Instructions on how to cut orange wedges, slices, and twists for use in cocktails.
Oranges, the sweet, juicy fruit that just about everyone enjoys, are a treat to eat. Oranges are not only delicious as a snack, but they are also excellent for garnishing drinks, particularly cocktails and specific types of beer such as wheat beers and orange ales, among others. Experiment with different shapes and sizes of wedges, slices, wheels, and twists by adding them to different beverages to create a garnish you’ll actually want to eat.
Making orange wedges is a simple process.
Remove the ends of the orange once it has been washed. Place the orange in the center of a chopping board, with the peel facing up. Remove the orange’s top and bottom sections using a sharp kitchen knife to get rid of the stem and blossom end pieces that have accumulated.
When you’re cutting an orange, make sure you hold it securely so it doesn’t slip or roll about while you’re cutting.
The knife can be either a chef’s knife or a paring knife for this task, although a highly sharp chef’s knife will make the job much easier.
Always exercise caution when working with a sharp knife. Keep your fingers and hands away from beneath the blade, and always cut away from your body while using a sharp blade.
Cut the orange in half vertically down the centre. The orange should be held securely in one hand with your thumb on one side and your fingers on the other, so that it does not roll away as you cut it. Slicing through the centre of the fruit, from the flat stem end to the flat bloom end, is the best method.
Another option is to place the orange on one of the flat ends and cut down the middle of it from top to bottom.
Make three equal diagonal cuts through each half to divide it into three wedges. Place the orange halves flat-side-down on a cutting board and cut them into quarters. Split a diagonal slice into the peel from one side down to the middle of the fleshy side on the cutting board, then repeat the process for the other side to cut the half into three equal wedges, as shown. Repeat the same with the other half of the orange.
Although it may take a few tries to master the art of cutting orange halves into three exactly even wedges, persistence will pay off in the end.
Using a knife, cut a notch in the middle of each wedge, running from the flesh to the peel. Turn the wedges over on the cutting board so that the fleshy side is facing up. Cut down through the middle of the flesh in each slice until you reach the orange rind, which should be about halfway down.
Make sure not to cut all the way through the orange wedges while cutting. But don’t be concerned if you make a mistake. Always keep in mind that you can always eat your mistakes!
When cutting the large pieces of bread into smaller wedges, you can cut a notch into the middle of each of your smaller wedges if you want them to be smaller.
To garnish the glasses, place the wedges around the rims of the glasses. Using your finger, gently slide the notch you cut in an orange wedge over a glass until it rests there by itself. Cocktails such as Margaritas, Dark and Stormies, and Bloody Marys can all benefit from garnishing. Add wedges to non-alcoholic beverages such as freshly squeezed orange juice, iced tea, and even glasses of iced water to make them more interesting.
Pimm’s Cups and Gin Fizzes are two other cocktails that are delicious when served with orange wedges.
Try adding an orange slice to a glass of ice water, lemon-lime soda, orange juice, or a frozen juice mocktail for a refreshing non-alcoholic beverage alternative.
If you’re sipping a beverage that has an orange wedge garnish, you can press the wedge into the drink to give it a little more orange flavor. Alternatively, you may simply pluck it off the rim and consume it.
