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Orange juice is one of the most popular fruit juices, and thus it is most widely produced and consumed. It appears to be drunker than any other type of juice – apple, peach, but even those made of so-called exotic fruits such as mango and pineapple. Have you ever wondered why is it like that? We were curious, so we researched a bit, and it turned out there are several reasons for this orange juice popularity. First of all, there are many types of oranges,, and it is easy to find them. Second, this fruit is a fantastic source of vitamin C and carotenoids. And last but not least, they are easy to process.
But then it is necessary to remember – not every orange juice you see out it is healthy! Industrial juices are full of added sugar, which makes them highly caloric drinks, for example. You can only be sure that the juice you squeeze at home with the best juicer is entirely natural and good for your health.
But then you might have been in the situation where you came home with bags full of oranges to make your favorite beverage, but the taste wasn’t what you expected. And if this situation happened to you more than once, you might be wondering what you are doing wrong. The answer is very simple – there are different types of oranges, and some are better eaten while others make a perfect choice for juicing. But the trick is to know what are the best oranges for juicing? We know that it can be puzzling because, on the surface, they all look the same or at least similar! That is why we made this blog to help you get informed and become able to choose the best oranges for juicers.
Is It Healthy to Drink Orange Juice?
The short answer to this question would be yes. But we are not going to leave things only at that! Oranges are incredibly healthy fruit packed with antioxidants such as vitamin C and other nutrients. Various studies show that there are several health benefits from drinking a glass of orange juice regularly. Some of them include reduced inflammations, decreased risk of heart disease, improved kidney function, etc. However, as we mentioned above, orange juice that you buy in the supermarket is not a good option as it is packed with sugar. If you drink it in large quantities, it can lead to weight gain and blood sugar spikes.
The good news is that you can make homemade juice, which is a way healthier option and the only things you need are juice oranges and a citrus juicer.
Most Popular Oranges for Juicing
Navel oranges are the most popular and commonly found on the market. These juicing oranges are easy to peel and perfect for eating because of their sweet taste. Since you can find them in abundance, they are quite inexpensive and thus affordable for any budget. However, these oranges for juicing are picked about 2 months after their LARL content is at its highest. This causes the juice to be a bit bitter if you keep it in a fridge for some time.
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Valencia
These are also very popular and among the best oranges for juice. They are commonly grown in Florida. Orange juice lovers tend to buy loads of them, during the season, because they offer a perfect combination of bitter and sweet taste. You can get a lot of juice by squeezing this type of fruit. If you are living in Florida or nearby, you can get them at affordable prices. If not, you can expect to pay more because of their pretty short growing season and shipping costs.
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Blood Oranges
If you like pulp in your juice, then these are the best oranges for the juicer you can find. The red flesh from this fruit not only improves the color and taste of the beverage but also has higher antioxidants. These oranges are commonly found in India and Spain, as well as some parts of the USA. But because their season is very short, it is hard to find them in other places.
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Other Types of Oranges Are Great for Juicing
Clementines
They are very similar to Mandarin oranges but smaller. Their taste makes them perfect for eating. Clementines are juicy, sweet, and less acidic, and because of that lot of people think of them as the sweetest oranges for juicing. However, they are pretty small, so you will need a lot of them to make the juice.
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Satsuma
As you can probably guess, these oranges are coming from Japan. People love them because they don’t have seeds thus they are perfect for juicing. They are also very sweet and easy to peel. However, they are also small and expensive so you should be prepared to pay more if you want to enjoy juice made from these oranges.
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Tangerines
Tangerines are only available during winter months. They are small variations of hybrids of mandarin orange. Besides being smaller than oranges, they are also less round and not as bitter. Tangerines are commonly eaten but you can also use them for juicing.
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When Is the Best Time to Buy Oranges for Juicer?
Now when we learn about the best oranges for juicing, it is time to discuss when to buy them! New ways of growing and cultivating fruits and vegetables enable us to have access to different types all year round. However, as you noticed, many oranges are generally seasonal, so the best is to buy them when they are ripe. Many oranges are ready between fall and spring, which would be the best time to buy them.
Useful Tips for Juicing Oranges
Use the right oranges for juicing. As we previously discussed, not only oranges are made for juicing. Make sure that you know exactly what type of fruit you need to make ideal juice.
Choose the right juicer. Depending on how much juice you need, you should decide the type of juicer you want to buy. For a small amount of juice, an ordinary citrus juicer will suffice. But if you want to make more, you would benefit from having something like the citrus press.
Learn how to store fresh juice correctly. Generally, you can keep it in the fridge for about 3 weeks. If you want to make more at once and store it in the freezer, that is also possible. Frozen orange juice can stay for 12 months. Keep in mind that juice tends to separate when stored, and you have to mix or shake it if it is in the bottle.
Summary
Here we are at the end of our little research about the best oranges for juicing. The funny thing is that when we eat oranges we have the feeling they are all more or less the same. Indeed, some are sweeter than others, but we don’t see other important differences. However, when it comes to juicing, it becomes pretty clear that different types of oranges affect the juice’s taste and quality in various ways! Do you make orange juice at home? What type of oranges do you use, and what do you like about them?
