Top Things You Need to Know About Measuring the Color of Citrus Juice

From concentrated citrus juice processing to final product measurement, color plays a key role in the appearance and appeal of citrus juices. These juices most frequently come from oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruits, providing a vibrant burst of nutrients and flavors to consumers.

Upon purchase, consumers expect their juices to be as bright and colorful as the citrus fruits they came from. Failure to meet these expectations may result in potential buyers believing there to be an error in the production, causing them to choose another brand the next time they buy juice. HunterLab is committed to providing the industry-leading equipment necessary to improve color consistency and brand production standards.

How Much Citrus Juice Is in Fruit Juice?

Even the most flavorful citrus juices contain minimal amounts of actual citrus. A large percentage of any citrus juice comes from other ingredients. The remainder of the juice mostly consists of water, but may also include additional ingredients like citric acid for flavor and nutrients like vitamin C for improved health.

How Much Juice Can You Get From Each Citrus Fruit?

With such a significant percentage of juice coming from sources other than the citrus itself, many people are surprised at how far citrus juice concentrate can stretch. Still, the concentrate itself requires a significant amount of citrus fruit to develop. For example, on average:

• Each lemon produces 2 to 3 tablespoons of juice.
• Each lime produces 2 tablespoons of juice.
• Each orange produces 4 to 5 tablespoons of juice.
• Each grapefruit produces 12 tablespoons or 3/4 cup of juice.

Use Spectrophotometers From HunterLab to Measure the Color of Citrus Juice

HunterLab developed the ColorFlex-Citrus spectrophotometer to withstand the acidity of citrus liquids and measure the vibrant colors common in these fruits. Our skilled team designed this compact device with orange juice in mind, but we have since expanded its capabilities to measure grapefruits, lemons, and limes. With a sealed keypad and a large, clear display, this piece of equipment is simple to use and small enough to fit anywhere you're testing.

The ColorFlex L2 line was designed to measure the color of opaque and semi-opaque liquids of nearly any kind. It is compatible with most PC connections and EasyMatch QC quality control software. Want to gauge citrus numbers, citrus yellowness, and citrus redness in seconds? Request a quote from HunterLab for this device today.