What Is Orange juice and How Can I Use It?

Orange juice is easier to cook with than it looks. Here's how to choose, use, and store it, what to substitute, and 1,347 recipes to get you started.

What is orange juice?

Orange juice is squeezed from sweet oranges, and in cooking it does two jobs at once: it brings acid to balance richness and a little natural sugar that browns and glazes. That combination is why it turns up in marinades, sauces, glazes, and a lot of baking.

In the kitchen, treat it as a flavoring liquid, not a beverage.

A splash sharpens a pan sauce the way a squeeze of lemon does, only sweeter and rounder, lifting flavors without the pucker that straight lemon brings.

Cooking With Orange Juice

The single most useful trick is reduction. Simmer a cup of juice down to a few tablespoons and you get a glossy, concentrated syrup that clings to duck or pork and pools around roasted carrots.

Orange Tarragon Cream Sauce builds on exactly this idea, leaning the reduced juice against cream and herbs.

It also carries glazes and braises.

The juice in Amazing Asian Glazed Pork Chops and Balsamic Glazed Salmon caramelizes under heat into a sticky coat, while in a slow braise it mellows into a savory, faintly sweet background that you taste more than you notice.

Baking is its other home. Orange juice replaces some of the milk or water in muffins and cakes, adding moisture plus a soft citrus note, as in Jumbo Cranberry Orange Muffins and Buttermilk Carrot Cake. It even shows up in jams and drinks, from Banana Jam to Allspiced Cider.

Balancing Acid and Sweetness

Orange juice pairs naturally with rich and fatty foods. It cuts the fat in duck and oily fish, and it loves warm spice, cranberry, ginger, soy, and dark caramel notes. A little goes into a dressing the same way vinegar does, with the sugar softening the edge.

The balance is the whole point: sweet enough to round a sauce, acidic enough to keep it from turning cloying.

When a glaze tastes flat, it usually needs a squeeze more juice, not more sugar.

The common mistake is boiling fresh juice hard and long, which dulls its fresh flavor and can leave a faintly bitter, cooked-down taste. Reduce it gently, and if you want that bright top note, stir a little raw juice in at the very end.

Substitutes

Fresh and from-concentrate juice are interchangeable in cooking, since concentrate is simply reconstituted, so reach for whichever you have. For a more intense hit, use thawed frozen orange juice concentrate undiluted.

No orange juice on hand? Tangerine or clementine juice is the closest match, a touch sweeter. A mix of lemon juice with a pinch of sugar and a bit of water mimics the sweet-tart balance when you only need the acid.

In a glaze, a spoonful of marmalade thinned with water stands in nicely.

Choosing and Storing Orange Juice

For cooking, fresh-squeezed gives the brightest flavor, but any 100 percent juice works, and pulp or no pulp barely matters once it is cooked. Skip orange drinks and cocktails, which are mostly sugar and water.

Fresh-squeezed juice is best the day you make it.

Covered in the fridge it holds for two to three days before the flavor fades, while store-bought refrigerated juice keeps about a week once opened. Freeze extra juice in an ice cube tray, then bag the frozen cubes for premeasured orange juice that keeps for months.

If you are juicing your own, roll the oranges firmly on the counter first and bring them to room temperature, which breaks the juice sacs and squeezes out noticeably more.

Nutrition

Quick facts

Where to find orange juice: Orange juice is usually found in the beverages section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group: Orange juice is a member of the Fruits and Fruit Juices US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

In Chinese

橙汁

British (UK) term

Orange juice

en français

du jus d'orange

en español

zumo de naranja

How much does orange juice weigh?

Related

Fruits and Fruit Juices

Recipes using orange juice

There are 1347 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Tomato & Orange Soup

Creamy tomato and orange soup with fresh tomatoes, orange juice, orange zest and a swirl of cream. A British-style soup that's bright, velvety and full of citrus warmth.

Orange Yeast Waffles

Orange yeast waffles bloom active dry yeast in warm orange juice for citrus-perfumed breakfast waffles. Vegan-friendly with soy milk, cake flour, and pure orange oil for extra zing.

Double Orange Macadamia Nut Cookies with Orange Frosting

Double Orange Macadamia Nut Cookies with Orange Frosting recipe

Double Orange Macadamia Nut Cookies with Orange Frosting

Double Orange Macadamia Nut Cookies with Orange Frosting recipe

Spiced Sweet Carrot Soup

Chilled carrot soup blended with orange juice, fresh nutmeg and chicken broth. A bright, low-calorie warm-weather starter served cold with an orange slice and mint. Six ingredients, blender-easy.

