How to Choose Fresh Oranges

Select fresh, ripe oranges for the best flavor.

Fresh, ripe oranges will be juicy, sweet and intensely flavorful. Overripe oranges may lose much of their sweetness or develop an overly sweet, distinctly overripe flavor. They will also be drier than fresh oranges, as much of the moisture will have dissipated. Because of this dramatic difference, it is important to select oranges that are fresh off the tree rather than ones that have been sitting on supermarket shelves for days or weeks. With a little practice, you will be able to confidently select fresh, ripe oranges.

Instructions

1. Pick up the orange and notice its weight in your hand. If it is lighter than you would have expected, or when compared to other oranges of approximately the same size, put it back. A fresh orange that has not had a chance to dry out will be heavy with juice.

2. Squeeze the orange gently, then turn it around halfway and squeeze it again. If you feel any soft spots, the orange may be going bad. A fresh, ripe orange should be consistently firm with no noticeably softer areas. It should not, however, be completely hard; it should give way gently under pressure, but not be squishy or soft.

3. Rub the orange's skin. It should be smooth, though some visible pores are to be expected and are not a problem. Do not purchase the orange if its skin is noticeably rough or pitted.

4. Examine the orange thoroughly, looking for any traces of mold. A fresh orange in good condition should be completely mold-free.

Tips & Warnings

• Despite their name, ripe oranges are not always completely orange. In fact, many bright orange specimens owe their color to dye. If an orange otherwise seems perfect, do not reject it for being slightly green.

References

• Towards Freedom: How to Select Fruit
• The World's Healthiest Foods: Oranges
• Weight Watchers: Oranges
• Harvest to Table: How to Pick an Orange

Resources

• Orange Recipes: Home