Can you make OJ in the Vitamix?

Making fresh orange juice at home can be a delicious and nutritious way to start your day. With the right equipment like a blender or juicer, it’s easy to turn fresh oranges into a bright and tasty beverage.

Equipment for Making OJ

One of the most popular high-powered blenders on the market is the Vitamix. With its strong motor and sharp blades, many people wonder if you can use a Vitamix to make homemade orange juice.

While the Vitamix is not designed exclusively for juice-making like a centrifugal or cold press juicer, it can absolutely make fresh-squeezed OJ with the right techniques and accessories.

Here is some key equipment that works with a Vitamix for orange juicing:

• Vitamix blender – Any model will work from the 5200 to the newer Ascent Series.
• Tamper – This tool is crucial for pushing ingredients down into the blades while blending.
• Fine mesh strainer or nut milk bag – To strain out excess pulp after blending.
• Citrus juicer or reamer – Optional for juicing oranges before adding to blender.

How to Make Orange Juice in a Vitamix

Here are some step-by-step instructions for making fresh orange juice in a Vitamix blender:

1. Cut oranges in half and juice them using either a manual citrus juicer or electric orange juicer if desired. This isn’t a necessary step but will reduce foam and allow you to better control pulp levels. Juice should be strained after.
2. Peel oranges and break into sections over the Vitamix container. Remove any seeds.
3. Add roughly chopped orange sections to the Vitamix. Fill only halfway at most to leave room for ingredients to circulate while blending.
4. Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup water. The water aids in blending and creates a smoother, more pourable juice consistency.
5. Secure lid and tamper onto Vitamix blender.
6. Start blending on low and steadily increase speed to high. Use the tamper to press ingredients down into the blades, especially if using whole orange sections.
7. Blend until smooth, about 1 minute. Scrape down sides as needed.
8. Strain juice through a fine mesh strainer or nut milk bag into a pitcher or bottles. This removes excess foam and pulp for a smoother texture.
9. Enjoy immediately. Store any leftovers in airtight containers in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.

Tips for the best results:

• Use ripe, juicy oranges like Valencia, Navel, or Cara Cara for maximum flavor and yield.
• Chill oranges before juicing for a cooler, refreshing juice.
• Add a pinch of salt to enhance sweetness.
• For a smooth texture, strain through a very fine mesh strainer and/or damp nut milk bag.
• Use within 2 days for best quality and fresh taste.

Vitamix Orange Juice Benefits

Making OJ at home with a Vitamix has several advantages over store-bought orange juice:

• Maximum nutrients – Freshly squeezed juice retains more vitamins and natural antioxidants like vitamin C compared to pasteurized OJ.
• Real orange flavor – Homemade juice tastes vibrant and true to oranges without flavor masking from processing.
• Texture and mouthfeel – The Vitamix yields a frothy, pulpy juice with fresh citrus mouthfeel not found in filtered commercial OJ.
• Control the ingredients – Making your own allows you to choose organic ingredients and avoid unwanted additives.
• Choose the oranges – Cater the variety and flavor to your taste by using your favorite oranges.

Overall, the convenience of being able to turn fresh oranges into OJ any time with the Vitamix can be a tasty way to get more nutrients from whole foods into your daily diet.

Tips for Making Orange Juice in the Vitamix

To master the art of crafting fresh, homemade orange juice in the Vitamix, keep these tips in mind:

• Use a ratio of about 2 parts orange sections to 1 part water for ideal juicing results.
• Roll oranges firmly on the counter before juicing to maximize the juice you can extract.
• If oranges aren’t juicy enough, add lemon juice to boost the moisture level.
• Keep the peel on for more nutritional benefits, but remove any waxy coating first.
• Add ice cubes to serve diluted juice over ice for a cool, refreshing beverage.
• Try blending other fruits like apples, carrots, or pineapple with your orange juice for a flavor twist.
• Use Navel oranges for a sweeter juice or Valencia for a more tart, bold flavor.
• Drink fresh juice within 24 hours for the best quality and taste.

