Boxed orange juices taste fine, but they are nothing when compared to fresh orange juice. Homemade and self-juiced oranges have that freshness about them that no boxed juice could ever replicate. It is tangy and free from any kind of preservatives. Thus, the flavor is allowed to shine through in full force.
To have the best fresh orange juice, it is essential that the oranges you use are good as well. There are many kinds of oranges available in the market. However, not all of them are great for making orange juice. Some may be a bit too sour, while some may not be as juicy. Hence, choosing the correct orange for your juices is essential.
Let us take a look at the best kind of oranges that will make the tastiest orange juice.
Oranges that make the best fresh orange juice
No two varieties of oranges are the same, and there are key differences among all of them. These differences make it so some oranges are better than others in terms of juicing. The taste and texture of your juice depend entirely on the oranges you use because unlike store-bought orange juice, there are no artificial sweeteners and preservatives to mask the taste of bitter or tasteless oranges. Thus, making the right choice of oranges is extremely important.
Let’s dive deeper into some of the best kinds of oranges you can use to make fresh orange juice.
Valencia Oranges
Valencia oranges are available all year round, which means juice from this orange can be at your disposal all year long. They are sweet in taste and have few seeds, which is ideal. You usually find around 9 seeds in Valencia oranges. Another reason for choosing Valencia oranges is the fact that most commercial orange juices make use of this kind of orange, and since it is the industry standard, it must be good.
Although they are available all year long, these oranges are not available fresh in season from January to March.
Another variation of the Valencia oranges is the midnight valencia oranges. These are a seedless variety and are less common than the normal kind.
In the warmer months, these oranges go green. The peel transforms its color to help protect the orange from sunburn. Regardless of their green peel, these oranges are ripe and taste just as good as oranges that have an orange peel. Nothing changes from the inside, and they are as juicy as they were before.
Navel Oranges
Navel oranges are the most commonly used kind of oranges for homemade juice. Their extensive use is due to the fact that they are readily available, and anyone can get their hands on them.
These oranges do not have any seeds. Hence, the juicing process is extremely simple and easy. There is no need to pick out the seeds or strain the juice afterward. Just juice these orange and drink it without any additional steps.
One drawback of these kind of oranges is that their flesh contains limonene instead of seeds. Due to the presence of this limonene, the juice starts getting bitter after you juice it. It does not happen immediately, but if you leave it out for some time, you will definitely start noticing it. Hence, if you use this kind of orange, be sure to drink it straight after you juice it. Making batches and storing them in a fridge or freezer will be entirely useless. Because, later on, it will be too bitter to drink.
These oranges are not available all year round. They are mostly available in the December through April period.
Blood Orange
Blood oranges are aptly named owing to the distinct color of their flesh. These oranges are extremely high in antioxidants and are thus perfect for juicing. They give you all the benefits of orange while also being super tasty and beautiful.
These oranges are available from mid-January to April. The taste of Blood oranges is fresh and spicy, and it also has an incredible aroma which makes the drinking experience of the juice of this kind of oranges better than ever.
Blood oranges aren’t the cheapest oranges on the market, but they are incredibly fun to juice and drink. You can also pair the juice of these oranges with other kinds of juices to create a fun and maybe tasty concoction.
Clementine Oranges
These oranges are excellent as they are sweet and have a slightly different taste profile as compared to clementine oranges. They are smaller in size, and thus more oranges have to be juiced to have a substantial amount of juice. This issue can be easily rectified by mixing the juice of clementine oranges with another kind of oranges such as navel.
Out of these oranges, the navel oranges are the ones that are the best for making fresh orange juice. Some people avoid them because of the limonin. However, this problem can be completely avoided if you pick navel oranges that are packed two months after they have their peak limonin. A delay in packing reduces the degree of bitterness. They are incredibly sweet and are juicy as well. Additionally, they are reasonably sized and an overall affordable kind of orange. Hence, we believe navel oranges to be the best kind of oranges to be used to make fresh orange juice.
How to make fresh orange juice
Store-bought orange juice is good, but it pales in comparison to homemade orange juice. If you make a small amount of effort, you too can have fresh orange juice at your disposal.
