# Fresh Strawberry Juice in the Blender

> Strawberry juice fades because **oxygen is beaten into it in the blender**. Instead, let the strawberries **macerate in sugar for 20 minutes** to draw out their juice, blend on low speed for a short time, and add a squeeze of lemon.

**Egyptian Cuisine · 25 min · 4 servings · 120 kcal per serving**

Fresh strawberry juice is far better than anything from a carton, but most people end up with something pale and diluted. The cause is the blending method, not the strawberries.

## Ingredients

- 500 g — fresh strawberries
- 0.5 cup — sugar
- 2 cups — cold water
- 1 tsp — lemon juice
- 1 pinch — salt
- ice to serve
- mint to garnish

## Method

1. **Wash before hulling** — Wash the strawberries **whole, with their hulls on**, and only then remove the hulls. Hull them first and water gets inside the fruit and dilutes the flavour.
2. **Macerate in sugar** — Halve the strawberries and put them in a bowl with the sugar for **20 minutes**. The sugar draws the juice out by osmosis and gives you concentrated flavour.
3. **Blend briefly** — Blend the strawberries with their juice and one cup of water on **medium speed for just 30 seconds**. Long blending beats in air, oxidises the colour and fades it.
4. **Lemon and salt** — Add the lemon juice and the pinch of salt. The acid stabilises the red anthocyanin pigment, and the salt brings out the natural sweetness.
5. **Dilute** — Add the remaining cup of water gradually until you reach the consistency you like, stirring with a spoon **not in the blender**.
6. **Serve** — Serve immediately over ice with a mint leaf. Strawberry juice loses its colour and flavour after two hours, even in the fridge.

## Tips

- Wash strawberries with their hulls on — hulling first lets them absorb water.
- 20 minutes in sugar makes a noticeable difference to the concentration.
- Blend for only 30 seconds — longer fades the colour and creates foam.
- For pale winter strawberries, swap a quarter of the sugar for a spoonful of honey.

## FAQ

### Why does the colour fade?
Oxidation from over-blending. Blend for only 30 seconds on medium speed and add a squeeze of lemon — the acid stabilises the red pigment and prevents fading.

### Can I use frozen strawberries?
Yes, and it gives a thicker, smoothie-like body. Let them half-thaw before blending and reduce the water, because frozen strawberries release liquid as they thaw.

### Why is the flavour diluted?
Either too much water, or you washed the strawberries after hulling so they absorbed it. Wash them whole, and add the water gradually rather than all at once.

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Source: https://hanakoleah.com/en/egyptian-cuisine/fresh-strawberry-juice-in-the-blender
Edited by: Marwa Mohamed
Last updated: 2026-09-13