We all love recipes that provide exact measurements of ingredients. But... What if you're trying to create a fruit juice blend and the recipe states to use the "juice of one orange," and yet you only have bottled orange juice? What do you do? How much juice should you add exactly?
Or, let's say the recipe states "two cups of orange juice," and you don't know how many oranges you need to buy to fill two cups with orange juice. Well, keep reading because we've got you covered.
Normally, a single orange yields ⅓ cup (75 mL) of orange juice. If you use a particularly large orange, you might get more. If you juice your orange fruit by hand rather than with an electric juicer, you might produce less — about 4 tablespoons of fresh juice. And, if you have 3 oranges, they're enough to fill 1 cup of fresh orange juice. It is important to note, however, that this is just a quick estimate.
Several factors must be considered when measuring the juice of an orange. Those include freshness, size, ripeness, and variety of the orange. In this article, we will cover everything that you need to know to make your juicing experience more efficient.
Table of Contents
- Which Variety Has the Most Juice?
- How to Get the Most Juice Out of an Orange
- How to Choose an Orange for Maximum Juice
- The Best Way to Store an Orange
- What Happens If You Drink an Excessive Amount of Orange Juice?
- How Many Oranges Can You Eat or Drink Before It Kills You?
- Bonus: Other Citrus Fruit Juices
- Takeaway
Which Variety Has the Most Juice?
As you might have guessed, the amount of juice varies and will depend on the variety of oranges used. The most popular varieties include Navel, Blood Orange, Cara Cara, Mandarin, and Valencia. In this section, we will be discussing the most famous orange varieties and how much juice they can produce.
Navel Oranges
If you buy your fruits from a supermarket or grocery store, you're probably used to navel oranges. Their name is pretty appropriate, as the orange has a hump on the non-stem end that resembles an outie belly button. Because they mature over the winter, they are also known as Christmas oranges.
Navel oranges are delicious when eaten (and they're seedless), but they're not the ideal choice for juice. Because limonin-rich navel orange juice turns bitter rapidly, it's vital to consume it as soon as possible after juicing it. In other words, even in the fridge, the fluid cannot be kept.
You may acquire a considerable quantity of nectar from navel orange juice if you consume it or use it in a dish. Additionally, because navels are so prevalent, they are among the cheapest oranges on the market.
The amount of liquid in a navel orange: Despite their big size, navel oranges contain less juice. Its thick skin might be the cause of this. A medium-sized navel orange, on the other hand, can provide about ¼ cup of juice, or 3-4 Tbsp.
Valencia Oranges
Valencia oranges produce the most delicious fresh orange juice. Even after a few days of keeping your juice in the fridge, this sweet, refreshing juice does not become bitter. And, it is an excellent complement to any dish. The flavor is rich, sweet, and low in acidity, making this orange ideal for both juicing and eating.
While it may include a few seeds, the rich juice content compensates for the difficulty of removing the stray seeds. This orange, often known as the Hamlin orange, has nothing to do with that famed city in Spain. It hails from southern California and is widely accessible in the United States. The Valencia orange season lasts from March through July.
Amount of juice in a single Valencia orange: A single Valencia orange yields about 4 to 5 tbsp of juice. To prepare one cup of fresh juice, you'd need about three medium to big oranges.
Clementine Orange
These Mandarin orange types are tiny and perfect for snacking. Clementines have thin skins and are seedless. As a result, the fruit is easy to peel and can be consumed quickly. They have a distinct taste signature and are high in vitamin C.
The best time to buy Clementine oranges is between December and January. However, it is preferable to juice them from January to March. They are medium-sized oranges and often smaller than regular oranges. But their small size (around 2-3 inches in length) shouldn't stop you from making a juice out of them.
The quantity of juice in one Clementine orange: When compared to other types of oranges, the amount of juice in one Clementine orange is comparatively tiny. A single Clementine orange yields 2 tablespoons of juice. So, for a glass of orange juice, 7-8 Clementines would suffice.
Orange Cara Cara
Cara Cara oranges are beautiful pink-fleshed citruses that are not only aesthetically attractive but also delectably delicious. Cara Cara oranges, sometimes known as "pink navel," are another fantastic choice for eating or juicing.
The Cara Cara provides a considerable amount of juice (like navel oranges). That makes them a terrific choice for juicing if you're seeking something out of the norm. The pink flesh of Cara Caras has a particular flavor that mimics berries, in addition to the sweetness and mild acidity.
Aside from its distinct flavor, Cara Cara fresh orange juice has more vitamin C and vitamin A than conventional navel oranges. They're also seedless, making them easy to juice or use as ingredients for a recipe.
The amount of juice in one Cara Cara orange: Like the Navel orange, this variety is easy to squeeze and produces about 3 to 4 tablespoons of juice.
Blood Orange
This orange is a little smaller than other varieties. They have fewer seeds and are also simpler to peel. They are available from December to April, although they are more expensive than other varieties of oranges even when they are in season.
Blood orange juice is incredibly sweet and tasty, with a strong berry flavor. They produce a moderate volume of fluid that should be consumed the same day it is juiced since the drink ferments fast owing to the significantly greater sugar content. Aside from a morning glass of vitamin-rich juice, these oranges may also be used to make jam and desserts.
