How Do You Know When an Orange Is Bad

Oranges are a delicious and healthy fruit that can enjoy a balanced diet. However, not all oranges are good to eat. In this article, we will discuss how do you know when an orange is bad so that you can avoid eating them. We will also provide some tips on how to store oranges properly to stay fresh for longer.

How Do You Know When an Orange Is Bad

Oranges have many health benefits. They are rich in vitamin C, antioxidants, and fiber. However, not all oranges are good to eat, and there can be several reasons why you should avoid eating them.

Summary: The freshness of an orange can be determined by examining certain characteristics such as its color, smell, and texture. An orange that is overripe will have a dull yellow or even brown color, while a freshly picked one will have a vibrant orange hue. Overripe oranges may also have a sour smell, and the skin may feel soft and squishy. On the other hand, a freshly picked orange will have a sweet, citrus scent, and its skin will feel firm when lightly touched.

5 Ways Guide on How Do You Know When an Orange Is Bad

Way 1. Look them over

The best way to see how well-ripened, juicy, and complete your oranges taste is by looking at their color. Unripe citrus fruit will be green in color with a very bitter taste, whereas a well-ripened one will have a tinge of gold or yellow color. In addition, it will have a dull, grayish, brownish tinge to its skin and be soft to the touch. If none of these signs show, your fruit has likely been fully ripened. Orange juice from oranges that have gone bad would be pink in color.

Way 2. Give Them a Gentle Squeeze

The easiest way to tell if oranges have gone wrong would be by giving them a slight squeeze. Unripe fruit will feel solid, whereas well-ripened ones will be soft and squishy to the touch. This is because oranges are 80% water when fully ripened, so if they feel hard to the touch, they haven’t been ripe yet. How much pressure to apply when checking would vary depending on how you want to use your oranges.

If you plan on juicing them be mindful of how much pressure you apply not to break their cell walls and not let out too much juice. On the other hand, if you plan on chopping them up, it would be ideal to use just enough force that you can tell how ripe they are without breaking the cell walls.

Way 3. Check Smell

Another way to tell if your oranges have gone bad would be by smelling them. How well-ripened they are can be judged by the freshness of their scent and whether there is any fermentation occurring. Unripe fruit will not give off a sweet, fragrant aroma but rather one that smells less pleasant and more bitter. How much does it differ from the average orange’s scent depends on how late in the season you choose to buy them.

If they have gone slightly fermenting instead, they will let out a pungent yet fruity-smelling odor that isn’t necessarily unpleasant but different from what you’d expect from an orange. How strongly this would be noticeable depends on how you plan to use them; if you intend to eat them, it is a good idea to keep your distance from any potential rotten oranges. How well-ripened they are can also be judged by the strength of their scent compared to a regular orange’s.

Check Your Orange  Smell

Way 4. Taste Them

The best way to tell if oranges have gone bad would be by giving them a taste test. Unripe citrus fruit will be very bitter and acidic in flavor, whereas fully ripe ones will have the sweetness of an orange with a hint of sourness and a juicy texture to it. But, of course, how much acidity your orange contains depends on how long you plan on eating it – once it’s been sliced or opened up to release its juice, the citric acid contained within will eventually “break,” making your fruit far less tart after time goes by.

You can squeeze some fresh lemon or lime juice into your fruit if you want to eat it right away. That’s up to you and your preferences, but it should be noted that the longer they’ve been sitting out, the more that their acid content will drop. As such, you were eating oranges that have gone bad and haven’t been exposed to oxygen would make them far less acidic than ones eaten immediately after squeezing. However, there is one thing worth noting about citrus fruit.

How sweet they taste depends on how much acidity they contain as well as how ripe they are; this means that even though a perfectly ripe orange will seem sweeter than one that isn’t yet fully matured, both of them may still contain little to no sugar depending on the type of citrus fruit and its genetic makeup (there are varieties of oranges and lemons whose genetic makeup make them very sour even when they’re ripe. How bitter the fruit tastes also depends on how mature their pips are – early growth can be highly acidic, whereas being exposed to oxygen makes them much less tart at full maturity.

