Let me guess why you are looking for the best orange juice substitutes. You might have felt your breakfast incomplete without orange juice. You need the best substitutes for orange juice for your breakfast to be absolutely refreshing.
So, the best substitutes for orange juice are what we’re going to discuss in this article today. Know some of them? Some of the best orange juice substitutes are orange extract/concentrate, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, pineapple juice, and cola-flavored liquids.
Orange juice is nothing less than a breakfast delight. It’s not only tasty but nutritious as well. So, ready up your glasses as things are going to get juicy around here!
Orange juice, also known as “OJ,” has become an essential beverage for most people. But surprisingly, there’s more to it than being a good old beverage. The flavor it provides can lift the overall flavor of many dishes. The acidity of orange juice makes it an important ingredient in most recipes.
So, before the unavailability of orange juice at your place squeezes the life out of you, let’s get on with this article. The need to substitute orange juice and its best substitutes are discussed below. Come on then!
Orange Juice In The Culinary World
Well, I am not going to bore you by telling you something that you already know – what orange juice is. The flavorful, orange-colored relish is something we all look out for often to quench the summer heat. It is one of the widely produced and consumed juices.
You get orange juice by pressing, squeezing, or crushing an orange. There are different types of oranges. Some of the best oranges for juicing are navel oranges, valencia oranges, and blood oranges. Orange juice can either be made directly by squeezing oranges or by mixing the orange extract with water.
Uses of Orange Juice
Orange juice is used in many ways due to the sweet, citrusy flavor it has. It is used in cakes, bread, and pickles. It can be used as a marinade since its natural acidity smoothly tenderizes meat pieces.
It can also be used delightfully to prepare yummy popsicles. In salad dressing, orange juice can be used in place of vinegar. For a quick frosting or citrus glaze, orange juice is the perfect go-to ingredient.
Orange Juice On The Health Radar | Looking Through The Wellness Telescope
Orange juice is a good source of vital nutrients, especially vitamin C, folate, and potassium. It is replete with antioxidants and is helpful in preventing kidney stones. It boosts heart health and reduces inflammation. It also helps in the process of losing weight and cleanses the skin by reducing blackheads and spots.
Why Should We Substitute Orange Juice?
Various recipes call for the inclusion of orange juice in them. Orange juice is that underrated character who always gets sidelined. It gives that much-needed kick to most recipes. It works wonders if you incorporate it into your baking recipes. It gives a zesty and citrusy undertone to your dishes.
Orange juice makes a great addition to marinades, cakes, salad dressings, etc. Its acidity and nutritional value make it a great ingredient for most recipes. It is rich in vitamin C, potassium, etc. It is high in antioxidants which help you to maintain your physical health.
Ever so refreshing and rejuvenating, you absolutely need to have orange juice at your place. But in case you don’t, there are many options available for you to use in place of orange juice. The best substitutes for orange juice are discussed below.
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13 Best Orange Juice Substitutes
Having flavors that aren’t hard to find, orange juice can be substituted with a wide range of food items. These substitutes are easy to find and help your recipe a great deal. Without wasting any more time, let’s see the thirteen best substitutes you can use for orange juice.
1. Orange Concentrate/Extract
If I were to pick, say, the best substitute for orange juice, I’d pick orange concentrate or extract. These are almost the same flavors as orange juice as they come from the same source. They might be a bit too strong in flavor than orange juice. That is why it is advisable to dilute them with water before using it in the recipe.
Orange concentrate/extract helps in efficient and convenient cooking. This is because only a few drops of these can do a lot for your recipe. Orange concentrate/extract works well to substitute orange juice in baking, marinades, sauces, etc.
2. Lemon Juice
The tasty, tangy lemon juice obtained by squeezing a few lemons is a major ingredient that is representative of citric acid. Not to mention the many health benefits it comes with. Lemon juice is replete with powerful antioxidants and has antibacterial and antifungal properties.
If it’s the citrus factor you’re looking for while using orange juice, lemon juice should be your go-to alternative for it. In baking, lemon juice helps leaven and provides a kick to the whole thing.
Remember to use half a tablespoon of lemon juice mixed with half a tablespoon of water instead of one full tablespoon of orange juice.
3. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is a worthy replacement for orange juice. It’s evident that you’ll not get the orange flavor from this replacement, but you’ll definitely get the acidity. You can even add a touch of sugar or honey to it to soften or lower the acidity a bit.
You can even dilute its concentrated flavor by mixing it with a bit of water. Apple cider vinegar can be swapped for orange juice when used in salad dressings, sauces, dips, salads, etc.
5. Orange Liqueur
Orange liqueur is simply an alcoholic beverage that is sweetened using orange flavoring. The alcohol could be either pot-distilled or column-distilled.
It can have a flavor ranging from bitter to sweet flavors, with additional flavors of spices or seasonings as well. Orange liqueur is one of the best orange juice substitutes which works best in baking recipes, desserts, and beverages.
6. Orange Marmalade
Orange marmalade is a type of fruit preserve made by boiling the peel and juice of orange with sugar and water. It is usually made using bitter oranges and looks and tastes similar to jam. How it differs from the jam is that while the jam is made using only oranges, marmalades can be made using any fruit.
