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Orange juice is a refreshing, nutritious component to any breakfast table and many recipes.
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See also oranges.
Orange juice is a popular breakfast beverage, superior to most other
juices in its nutrition value. U.S. laws mandate that the label “orange
juice” only be used for juices containing 100% juice.
Interesting Fact
Hard-core orange juice enthusiasts should be sure to get a glimpse of
the “world’s largest orange juice glass,” constructed in honor of
National Minority Cancer Awareness Week. The state of Florida claims
orange juice as its “state drink,” even boasting its own Department of
Citrus, which introduced the 8-foot-tall acrylic glass, full of 730
gallons of unconcentrated Valencia orange juice.
Varieties
Fresh-squeezed juice trumps other orange juices in any taste-battle. It
can be made at home or purchased at some markets, at a higher price to
match the superior flavor.
Alternately,
OJ connoisseurs can almost always find the packaged juice to meet their
unique tastes: pulp-free or with extra-pulp, mixed with other juice
flavors or infused with extra “country-fresh” flavor.
Almost all
orange juice sold in U.S. grocery stores is “reconstituted,” which
means it has been concentrated, frozen and then revived with water.
Buying Tips
Orange juice is easy to find in grocery stores in the refrigerated and
frozen sections, though “fresh-squeezed” juices are often only
available at specialty markets.
Storage Tips
• Fresh-squeezed juice can be kept in the refrigerator for a few days.
• Check the “use-by” dates on store-bought juices.
• Frozen juice and juice concentrates can last for a month in the freezer until they lose nutritional and taste value.
Usage Tips
Orange juice and frozen orange juice concentrates play important roles
in mixed drinks, smoothies and breakfast drinks, as well as a
surprisingly large number of cooked dishes, sauces and glazes.
If you have the time, squeezing your own fresh orange juice is almost always the tastiest choice.
Juicing Tips:
• When using oranges for their
zest and juice, be sure to zest the orange before juicing.
• An average orange will yield between 1/3 and ½ cup of juice.
•
To yield the most juice, an orange should be room-temperature or
warmer. Oranges can be heated in the microwave for 30 seconds to
prepare them for better juicing.
• Roll the orange under your palm on a hard surface to soften it before juicing.
•
If you only need a bit of juice at one time, make a toothpick-hole in
the skin through which to extract juice, and then leave the toothpick
in the hole to “seal” it and maintain freshness.
Nutrition Notes
Orange juice is a quick and easy way to increase your intake of fruit
servings (one 8 oz. glass = one serving of fruit). While it is
particularly famous as an excellent source of
vitamin C and
potassium,
orange juice also provides
protein,
vitamin A, B-vitamins,
iron, and
calcium.
Try one of our favorite orange juice recipes:Orange JuliusMediterranean BBQ ChickenGrandmother's Cranberry Bread