Way 5: How Discolored They Are

The final way to tell if oranges have gone bad is by observing their color. How well-ripened fruit will be a deep dark shade of orange, but as they start rotting, this vibrant color will become duller and less intense as time goes on. How changed their pigmentation becomes also depends on how warm it has been kept and for how long; the longer they sit out at room temperature, the faster they’ll go bad, so ensure that you store your oranges properly to keep them fresh ready for consumption.

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Oranges Are 80% Water  When Fully Ripened

How much pigment change can vary from one citrus fruit to another depending on its genetics – some citrus varieties were bred to be dark orange even when unripe. In contrast, others have a yellow hue even when they’re fully ripe. How darkly colored your fruit is can also vary depending on its type, so it’s important to double-check the section of this article that deals with the particular variety you have or plan on buying from the supermarket. These steps will help in how do you know when an orange is bad.

How To Store Oranges?

When you want to eat oranges, it is not just about taking them out of the refrigerator and having breakfast. People usually purchase oranges because they are full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Because of this health benefit, several questions come up on how to store oranges to last longer. There are many ways to keep oranges, so they stay fresh for as long as possible.

Way 1: Fridge Storage

Store Oranges is in Your Fridge

One of the most common ways to store oranges is in your fridge. The cold temperature that comes from fridges helps prevent fruits and vegetables from decaying and going bad too quickly. Once you buy oranges, put them into the crisper drawer where they will stay at a cool temperature, just like it’s in nature. Oranges can last up to two weeks if they are kept adequately chilled. This means not putting them next to tomatoes or bananas because their warmth might cause the orange’s skin to go brown faster than usual.

Way 2: Plastic Bags

Another way to store your oranges is by placing them inside plastic bags without any air holes inside. Doing this allows for an oxygen-free environment and prevents the oranges from going bad. If you do not want to use bags, you can place the oranges inside an airtight container. Some people have used containers that were Tupperware. Make sure that no orange touches another orange, so they don’t go bad faster than expected.

Way 3: Freezing Oranges

If you want to eat oranges but don’t think you will get the chance, you should freeze them. Many people like to take oranges and cut them up into slices or segments before putting them in the freezer. This allows for accessible selections when it comes time to have an orange snack or even use the oranges later on during cooking. When they are completely frozen, put your oranges inside a container so nothing can contaminate your healthy fruits. If you do not have any containers handy, place plastic wrap over the top of the oranges in a bowl or casserole dish. You can store your oranges in the freezer for up to three months without worrying about anything going bad.

Way 4: Countertop Storage

One of the most common ways to preserve oranges for as long as possible is by placing them on your countertop or kitchen table. How to store oranges on your countertop is simple. First, you need a bowl or basket that will allow for air circulation between the oranges so they do not touch each other and begin to rot once again. You can also wrap them inside newspaper or paper towels if you want.

Store Oranges on Your Countertop

Conclusion

We hope you have learned how do you know when an orange is bad. It’s straightforward for oranges to go bad and become unfit for consumption due to their high water content causing them to rot quickly and their lack of thick peel, making them susceptible to environmental factors such as temperature and other external forces. How long an orange will take to go bad largely depends on how mature its seeds are, but six days should be enough time for most citrus fruits that have been left out at room temperature.

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Pamela Ackley

Hi, I am Pamela and the FOUNDER & EDITOR of juicermag.com. I am a juice fanatic and fitness enthusiast who loves sharing my experiences with juicers and blenders with others.I love to juice and blend my favorite fruits and vegetables, and I'm the one behind this site writing everything about juicers and blenders. My passion for juicing started at a young age when I worked with my mom in her kitchen. Today, I continue to pursue my passion by sharing everything I know about juicers and blenders with you all!