Making orange juice is not difficult at all. You just need oranges and a device that can help juice your oranges. Let us take a look at how you can make orange juice in different ways.
Using a blender
Not everyone has a citrus juicer, but most people have a blender that can also help you juice your oranges and make the tastiest orange juice from the comfort of your home. Additionally, it is also a lot more nutritious and healthier if you use a blender. This is because, through this method, a lot of the fiber is retained.
To make fresh orange juice using a blender, follow these steps.
First, peel the oranges. Make sure to get rid of as much of the white as you can. The white pith is the layer that adds the bitterness so ensure that you take off as much as you can.
Next, slice the orange how you would core an apple. This helps you get rid of the seeds much more effectively. Remove any seeds on the sides that you have cut off.
Then, place all your centers into a muslin cloth and squeeze. This method allows you to get the juice and not the seeds. Pour this juice into the blender.
If you want a smooth juice, dump your orange slices into a blender and blend it for two minutes. You may or may not need to add in some water. Adding water helps break down fibrous oranges and ensures the smoothness of the juice.
Using an electric juicer
Electric juicers are readily available on the market, and quite a few of them are designed to handle citrus fruits specifically. Using a juicer has many benefits such as the fact that you can use it to juice a variety of different fruits and vegetables.
Here are some instructions on how to make orange juice using an electrical juicer.
The first step is to peel the oranges well. Ensure that there is no white part left behind. Next, cut the oranges into equal quarter pieces. If the oranges are small, then you can simply cut them into halves.
Next, remove any seeds that you see and cut them up further into smaller chunks. The chunks should be small enough to fit through the tube of the juicer.
Then, place a cup or jug under the spout and turn the juicer on.
Slowly add in the orange chunks and use a pusher to push the fruit through the tube.
The juice will start flowing from the spout. When you have collected enough juice, you can store it. Orange juice is best stored in the refrigerator or the freezer. You can also drink it straight away.
Using a citrus juicer
A citrus juicer is an ideal machine if you want to make fresh juice at home. This machine is perfect for juicing citrus fruits and making drinks like fresh orange juice and lemonade. These juicers are often fast and effective. Additionally, they require minimal effort from your side.
To make orange juice using a citrus juicer, follow the instructions below.
The first step is to soften your oranges. You can do this by rolling them on a flat surface with the palm of your hand. This makes it easier to juice the orange.
Next, slice the orange in half and remove all the visible seeds. You can skip this step if you use oranges that do not have seeds like navel oranges.
Then, squeeze the oranges using the lever. The juice will start pouring, and you can collect it by placing a glass underneath it.
If you like your juice to have pulp and texture, use a spoon to add it in. If you prefer your juice clear then strain it through a sieve before drinking.
Tips for juicing oranges
Juicing oranges is pretty simple no matter what method you use. However, if you want your orange juice to be sweet and delicious, these tips will help ensure it.
- Collect the pulp separately and add it in later
- Peel the oranges using a knife. This helps make sure that there is no white pith left behind.
- Drink it as soon as you juice it. The sooner you drink it, the better it will taste. If you juice in batches, make sure to either refrigerate it or freeze it.
Benefits of drinking orange juice
Oranges are extremely healthy citrus fruits that provide many health benefits if consumed regularly. When you juice them, they are still considerably healthier than any kind of store-bought variety. Even if you buy expensive orange juice, there will be some preservatives that may or may not be harmful to our bodies.
Homemade orange juice is full of enzymes and vitamins like vitamin C. These minerals are excellent for your immune system, which in turn works to keep you healthy.
Additionally, orange juice also helps you protect your skin from UV damage. Hence, consuming it on hot days is extremely beneficial.
Orange juice can also protect us from several diseases that include; kidney stones, and various cardiovascular diseases. It can also decrease inflammation in your body.
Conclusion
On the market, there are many different kinds of oranges available. But not all of them are fit to be squeezed to make good orange juice. According to all the pros and cons, navel oranges seem the best kind of oranges to juice.
Hence, if you need to make orange juice at home, get navel oranges, and you will be good to go.