Ah, orange juice — classic, refreshing, and naturally sweet with a bright citrus punch 🍊. Let’s break it down:
🍊 What It Is
Orange juice is the liquid extracted from fresh oranges. It’s typically consumed:
-
Fresh-squeezed: Tangy, vibrant flavor, may have pulp.
-
Store-bought: Often pasteurized for longer shelf life; can be with pulp or pulp-free.
-
Concentrate: Made from concentrated orange juice rehydrated with water.
🧪 Nutritional Highlights (per 1 cup / 240 ml)
-
Calories: ~110 kcal
-
Vitamin C: 100% of daily value
-
Folate: ~10% DV
-
Potassium: ~10% DV
-
Sugar: ~21 g (naturally occurring in fruit)
Tip: Fresh-squeezed juice retains more flavor and often more phytonutrients than packaged juice.
🍹 Uses of Orange Juice
-
Breakfast drink: Straight or with pulp.
-
Smoothies: Combines well with banana, mango, or berries.
-
Cooking & baking:
-
Glazes for chicken, pork, or salmon
-
Cakes, muffins, and citrus desserts
-
-
Cocktails & mocktails:
-
Mimosa: orange juice + sparkling wine
-
Screwdriver: orange juice + vodka
-
💡 Tips
-
Roll oranges on the counter before juicing to get more juice.
-
For extra sweetness, use a mix of navel and blood oranges.
-
If using in recipes, fresh juice is best; concentrate is fine but may alter flavor slightly.
I can also give you a homemade orange juice recipe that’s naturally sweeter and less acidic than store-bought, perfect for kids or smoothies. Do you want me to do that?
