What do you substitute for orange juice when you are out of it? It’s always annoying when you run out of orange juice when you need it for a recipe. This is a common problem that many people have. It can be tough to find a substitute for orange juice, but this post will help you find some great substitutes that are healthy and tasty.
We all know that orange juice is delicious and healthy, but we also know that it doesn’t last long. My kids love orange juice, and I’ll regularly find an empty carton in the fridge. I’ve had to improvise on several occasions, and I’ll show you how to.
There are plenty of substitutes out there and I’ve put together a list of the top 11 best orange juice alternatives. If you don’t have any orange juice on hand, these substitute ideas might just save your day.
Read More: How Much Juice Is In One Orange? Let’s Find Out
Orange Concentrate
If you are using orange juice for a recipe, then consider using an orange concentrate instead. An orange concentrate is made from 100% pure squeezed oranges that have been put through a pasteurization process to kill any bacteria and prevent spoiling.
Orange Concentrate does not contain added sugar or water like many other fruit drinks available at the store.
Orange Extract
Orange extract is made from the oils of orange, giving it a much more potent flavor. A couple of drops is all you need, so a bottle goes a long way.
If you are using the extract in a recipe that needs to be cooked, use half as much because extracts will have more intense flavor than juice and too much may ruin your dish.
If you want a less intense flavor, mix the extract with water before adding it to the dish.
Apple Juice
If you don’t have orange juice and need a quick substitute, apple juice is one of your best options. The flavor won’t be exactly the same as orange juice but it will still provide that sweet taste we all expect from fruit drinks.
I like using unfiltered organic apple juice because I know what’s in it and where my food comes from when I eat at home.
Lemon Juice
If you are using orange juice in a dish that calls for fresh squeezed lime or lemon, then consider trying the other fruit instead. The flavor will be different but I’ve found it to work really well as an alternative.
This is great if you need some citrus flavors in your food because it can provide the tangy taste we all love while still giving us health benefits from vitamin C and antioxidants.
Orange Marmalade
Marmalade is made from cooked orange and sugar so it’s a great substitute for orange juice. It does however add quite a bit of extra sugar, but you can always cut down on the amount in your recipe to compensate.
I love using marmalade because it adds an extra sweetness to the dish, but be careful you don’t add too much sweetness.
Orange Liqueur
Orange liqueur is made from orange, so it’s a great substitute for orange juice. If you are making cocktails or other drinks that call for this ingredient then just use the same amount as if it were called for in your recipe.
However, be careful not to add too much because although orange liqueur tastes delicious and sweet, it can quickly overpower whatever dish you put it in.
If you are using orange liqueur for cooking, don’t worry about the alcohol content. The alcohol will evaporate during the cooking process, leaving only the orange flavor.
Read More: How Long Does Orange Juice Last?
Coke
An orange juice substitute that you may not have heard of is coke. Yes, I said coke. It’s a very common substitute and it actually works really well because cola has some of the same flavors as orange juice.
If you want to make this substitution in your recipe then use less coke than you would orange juice, and add more if you need to.
However, be careful not to add too much because even though they have similar flavor profiles, coke contains a lot of sugar and artificial ingredients.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider is an excellent substitute for orange juice when used in recipes calling for freshly squeezed orange juice.
However, due to the tartness of apple cider vinegar, it may need to be cut down with water when used in a recipe. Just start off by adding half as much and add more if needed.
Apple cider vinegar is full of antioxidants like vitamin A, B-complexes, potassium, and calcium so I think this makes an excellent substitute for orange juice because you get all these great health benefits without losing that sweet flavor.
If possible, try using unfiltered organic apple cider so you can get all those extra vitamins rather than just filtered unsweetened varieties which contain little more than apple flavor.
Grand Marnier
Grand Marnier is a French brandy-based orange liqueur and works well as a substitute for orange juice. It will add a sweet and subtle orange flavor to your recipe. It is not as acidic as orange juice, so you may need to use more than the recommended amount in recipes.
Grand Marnier contains alcohol, so make sure to cook it out to get rid of the alcohol, leaving only the flavor.
Citric Acid
Citric acid is an ingredient in many orange juices and can be found on the baking aisle at most grocery stores. It doesn’t have much taste, so it works well as a substitute for orange juice if you don’t like the flavor of orange. It also can be used as a preservative if you want to make your dish last longer.
However, citric acid isn’t very nutritious at all, so I wouldn’t recommend using it on its own as an orange juice substitute because you won’t get any health benefits by doing that.
You will need to use this in combination with lemon to get the most out of this ingredient.
Meyer Lemon
The Meyer lemon is a hybrid between an orange and a regular lemon. It’s sweeter than your average lemons but also has more acidity. You can use this as an alternative to orange juice, using the same amount as you would for oranges called for in recipes.
Can I Substitute Lemon Juice for Orange Juice?
Lemon juice is a great substitute for orange juice. It has similar flavor profiles, but it’s much more acidic than orange juice.
So if you want to use lemon instead of orange then try adding less lemon and gradually increasing the amount until you get the desired taste or brightness that your recipe calls for. You can also add some sugar to help neutralize some of the acidity in lemons.
However, be careful not to use too much because this could make whatever dish you are making overly sour or tart.
Read More: Best Liquid For Smoothies: 10 Delicious Smoothie Bases
Can I Substitute Orange Juice for Water?
You can substitute orange juice for water, but you will need to use more than just a little bit. You’ll want to double or triple the amount of OJ that you would normally put in your recipe compared with how much water it calls for.
This is because orange juice has less liquid content per ounce than plain old tap water does.
However, make sure not to add too much otherwise this could affect the overall flavor profile of whatever dish you are making and end up tasting bitter.
A better option would be to replace half the water with orange juice. This will mean the orange flavor isn’t too strong.
Can I Substitute Clementine Juice for Orange Juice?
Clementine juice is a very good substitute for orange juice in recipes. It has almost the same amount of sweetness, acidity, and rich flavor as freshly squeezed oranges do.
So if you are looking to switch things up or want to try something new then I definitely recommend giving clementines a shot because they have all that great orangey goodness without any of the downsides like being too acidic or bitter tasting.
Substitute for Orange Juice – Final Thoughts
These substitutes for orange juice are healthy and tasty and can help get you out of a tough situation. If you are making a recipe that requires orange juice but you have run out, consider using one of these alternatives.
Most people will have at least one of these ingredients already, saving a last-minute trip to the store.
I hope that this article has given you some great ideas on how to substitute if you don’t have any orange juice at home or in the fridge.