Chef's Corner: How to Supreme Citrus Fruit

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

The perfectly segmented citrus you enjoy at restaurants is simple to achieve at home. It is a technique known as supreme, which simply meals removing the skin, pith, membranes and seeds then separating it into segments. Follow these easy steps to perfectly segment your citrus! As with all prep work - watch out for your fingers! 

Step 1: Cut off the top & bottom so the orange is stable on the cutting board.

Step 2: Trim away the skin and pith by starting at the top then slicing down. Take your time and don't be afraid to take another go at getting all the pith (the soft, spongy, white stuff).

Step 3: Cut into one of the segments using a paring knife. If you feel confident cutting the orange while holding it in your hand, you can do this over a bowl so you can catch all the delicious juices. Use the knife to cut between one of the segments and the connective membrane. Cut all the way to the middle of the orange without cutting through any of the membrane. 

Step 5: Remove the segment by first cutting off the membrane on the other side of the segment. This cut should meet the previous one so that the segment can be removed by turning the knife back on itself in a scooping motion.

Step 6: Repeat with all the other segments. Make sure to continue cutting off the membrane between segments.