How to Cut Orange Garnishes

Orange garnishes are highly respected among the beverage elite. They are comrades with both innovative and traditional cocktails, providing adequate citrus flavoring while heightening presentation. Add an orange garnish to your cocktail the next time you're feeling "fruity" by following these steps.

Things You'll Need

• Sharp Knife
• Cutting board

Instructions

Orange Wedge

1. Find the top of the orange by locating its "numb." Cut orange in half from top to bottom. This will create two equal halves.

2. Place orange halves with skin facing upwards. Cut, again, from top to bottom. You now have four orange wedges. (It is your personal preference how big you want your wedges. Of course, the bigger the wedge, the more flavor it provides; however, you do want to save room for the liquid part of the cocktail.)

3. Slice four orange quarters down the middle. This creates eight wedges. This size is most common because they provide just enough flavor without overfeeding your guests.

4. Position the juicy part of the orange wedges facing upwards. Cut a slit across the width; this is for presentation. To enhance the cocktail's appearance, place the orange wedge on the rim of the glass using this incision.

Orange Wheel

1. Cut off ends.

2. Create an incision from the orange's top, or numb, to its bottom. When done, and if so desired, this incision will make it much easier to place on the rim of the glass.

3. Position the orange so that the ends are facing your right and left. Choose an end to start with and begin slicing off wheels. Cut so the orange wheels are thin, but firm.

4. Place an orange wheel on the rim of your glass to enhance the presentation of your cocktail.

Tips & Warnings

• Wash orange thoroughly. It's popular to keep the orange skins on when serving. Usually the garnish finds its way into the glass before drink's end. So, to keep bacteria out of your cocktail, give your orange a good bath.