How Much Juice Can You Extract from Oranges?

The amount of juice you can get from oranges can vary based on a few factors:

• Orange variety – Juice oranges like Valencia tend to yield more than Navel.
• Orange size – Larger oranges produce more juice than smaller ones.
• Ripeness – Ripe oranges at their peak tend to juice better than underripe fruit.
• Juicing method – More efficient motorized juicers extract more juice than manual techniques.

On average, here is how much juice you can expect from common orange sizes and varieties:

Orange Variety	Orange Size	Approx. Juice Yield
Navel	Small (2 3/4″ diameter)	1/3 to 1/2 cup juice
Navel	Medium (3″ diameter)	1/2 to 2/3 cup juice
Valencia	Medium (3″ diameter)	1/2 to 3/4 cup juice
Valencia	Large (3 1/4″ diameter)	3/4 to 1 cup juice

In general, you can expect around 3/4 cup of juice per pound of oranges. Valencia oranges tend to yield up to 20% more juice.

Cleaning Vitamix Container After Making OJ

Fresh orange juice has a tendency to stick and leave residue behind in the blender. Here are some tips for cleaning your Vitamix container and parts after making OJ:

• Rinse immediately after use. Don’t let juice dry and stick to the inside.
• Fill with warm water and add a drop of dish soap. Blend on high for 30 seconds.
• Scrub with a Vitamix cleaning brush, focusing on any stuck bits near the blades.
• For stains, soak container with warm water and baking soda before scrubbing.
• Take apart blades assembly and lids and wash parts separately in warm, soapy water.
• Rinse thoroughly and air dry all parts fully before reassembling.

Deep cleaning the Vitamix every 10 cycles or so using the self-cleaning method will help prevent stains and residue from building up over time.

Storing and Preserving Fresh OJ

For best flavor and nutritional quality, it’s ideal to drink freshly made orange juice right away. But if you have leftovers, here are some tips for storing and preserving OJ:

• Fridge – Store in airtight container up to 3 days. Pulp will separate so shake before drinking.
• Freeze – Freeze juice in ice cube trays or bins up to 6 months. Thaw before using.
• Canning – Juice can be safely canned using proper sterilization methods for long-term room temperature storage.
• Add citric acid – A pinch of citric acid preservative can help homemade juice last up to a week chilled.

For best quality, consume juice within 24 hours and avoid separating and oxidizing. Frozen OJ cubes work great for smoothies or icy drinks.

Orange Juice Recipes Made in a Vitamix

Freshly squeezed OJ from the Vitamix opens up a world of delicious drink recipes. Here are some tasty orange juice blender recipes to try:

Blood Orange Mimosa

• 2 cups fresh blood orange juice
• 1 cup chilled champagne or sparkling wine
• 1/4 cup orange liqueur (optional)
• Blood orange slices for garnish

Blend juice, champagne, and liqueur if using. Pour into champagne flutes and garnish with orange slices.

Orange Julius

• 2 cups fresh orange juice
• 1 banana
• 1 cup vanilla yogurt
• 2 tbsp honey
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 5 ice cubes

Blend all ingredients until smooth and creamy. Pour into a tall glass.

Orange Carrot Smoothie

• 1 cup fresh orange juice
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 1 cup vanilla Greek yogurt
• 1 banana
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 3 ice cubes

Blend all ingredients until fully combined and frothy. Enjoy for breakfast or a snack.

Conclusion

While the Vitamix blender is not designed exclusively as a juicer, it can certainly make fresh, tasty orange juice at home with the right techniques. The key steps are juicing or blending oranges with some water, then straining out excess pulp for a smooth beverage. With some trial and error, you’ll be able to craft delicious homemade OJ with the Vitamix to enjoy all that fresh-squeezed flavor and nutrition.