Blood orange juice content: These oranges can give you an adequate amount of juice from such a small package. You can get around a third of a cup, or 80-85ml of juice, from them.
Mandarin Orange
Mandarins are a type of citrus fruit with a loose peel that comes in petite sizes. They look to be somewhat flattened. Mandarin oranges, despite their small size, are juicy and sweet in flavor. They have a lower acid content and are ideal for juicing and eating.
Mandarins ripen between January and February. From February through April, they are available. As a result, it's better to harvest them throughout those months.
Amount of juice in a single Mandarin orange: One Mandarin orange yields roughly 3 tablespoons of juice. 5-6 of them would suffice to produce a cup of juice. It's more than a dozen Clementine oranges.
How to Get the Most Juice Out of an Orange
Warm Your Oranges
You may not realize it, but cold fruit does not give as much juice. Warming your oranges before juicing will help you get the most juice out of them.
This is a simple task! It's as easy as rolling your orange in your hand for a few seconds. You may alternatively puncture the skin of your orange with a skewer and microwave it for around fifteen seconds. This microwave approach works a little better and might make things easier when it comes to juicing.
Roll It Around First
Before juicing, roll the orange around on your surface or chopping board. Just imagine giving a massage to the fruit! This technique makes the oranges less stiff and inflexible, and it will be a much simpler way to juice oranges.
Cut It Into Quarters Instead of Halves
This is a simple step, but it makes a big impact, especially if you're squeezing fresh orange juice by hand. Instead of slicing your oranges in half to juice them, slicing them into quarters is a better option. A quarter of one orange is much simpler to completely squeeze and get all of the juice from compared to a half slice. So, take the time to chop the citrus down!
Use an Electric Orange Juicer
When juicing oranges, using a hand squeezer works very fine, but there is only so much juice you can obtain. With an electric citrus juicer, you get double the freshly squeezed orange juice in half the time.
They're also simple to operate; simply place your orange on the juicing cone, close the lid, and your juicer spins away, extracting every last drop of fresh orange juice imaginable. But if you don't like having too much orange zest, complete peeling is necessary when using this method, so you can avoid the zesty mouthfeel.
How to Choose an Orange for Maximum Juice
Weight
Always select oranges that are large in size. Because they can supply a large amount of water and are perfect for juicing. It's a good idea to weigh it in your hands. Sometimes, though, the heavyweight is due to the thick peel. It's a good idea to try a few oranges before purchasing a huge quantity.
Thin Shell
Having thin orange peel makes the juicing process easier. They also have more water than typical thick peeled oranges. You can quickly evaluate how much juice you can collect from a single orange using thin-skinned oranges. So, before you buy, try to seek oranges with thin peels.
Bright and Glossy Shell
The quantity of water in orange is proportional to its freshness. Fruits that don't taste fresh or look wilted will be dry on the inside and have little water. But, fruits that seem fresh and have a wonderful color are usually highly succulent.
The Best Way to Store an Orange
If you plan to eat the fresh fruit within 5 to 7 days, keep them on the kitchen counter, preferably in a place where the sun will not shine directly on them. When an orange is room temperature, it is juicier to eat or utilize.
Fresh oranges may be kept in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator. For around 2 to 3 weeks, this will keep the sweetness and quality.
After washing the whole fresh oranges under cold running water, place them in Ziploc freezer bags and freeze them. Whole frozen oranges keep their quality for up to a year.
What Happens If You Drink an Excessive Amount of Orange Juice?
Fresh orange juice is quite acidic, despite its excellent nutritional information. Excessive consumption might also erode the enamel on your teeth over time.
Enamel is a white, transparent layer of tissue that covers the whole surface of your teeth. The more you drink orange juice, the more it comes into touch with your teeth. And, as a result, your enamel suffers more damage.
So, after extracting your fresh orange juice, consume it immediately, followed by a glass of water (of moderate temperature).
How Many Oranges Can You Eat or Drink Before It Kills You?
It's an intriguing question, but it's not anything you need to be concerned about! If you were to die only from eating oranges, you'd need to consume around 11,000 of them. I'd say your odds of succeeding are slim, so don't freak out!
Bonus: Other Citrus Fruit Juices
If you plan on producing fresh citrus juice, this section is for you.
Lemon Juice
- 1 Tbsp Lemon Juice - ⅓ Lemon
- 3 Tbsp Lemon Juice - 1 Lemon
Lime Juice
- 1 Tbsp Lime Juice - ½ Lime
- 2 Tbsp Lime Juice - 1 Lime
Grapefruit Juice
- ¼ Cup Grapefruit Juice - ⅓ Grapefruit
- ½ Cup Grapefruit Juice - ⅔ Grapefruit
Takeaway
While there are available bottled juice and concentrated orange juice, which claims to be “pure orange juice” or “freshly-squeezed orange juice” and seems more convenient for consumers, please note that these may contain additional citric acid, added sugars, and even preservatives.
Homemade orange juice is still the best option if you want to secure fresh, healthy, and preservative-free juice. It is advised to take note of the weight, size, variety, and appearance of the fruit before purchasing to ensure a more enjoyable and healthier experience.
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