If you like to juice then, you may love experimenting with recipes that contain orange in them. These fruits are loved by all and available around the year. So, you can make orange juice any time you want. That said, the number of oranges required for a juice may differ according to various factors. But, how much juice can you get from one orange?
First, it depends on the type and size of the orange you are using. Some oranges may be larger but still contain less juice and vice versa. Aside from that, the juiciness of an orange mainly depends on the season of its production. So, overall several factors can regulate the quality of oranges and their ability to make juice.
In this article, we are going to take a close look at oranges and try to generate a better idea of how much juice each fruit contains. Also, we will cover some essential FAQs regarding this topic. That said, let’s get into this.
Contents
How Much Juice is in a Single Orange?
In simple words, an average-sized orange has 4-5 tablespoons of juice. So, it equates to 1/4th and 1/3rd of a cup. You will need 3-4 medium-sized oranges to squeeze one cup of juice at a time. The fact is one orange generally contains 75-80ml of juice. Here, is a table for orange quantity and output –
| Quantity | Amount |
| ¼ orange | 1 Tbsp |
| One orange | ¼ cup or 4 Tbsp |
| Two oranges | 1/2 cup |
| Three oranges | ¾ cup |
| Four oranges/1-2 pounds | 1 cup |
Though, juice quantity may vary depending on the type of orange you choose. So, it is essential to consider some determinants to check the right amount of juice in one orange. Here we listed some common types of oranges that we use for juicing.
Type of Oranges
It is one of the most common and popular varieties of oranges that are on the market. They are easy to juice and perfect for eating. Navel oranges are rich in Vitamin C which, helps to boost your immunity. Also, they contain a high level of potassium and fiber, which is great for your diabetes and heart.
Season: Navel oranges are picked for an average of 2-4 months. They are ripe during the winter. December to April are the best months for consuming these oranges. Regarding its peak season, you can find them throughout the year.
But stored navel oranges can generate a bitter taste in your juice. So, it’s best practice to drink them immediately.
Size: Navel oranges are large compared to other types of oranges. They usually come in 3-4 inches. Also, they have relatively thick skin. That’s why they are easy to peel in comparison to other types.
Amount of juice in one Navel orange: Despite their large size, navel oranges deliver less juice. Its thick skin could be a reason for that. However, a medium-sized navel orange can produce almost 1/4th cup of juice or 3-4 Tbsp.
Clementine Orange
These varieties of Mandarin oranges are small and great for snacking on raw. They deliver a slightly different flavor profile. Clementine’s contains notably thin peel and are seedless. So, it’s easy to peel and eat. They are packed with Vitamin C.
Season: The best time for a Clementine orange is around December to January. But it’s better to juice them from January to March.
Size: They are normally smaller than usual size oranges. But these oranges are not too tiny either. They come around 2-3 inches in size.
Amount of juice in one Clementine orange: You will get a relatively small amount of juice compared to other orange types. A single Clementine orange can get you 2Tbsp of juice. So, for a glass of orange juice, roughly 7-8 Clementine would satisfy.
Valencia Orange
These are some of the most popular oranges for juicing. They are very popular and highly consumed around the world. This orange type is low in LARL. It means you can have a juice with great flavor and sweetness. Also, you can store it in the fridge for a long time without worrying about its bitterness.
Season: It’s known as summer orange. Because valencia ripens in the summer season, and it’s the only species of orange to do so. That’s why you can make the perfect orange juice during the warm season. So, you can get fresh juice from April to August.
Size: Valencia fits between middle to large in terms of orange sizes. They may range from 2.7-3 or 3-5 inches. It contains a thin peel with a thick white pith.
Amount of juice in a single Valencia orange: With one Valencia orange, you can get about 4-5 Tbsp of juice. To make a cup of juice, you would need almost three medium to large sizes of these oranges.
Blood Orange
This species of orange features a unique characteristic. When you cut them open, you’ll get a compelling ruby-red flesh inside. They are attractive and deliver a tart-like taste, making these oranges great for snacking and juicing.
Also, they contain a handful amount of Vitamin B and C. But there is a catch. Blood oranges are expensive compared to other orange varieties.