Orange marmalade has a flavor profile that is very much akin to orange juice, making it one of the finest orange juice substitutes. It can be used instead of orange juice in sauces, dips, and marinades.
7. Meyer Lemon
Coming to us from the land of China, Meyer lemon is a small, sweet hybrid lemon. It is a hybrid of a regular lemon and a mandarin orange. It has a taste similar to regular lemon but with an even more sweet and floral flavor. The juice of Meyer lemons can be readily used to substitute for orange juice on an equal ratio in any recipe. This is because it gives the recipe a similar acidity and sourness as orange juice.
8. Pineapple Juice
The sweet, natural liquid extracted from the pulp of pineapple is the yummy, healthy pineapple juice. Pineapple juice can be prepared using many varieties of pineapples, but the most commonly used are Smooth Cayenne, Red Spanish, Queen, and Abacaxi.
Pineapple juice works nicely as a substitute for orange juice since it is both naturally citrusy and sweet in flavor. It also has a great acidity content itself. If you need orange juice for baking, pineapple juice would be the best substitute. It also tastes good in marinades, salad dressings, etc.
9. Cola-Flavored liquids
If you need orange juice specifically for baking, cola is a great substitute for it. Since it is carbonated and has a certain acidity, it’ll help aerate the baked item and make it fluffy.
You can also drop in a bit of orange extract to make it taste a bit more like orange juice. Since cola drinks are sugared, try to lessen the amount of sugar you use in the rest of your recipe.
10. Grand Marnier
Grand Marnier is one of the best-known orange liqueurs. It is made using Cognac brandy, the essence of bitter orange(distilled), and sugar. It has 40% ABV and is profoundly flavorful. Oh, by the way, did you know that a bottle of Grand Marnier was found among the many things in the wreckage of the Titanic?
Grand Marnier tastes somewhat similar to orange juice and is a great substitute. Since it doesn’t have as much acidity as orange juice, you might want to make certain adjustments to the quantity you use.
11. Citric Acid
Citric acid is a colorless organic acid that is naturally present in citrus fruits such as limes, oranges, and lemons. It has a sour flavor and is used as a preservative, flavor enhancer, and aids in the ripening process.
Citric acid is one of the best substitutes for orange juice. This is because it provides a great amount of acidity to the recipe. It might not have much flavor or aroma, which is why it works well in salad dressings, etc. You can drop a few drops of lemon to make it more flavorful.
12. Citric Acid Crystals
Citric acid crystals are simply citric acid in their powdered form. Crystal citric acid is also known as sour salt since it looks like regular table salt. These crystals are used as a flavoring agent and as a preservative in the culinary world.
Citric acid crystals can be used in place of orange juice for a sour flavor in baked goods and dressings. Hence, citric acid crystals are a suitable orange juice substitute.
13. Tamarind Paste with Water
Tamarind is a sweet and sour taste with undertones of tangy flavor as well. Its flavor is based on how ripe it is – the more ripened the fruit is, the more sweet the flavor is.
Boiling tamarind in water over low heat gives you a thick, concentrated tamarind paste. Tamarind paste, when added with water and any sweetener, can emulate the flavor of orange juice in recipes.
Short Recap For Orange Juice Substitutes
That must have been an exhaustive read on the best plum sauce substitutes, right? Let me make it easy for you to remember the details with the help of some points.
Orange-flavored Substitutes: The best orange juice substitutes based on orange flavor are orange extract, Grand Marnier, orange marmalade
Citrus-flavored Substitutes: Lemon juice, pineapple juice, and Meyer lemon are the best orange juice substitutes that are citrus-flavored.
Acidic Substitutes: Citric acid, citric acid crystals, apple cider vinegar, cola-flavored liquids, and tamarind paste with water are the best orange juice substitutes that are acidic in nature.
How To Use Orange Juice Substitutes You Can Try
Orange Juice Substitutes
Ingredients
- Orange Concentrate/Extract
- Lemon Juice
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Orange Liqueur
- Orange Marmalade
- Meyer Lemon
- Pineapple Juice
- Cola-Flavored liquids
- Grand Marnier
- Citric Acid
- Citric Acid Crystals
- Tamarind Paste with Water
Instructions
- Go through the substitutes and see which one seems fit for the recipe.
- Collect your ingredients and use your preferred substitute.
- Use the substitute in the required amount and proceed to make the dish according to the recipe.
Final Musings
Orange juice is a flavor-packed beverage, yes, but it is also a great addition to most recipes. It is quite zesty and citrusy, along with being highly acidic. Substituting orange juice with any of the aforementioned ingredients can work well for your recipe.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the substitute for orange juice in marinade?
Apple juice, pineapple juice and lemonade are the substitutes for orange juice in marinade.
Can I substitute clementine juice for orange juice?
Clementine juice can be used to substitute for orange juice.
What is the orange juice substitute for orange chicken?
Grand marnier is a good orange juice substitute in orange chicken.
How much orange extract equals orange juice?
For half a cup of orange juice, use two drops of orange extract.
What is the substitute for orange juice in carnitas?
Citric acid is a considerable substitute for orange juice in carnitas.
