Citrus is often a fan favorite when it comes to adding a refreshing flavor to your daily life. Any citrus fruit is a great source of vitamin C, which is a vital part of any nutritious and well-balanced diet.
Personally, I have always encountered recipes while cooking that require you to provide a certain amount of juice from one of the citrus fruits.
This got me wondering – how much juice is in one orange?
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How much juice is in one orange?
Generally, the juice provided by oranges can vary. When oranges are ripe and in season, they will provide the most amount of juice. Oranges that are less ripe or feel stiff and may be out of season will provide much less juice.
It also depends on whether or not we include the pulp in the juice as pulp increases the amount of juice produced. If we strain out the pulp, the amount of juice produced will be significantly less.
An average orange weighs around 4.7 ounces. Such an orange can produce around a quarter cup or four to five tablespoons or two ounces of juice when properly juiced. It can also produce around one tablespoon of zest.
You can get three to four medium-sized oranges within one pound. One pound of average oranges can produce around one to one and a half cups of orange juice.
Conditions to consider when buying oranges
Again, it is important to emphasize the conditions that apply to the above estimations. The best oranges for juicing can vary in size, freshness, method of extraction, type (which we will talk about in a later section), and season.
Size of the oranges
You can easily find medium-sized oranges in the market and these are the ideal size for anyone wanting homemade orange juice. Larger oranges and citrus fruit are also available, but make sure that such fruit has not over-ripened or become spoiled (which you can tell by how soft the fruit is).
The freshness of the oranges
The freshness of the fruit will always determine how much juice you can extract from it. If your oranges are not ripe enough, then chances are that you will only get a minute amount of juice from them. If your oranges are too soft or ripe, you may not be able to juice them as the peel may be too weak.
Method of extraction
The method of extraction has a great impact on the amount of juice yielded. If you juice your oranges by hand, chances are that you may not be able to get the greatest yield. An ideal yield will be obtained from an electric appliance or a hand juicing tool.
Season
Make sure that your oranges are in season when you buy them. Oranges that are in season will be at the best ripeness level for juicing and they will also be affordable!
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What oranges should I buy for the most juice?
It is best to buy your oranges at the peak of their season if you want to use them for juicing. There are different types of oranges that we need to take into consideration before we actually go about buying them.
The three best oranges for juicing have been mentioned below.
Valencia oranges
Valencia oranges are available most of the year and they are robustly filled with juice. These oranges typically have fewer seeds than the average orange. Interestingly, most commercially sold orange juice is made using Valencia oranges. They are available fresh from April to December.
Navel oranges
Navel oranges are those typically used at home for fresh juice and they contain limonene in the flesh instead of the typical seeds we find in other oranges. However, the one downfall of navel oranges is that the juice gets bitter immediately after. Thus, be sure to drink it right after juicing.
Blood oranges
Blood oranges are not the typical orange we think of when we hear the words “orange juice”. However, they are high in antioxidants and their unique color makes for a great spicy flavor. Also, they are probably the most expensive on this list.
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Tips on how to extract more juice from your oranges
There is a method to obtaining the most juice possible from our oranges and most people do not realize that they can do a lot when extracting juice.
The following tips will help you make the most of your oranges:
Rolling your oranges
Roll your oranges on a hard surface, like a counter or cutting board. Make sure that you put some pressure on the oranges while rolling them as this will help break up their membranes. This will make the oranges easier to juice as they will be softer and less firm.
Microwaving your oranges
Warming up your oranges in the microwave will also help break up their membranes. I have found that the best amount of time is anywhere between 10 and 15 seconds. When cold, oranges may not yield as much juice as they can when warm.
Cut your oranges into quarters
Cutting your oranges into quarters instead of halves is another great tactic because they will help you grasp the orange quarters easily. Also, you will be able to extract the pulp better than you would when the orange is cut in half.
Use an electric appliance
Invest in an electric juicer because it will help make the process much easier. Hand juicers are great, but they still require a lot of time and effort. An electric juicer will also help you extract more juice in an efficient and effective manner.
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How much juice in one orange: final thoughts
Thus, when juicing oranges, we have a lot of factors that we need to consider, especially if we want to make the most of the oranges we buy. Be sure to do your research and get the freshest oranges of the season for the best tasting juice.
The rule of thumb to remember is that we can get around one-quarter cup of juice from a single orange, which is a pretty decent amount!
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