Cappuccino Truffles

No-bake cappuccino truffles rolled in cocoa-sugar or coconut, made with instant coffee, marshmallow cream, chocolate wafer crumbs, and pecans. Makes 60 bite-sized treats in 30 minutes.

Spiced Carrot & Orange Soup

Warm up a cool autumn day with this fragrant soup that is full of flavor in every spoonful.

Golden Breakfast Orange Pancakes

Whole wheat orange pancakes use fresh orange juice and zest in a half-whole-wheat batter boosted with wheat germ. Bright, fluffy and high-fiber. Ready in 20 minutes for a healthy weekend breakfast.

Double Berry Muffins

Double berry muffins layer blueberry batter around a hidden teaspoon of raspberry jam, lightened with wheat germ and orange juice. Low-fat breakfast bake.

Mango-Orange Drink

Ripe mangoes with the zesty kick of fresh orange juice and a tangy splash of lemon juice.

Orange Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Citrus-kissed oatmeal cookies with chocolate chunks, orange juice, and zest. Customize with craisins or walnuts for 36 chewy cookies in just 30 minutes.

Amazing Strawberry Sorbet

Fresh strawberry sorbet with simple syrup and orange juice. A dairy-free, vegan summer dessert with just 4 ingredients and bright fruit flavor in every bite.

Breakfast Cherry Oatmeal Muffins

Cherry oatmeal muffins with sour cherries, orange juice concentrate, and oats. A naturally sweetened breakfast muffin with bright citrus and tart-fruit punch. No added sugar.

So Good Carrot & Orange Soup

Carrot and orange soup with leeks, cayenne, and ginger blended into a silky vegan puree. Bright citrus and warm spice work together for a soup that shines hot or chilled.

Buttermilk Pancakes with Strawberry Sauce

Fluffy buttermilk pancakes topped with a quick stovetop strawberry sauce thickened with orange juice and brown sugar. Brunch-worthy in 25 minutes from start to plate.

Shrimp & Fish with Green Vegetables in Orange Sauce

delicate, a bit spicy dish inspired by Asian cuisine, and stir-fried in my favorite old wok..

Moist Orange Pumpkin Bread

Give the traditional pumpkin bread a new twist by adding some freshly grated lemon zest and freshly squeezed orange juice. They add some deliciously citrus taste to the moist pumpkin bread. Be sure to make enough, because everyone will ask for a second slice.

Spiced Blueberry Jam

Spiced blueberry jam simmers fresh blueberries with apple-grape juice concentrate, orange juice, and warm spices of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and mace. A refined-sugar-free freezer jam that captures summer with autumn warmth.

Mama D’s Very Berry Margaritas

This frozen margarita is a berrilicious treat. Sweet, cool, refreshing and goes down smooth. Great for unwinding on a hot day or any festive occasion.

Ginger Squash Soup

Microwave ginger squash soup with butternut, fresh ginger, orange juice and zest, finished with nutmeg. An elegant fall starter ready in 30 minutes, no stovetop required.

Silky Pumpkin Mousse Pie

Silky pumpkin mousse pie made with whipped egg whites, evaporated skim milk, and a hint of orange zest. A no-bake holiday dessert that's lighter than traditional pumpkin pie.

Cranberry Cake Wreath

Cranberry cake wreath bakes a tart-sweet cranberry and orange batter in a ring mold for a festive holiday centerpiece. Fresh cranberries pop against an orange-scented crumb, with walnuts for crunch.

Orange-Flavored Pancakes

Orange-flavored pancakes made with fresh orange juice in the batter and topped with warm spiced applesauce instead of plain syrup. A bright, fast brunch stack with a citrus lift and a cozy spiced finish.

Orange Whole Wheat Pancakes

Orange whole wheat pancakes made with fresh juice, hearty whole-wheat flour, and zero refined sugar. A bright citrus twist on weekend breakfast that's wholesome enough for everyday.

Orange Sorbet

Orange sorbet blends fresh orange juice with peel-infused simple syrup and Grand Marnier for a bright, citrusy frozen dessert. Pipe into hollowed orange shells for an elegant presentation.

Cranberry Sorbet

Cranberry sorbet simmers cranberries with orange juice and sugar syrup, purées smooth, then freezes with a splash of Chambord. A bright palate-cleansing holiday dessert.

Baked Fish with Quick Tomato Confit

Baked fish with a quick flavourful confit of two kinds of tomatoes and citrus.

Fresh Strawberry Mousse

Fresh strawberry mousse with pureed strawberries, whipped cream, framboise, and a ribbon-stage egg base. A light, elegant French-style molded dessert.

Edamame, Carrot, & Avocado Salad

Edamame, carrot, and avocado salad tossed in a bright orange-lime and ginger-sesame dressing with black sesame seeds and cilantro. A fresh, protein-rich vegan, gluten-free side.