Season: Blood orange grows in temperate and warm climates. They ripen by November to December. You can get enough fresh juice if you collect them from December to April.
Size: These oranges are medium-sized, and they contain fewer or no seeds. They range from 5-8 centimeters in diameter. Blood oranges are quite juicy despite their thick skin.
Amount of juice in one Blood orange: These are some of those oranges that can provide you with enough juice in less amount. You can have about 1/3rd cup or 80-85ml of juice from them.
Tangelo Orange
Tangelo is juicy and delicious and shows a deep orange color, and has a nipple-like shape. They are more tart than other oranges. These oranges have relatively thin skin and are therefore easy to peel.
Tangelo delivers a great number of Vitamins like A and C. Also, they feature nutrients like magnesium, calcium, and more.
Season: Tangelos are usually available until June-July. They are the best orange to choose for the summer seasons.
Size: A Tangelo orange features fairly medium size. Despite their size, you can find a considerable amount of juice from them.
Amount of juice in one Tangelo orange: These oranges are juicy. A single Tangelo can provide you with a 3/4th cup of juice. So, you can make around 10-12Tbsp of juice from them.
Mandarin Orange
Mandarins are a group of citrus fruits that comes in small sizes and have loose skin. They have a pretty flattened appearance. Though they feature a small size, Mandarin oranges are juicy and have a sweet taste. They provide less acidic content and are best for juicing and eating.
Season: Mandarin ripe around January-February. They are available from February to April. So, it’s best to collect them between those months.
Size: As you know, Mandarins are the smallest group of oranges compared to other ones. They are almost 1.6-3.1 inches in size and contain few to no seeds, which increases the juice content.
Amount of juice in a single Mandarin orange: You can get about 3 Tbsp of juice from one Mandarin orange. To make a cup of juice, 5-6 of them would do the job for you. The amount is more than Clementine oranges.
Table: The Amount of Juice Content in Different Orange Types
| Orange Type | Size (inches) | Juice In a Single Orange
(Tbsp) |
Juice In a Single Orange
(ml) |
Juice In a Single Orange
(cup) |
No. of oranges needed for one glass |
| Tangelo | 3–31⁄2 | 10-12 | 180-190 | 3/4th | 1-2 |
| Blood Orange | 3-4 | 5-6 | 80-85 | 1/3rd | 3.5 |
| Valencia | 2.7-3 | 4-5 | 60-80 | 1/4th | 3-4 |
| Navel | 3-4 | 3-4 | 50-70 | 1/4th | 4 |
| Mandarin | 1.6-3.1 | 3 | 40-50 | 1/5th | 5-6 |
| Clementine | 2-3 | 2 | 30-40 | 1/8th | 7-8 |
So, from this above chart, we can see Tangelo can produce the highest juice yield compared to the other five orange types.
Also, for a single glass of juice, the amount of Tangelo orange needed is the lowest. So, it’s efficient too in terms of juice making.
Tips For Getting the Maximum Amount of Juice From Your Orange
Till now, we discussed the amount of juice content you can produce from one orange. Also, we learned about different orange types and how much juice you can get from them. But, how can you get the most juice out of them?
Here, we discussed some steps that you can follow to achieve the maximum amount of juice from the minimum amount of oranges.
Warm your orange:
Interestingly, fruits don’t yield as much juice when it’s in cold conditions. So, to get the maximum juice possible out of your oranges, you need to warm them up a little bit before juicing.
Now, how to warm them? Just roll your orange around your hand for some time (a few seconds). Another way is that you can just peel their skin off and place them inside your microwave for like 12-15 seconds. This method saves time.
Roll your orange before cutting:
Before, juicing try to roll it on your cutting board or countertop. This kind of citrus fruit massage will make it easier for you to get as much juice as possible from your orange.
Be careful about pressing them too hard. It may peel the tears off.
Try to cut it into quarters:
This step comes in handy if you’re squeezing oranges by hand. So, before doing so, cut them into quarters. Because a quarter of orange is much easier to grasp and squeeze thoroughly. As a result, you can get all the juice out of them easily.
Use an efficient electric juicer:
To make things easier for you while making orange juice you will need a powerful and efficient electric juicer. You can get twice the juice with less effort. They can generate more power than manual juicers. So, they are faster and saves time
You can also use a manual orange juicer. They are effective and space-efficient. Also, they are cheap. You can get one for around $10. So, it’s budget-friendly.
