the blender. Adjust the water, sugar, and lemon juice to suit your taste.
- Blend for a few seconds. Be careful not to overblend, as this can cause the juice to become slightly bitter.
- Strain the juice through a fine mesh strainer (you can discard the pulp or save it for another use).
- Pour the fresh, filtered orange juice into glasses. Add ice cubes if desired, and serve immediately for the best flavor.
- If serving later, store the juice in the refrigerator. For longer storage, freeze the juice in ice cube trays.
ALTERNATE METHODS FOR FRESH SQUEEZED ORANGE JUICE
- Hand-Squeezed Orange Juice: Peel and slice the oranges, discarding the seeds, then squeeze them by hand. If any seeds, pulp, or white strings fall through, strain the juice for a smoother texture. Add sugar and lemon juice for the best flavor. This method doesn’t typically require added water, but feel free to add some if you prefer.
- Other Easy Methods: Use an electric juicer, handheld juicer, or citrus reamer to easily prepare fresh orange juice without any added water.
Notes:
- If you’re using smaller oranges, such as mandarins, you may need about four to get the same amount of juice.
Nutrition:
- Calories: 49 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 13g
- Protein: 1g
- Fat: 1g (Saturated Fat: 1g)
- Sodium: 6mg
- Potassium: 11mg
- Fiber: 1g
- Sugar: 12g
- Vitamin A: 4 IU
- Vitamin C: 4mg
- Calcium: 5mg
- Iron: 1mg