Breakfast Cranberry Orange Scones

Not too sweet, these scones are perfect to enjoy with a cup of warm tea!

Blueberry Cornmeal Muffins

Blueberry cornmeal muffins blend whole wheat and yellow cornmeal with juicy berries, brightened by orange zest and buttermilk. A wholesome breakfast bake with rustic golden crumb.

Carrot, Orange & Radish Salad

A vibrant, refreshing salad combining crisp carrots, juicy oranges, peppery radishes, and fresh cilantro, tossed in a zesty citrus dressing with a hint of orange blossom water and cinnamon. Perfect as a light side dish or a healthy lunch, served with warm pita bread.

Coconut Angel Food Cake

Coconut angel food cake folds shredded coconut into a fat-free egg-white batter, then frosts the cooled tube cake in seven-minute orange frosting and toasted coconut.

Roasted Beets With Toasted Garlic & Walnut Sauce

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Orange-Banana Nut & Fruit Bread

Orange-banana nut and fruit bread layers candied fruit, raisins, and chopped nuts into a tender quick bread brightened with banana and orange juice. A holiday-style fruit loaf for gifting.

100% Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Nut Muffins

Whole wheat muffins loaded with chocolate chips, walnuts, and a hit of orange zest. A nuttier, hearty bake with no white flour, finished with a glossy chocolate spread.

Grilled Tofu in a Soy, Ginger & Orange Marinade

Marinated tofu, mushrooms and vegetables are packed with Asian flavors, grilling adds extra smokiness. Not only your vegetarian family or friends love these tasty skewers, but also the meat-lovers. Using the firmest tofu will make a big difference on both texture and flavor!

Desperately Healthy Pancakes

High-fiber pancakes packed with soy flour, whole wheat, wheat germ, and bran, lifted with whipped egg whites and brightened with orange juice. A wholesome breakfast that doesn't taste like cardboard.

Banana Orange Raisin Bread

A bright, citrusy banana bread with orange juice, orange zest, wheat germ, and raisins. Made with egg whites and minimal oil for a lighter loaf. 17 reviews and a 4.5 average rating.

Braised Leeks & Mushrooms

Savory and succulent, these braised leeks and shitake mushrooms are a delightful vegan dish that will leave you wanting more. This recipe combines the delicate flavors of leeks and shitake mushrooms with the rich taste of sherry and a hint of citrus from the orange. It's perfect for a cozy night in or to impress your guests at a dinner party.

Sugarless Blueberry Muffins

Sugar-free blueberry muffins sweetened only by orange juice and fresh blueberries. Bright with citrus zest and warmed by cinnamon and nutmeg. Diabetic-friendly breakfast option.

Breakfast Citrus Waffles

Light, crispy citrus waffles brightened by fresh orange and lemon juice and zest, with ground pecans folded in for nutty crunch. Beaten egg whites give them a cloud-like interior. Brunch upgrade.

Pillowy Strawberry Orange Sorbet

This fluffy, fruity and light sorbet is absolutely delightful!

Best Blueberry & Maple Syrup Muffins

Healthy blueberry muffins sweetened with pure maple syrup instead of refined sugar, built on whole-wheat flour, ground flax, and buttermilk. Tender, high-fiber muffins brightened with fresh orange zest.

Orange-Sauced Chicken Stir-Fry

Orange-sauced chicken stir-fry coats tender chicken and crisp broccoli in a tangy orange juice and ginger sauce. A homemade takeout-style dinner ready in 25 minutes.

Currant & Orange Muffins

Currant and orange muffins made with rice flour, ground almonds, and beaten egg whites for a tender, gluten-free crumb. Naturally sweetened with honey and fresh orange juice.

Mom's Cream Of Carrot Soup

A creamy and colorful soup that is perfect for a chilly Autumn day. Best served with a slice of bread or crackers.

Chilled Couscous Salad with Mango

Absolutely loved it! The other salad I made yesterday, instead of couscous I used quinoa that is much healthier; didn't have cooked chickpea on hand, so I boiled some frozen soy beans instead, and it actually tasted amazing.

Oatmeal & Berry Pancakes

These delicious pancakes are full of yumminess and goodness. They are moist in the inside, and slightly crispy on the outside. Berries give you some juicy explosion in every bite. They are perfect for breakfast.

Spicy Peanut Butter Noodle Salad with Cucumber & Bok Choy

Rice vermicelli tangles with crisp cucumber, bok choy, and matchstick carrots in a creamy peanut butter sauce spiked with chili garlic paste, ginger, and fresh cilantro for a make-ahead Asian noodle salad.

All 1,347 recipes