Should You Peel your Orange Before Juicing?
In simple terms, you don’t need to peel your orange before juicing it. It’s good to leave the peels intact while juicing. Because they have a handful amounts of nutrients that can generate value in your diet. Though, there are some disadvantages also.
Orange peels are tough and create a bitter taste in your juice. They also contain oil in their skin, which is harmful to your digestive system. However, juicing your oranges with their peels on is better, as it’s healthy and good for your skin. It also reduces the prep time.
Now, the choice is yours. If you don’t like the bitter taste in your orange then you can remove the skin before juicing. But if you want more nutrients in your juice then you don’t have to peel your oranges.
How to Select an Orange to get Maximum Juice?
Orange is a popular fruit. It’s rich in Vitamins, nutrients and delivers a superb taste. You can get your daily nutrient requirements by drinking orange juice daily at breakfast or other meals.
There are different kinds of orange juice available in the market. But they contain multiple additives with high sugar content. They are not 100% organic also. Therefore, you will not get any health benefits from these packed orange juices. So, it’s better if you select the fresh oranges yourself and juice them.
You can get 100% healthy elements and taste from oranges if you juice them at home. Though it takes time and a bit of effort, we think it’s completely worth it.
But what type of oranges are better for getting maximum juice out of them? Also, what attributes you should check before buying them?
Here, we discussed some criteria which will help you to find answers to these questions.
Weight
Always look for bulky oranges. Because they can provide a lot of water, and it’s suitable for juicing. So, it’s wise to weigh it in your hands. Sometimes, they may generate a higher weight because of their peel thickness. Better test a few oranges before buying a large batch.
Delicate/thin peel
An orange with a thin shell is easier for you to peel. Also, they contain more water compared to other thick peel oranges.
With thin-skinned oranges, you can easily determine how much juice you can get from a single orange. So, try to look for thin peel oranges before buying.
Limited pith
Oranges that contain thick white skin indicate a higher content of fiber. But, with this, your orange becomes less watery as the pulp is not much.
So, if you want more juice from your oranges, you need to buy them with a few pith intact. Also, with less pith, you can easily remove them and saves your prep time.
Glossy and bright peel
You can identify a fresh orange by looking at the color and brightness of the orange peel. If the orange is in the season, then you can get your hands on that glossy batch. Also, look for any spoilage and damages your orange may have.
The freshness basically impacts the juice yield in an orange. So, if you choose oranges that are not fresh enough, they may dried-up and results in less juice.
Lesser seeds
Before buying, ask the buyer to cut one of the oranges. Check inside and look for fewer seeds. Because with fewer seeds, your orange can produce more juice.
Also, if it contains a lot of seeds, it may get messy while squeezing them by hand. So, before buying, make sure that you buy an orange with fewer seeds.
Orange species
The type of orange you choose basically adds up all the criteria we discussed above. An orange species can determine its peel thickness, seeds amount, size, pith, etc.
We discussed, from the table above, one “Tangelo orange“ can produce more juice compared to other types of oranges we mentioned. So, you can check them.
How Long Can You Store Orange Juice?
In terms of orange juices, all of them contain an antioxidant-Limonin. Though it’s beneficial for boosting your immunity and destroying cancerous cells, they are much bitter.
So, once you make orange juice, this compound starts to break down. This increases the bitterness of the drink. Therefore you must consume your orange juice within 30 minutes after squeezing. However, oranges with limonin seeds can stay sweet for a long time.
But if you need to store your orange juice, you can do so. Basically, you will need an air-tight container. With this setup, you can leave it in the freezer for a month. Here, the container will do its job and maintain freshness.
Wrapping it up
Orange juice is a type of drink that can provide both healthy nutrients and taste at the same time. Though, you can prepare it at home to get the maximum out of oranges.
So, choosing the right one for juicing is crucial.
In this article, we tried to cover all the related topics regarding juicing oranges. Also, we answered how much juice you can accrue from a single orange which is 4-5 tablespoons for medium-sized oranges.
Finally, we hope this article provided you answer and some valuable information regarding your query.