Juice is a liquid that is naturally contained in fruit and
vegetables. It can also refer to liquids that are flavored with these or other
biological food sources such as meat and seafood. It is commonly consumed as a
beverage or used as an ingredient or flavoring in foods. Juice is prepared by
mechanically squeezing or macerating fruit or vegetable flesh without the
application of heat or solvents.
For example, orange juice is the liquid extract of the fruit
of the orange tree, and tomato juice is the liquid that results from pressing
the fruit of the tomato plant. Juice may be prepared in the home from fresh
fruit and vegetables using a variety of hand or electric juicers. Juice is one
of the most popular drinks to go with breakfast in the morning. Many commercial
juices are filtered to remove fiber or pulp, but high-pulp fresh orange juice
is a popular beverage. Common methods for preservation and processing of fruit
juices include canning, pasteurization, concentrating, freezing, evaporation
and spray drying.
