Buzz
Ah, oranges—the sweet, juicy fruit that just about everybody likes. In addition to being a great snack, oranges are also perfect for garnishing drinks, especially cocktails and certain types of beer like wheat beers and orange ales. Try experimenting with wedges, slices, wheels, and twists by adding them to different beverages for a garnish you’ll want to eat!
Steps
Creating Orange Wedges
Wash the orange and then slice off the ends. Position the orange horizontally on a cutting board. Utilize a sharp kitchen knife to remove the top and bottom parts of the orange to discard the stem and blossom ends.
- Securely hold the orange to prevent slipping or rolling during cutting.
- Either a chef’s knife or a paring knife works for this task, but a very sharp knife is preferable.
- Exercise caution when handling sharp objects. Keep fingers and hands away from the blade, and always cut away from the body.
Cut the orange vertically down the center. Secure the orange firmly, with your thumb on one side and your fingers on the other, to prevent it from rolling while cutting. Slice straight down through the middle, from the flat stem end to the flat blossom end.
- Alternatively, you can stand the orange upright on one of its flat ends and cut down through the center from top to bottom.
Create 3 even diagonal cuts to divide each half into 3 wedges. Place the orange halves flat-side-down on the cutting board. Cut diagonally through the peel from one side down to the middle of the flesh, then repeat for the other side to form 3 even wedges. Repeat the process for the other half of the orange.
- Perfecting the art of cutting orange halves into 3 uniform wedges may require some practice, but with perseverance, you’ll master it in no time!
Make a notch from the flesh to the peel in the center of each wedge. Flip the wedges so that the flesh side faces up on the cutting board. Slice down through the center of the flesh in each wedge, stopping just short of reaching the orange peel.
- Exercise caution to avoid cutting all the way through the wedges. However, if a mistake occurs, it’s no problem—you can always enjoy your mishap!
- For smaller wedges, halve each large wedge and then notch the middle of each smaller wedge.
Adorn drink glasses with the wedges by affixing them to the rims. Slip the notched end of an orange wedge over the rim of a glass until it rests securely. Experiment with garnishing cocktails like Margaritas, Dark and Stormies, and Bloody Marys. Use the wedges to decorate non-alcoholic beverages such as freshly squeezed orange juice, iced tea, and even glasses of ice water.
- Other cocktails complemented by orange wedges include Pimm’s Cups and Gin Fizzes.
- For a non-alcoholic option, enhance a glass of ice water, lemon-lime soda, orange juice, or a frozen juice mocktail with an orange slice.
- When enjoying a beverage with an orange wedge garnish, you can squeeze the wedge into the drink for an extra burst of orange flavor. Alternatively, simply pluck it from the rim and enjoy!
Crafting Wheels and Slices
Trim both ends of your orange. Position the orange horizontally on a cutting board and secure it by its sides. Employ a sharp chef’s knife or paring knife to remove the top and bottom ends.
- Exercise caution when slicing with a sharp knife. Ensure a firm grip to prevent slipping or rolling, and keep fingers and hands clear of the blade.
Cut the orange into uniform round slices of your preferred thickness, starting from one end. Secure the orange by its sides. Begin slicing from one end, cutting straight down horizontally through the orange while keeping your fingers and hand clear. Continue slicing until the entire orange is transformed into consistent wheels.
- For drinks, aim for slices approximately 1⁄4 in (0.64 cm) thick if you're unsure of the desired size.
Halve each wheel to create orange slices for beverages. Place a wheel flat on the cutting board and slice it evenly down the middle to produce 2 uniform slices. Repeat this process for each wheel to achieve even slices throughout.
- To offer a variety of garnish choices for drinks, consider leaving half of the orange in wheels while slicing the remaining half into slices.
Incise a notch into each wheel or slice if intending to affix them to glassware. Cut a notch from one side of each wheel toward the center. Similarly, notch the middle of each slice, ensuring it extends nearly to the orange peel.
- If planning to add wheels or slices directly into a drink rather than onto the rim of a glass, this step can be omitted.
Adorn glasses or pitchers with your wheels and slices. Enhance cocktail glasses or beer pints, such as wheat beers or citrusy beers, with wedges and wheels. Incorporate wheels or wedges into pitchers containing beverages like Margaritas or Sangria for visual appeal and citrus essence.
- For instance, when preparing a pitcher of Screwdrivers comprising orange juice and vodka for brunch with friends, consider adding whole orange wheels directly into the pitcher. Utilize slices to garnish individual glasses for serving.
- Elevate the citrus experience in beer pints by placing a wheel in the beer itself and affixing a wedge to the rim of the pint glass.
- For a delightful tropical twist, skewer a slice of orange alongside cherries and pineapples.
Creating Orange Spirals
Trim the base of an orange and position it cut-side-down on a cutting board. Place the orange horizontally on the cutting board and use a sharp knife to remove only the bottom end. Stand the orange upright on the board with the flat end against it.
- This step aids in stabilizing the orange while peeling to form a spiral. Once confident in peeling, this step can be omitted.
Utilize a paring knife to carefully peel off a thin oval-shaped section of the orange’s peel. Commence at the top of the orange and gently pierce the peel. Cut downward and away from yourself until a thin, oval-shaped segment of the peel is separated.
- A small amount of the white rind, known as the pith, remaining attached to the peel is acceptable, but it’s preferable to minimize it. If present, use the paring knife to delicately remove any excess white pith from the peel.
- The size of the orange spiral is at your discretion. Experiment with various oval sizes to determine the most suitable for your preferences and the beverages you’re preparing.
Twist both ends of the peel in opposing directions using your fingertips. Grasp the oval-shaped peel with 2-3 fingertips from each hand. Rotate your hands in opposite directions, causing the oval to coil into a spiral shape.
- This action not only enhances visual appeal but also releases the peel’s oils, imparting aroma and flavor to the drink.
Place the orange spiral in a cocktail glass and serve the beverage. Orange spirals serve as elegant garnishes for classic cocktails such as Old Fashioneds or Orange Martinis. Simply place the spiral into the glass atop the drink or prop it against one side of the glass, allowing the rim to support it in an upright position.
- Consider garnishing other cocktails with an orange spiral, such as the Tom Collins and the Sazerac.
Helpful Tips
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If available, consider wearing a cut-resistant glove on the hand holding the orange. This provides added protection in case of a knife slip.
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Feel free to experiment with various sizes of wedges, wheels, and slices. There's no definitive way to cut oranges for drinks!
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Explore combinations of oranges with other citrus fruits like lemons and limes in Sangria or Margarita pitchers. Alternatively, include slices of edible fruits such as apples, peaches, and strawberries.
Important Warnings
- Exercise caution when using a sharp knife to prepare oranges for drinks. Keep fingers and hands clear of the blade, and always work on a cutting board.
Necessary Items
- Chopping board
- Sharp kitchen blade
- Orange fruit
