To preserve their freshness, oranges should be stored properly. Avoid storing them in direct sunlight, and keep them away from the freezer and stove. Also, could you keep them in an airtight container? This will prevent them from developing mold. For best results, avoid cutting the oranges too early from the tree.
How to Store Oranges
To extend the life of fresh oranges, take the following actions:
Place oranges in a mesh bag first. Put entire oranges in a plastic mesh bag to allow airflow for your fruit.
Put it in the drawer of the crisper. Oranges and tangerines retain best in cool environments; your refrigerator’s crisper drawer will yield the best results for preserving quality. Oranges can stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to a month. Meanwhile, oranges left on the counter will only stay fresh for a week.
Cut oranges should be kept in an airtight container. Use or consume the fruit within a week after placing it in the refrigerator. Cut fruit may rot more quickly. Therefore it’s crucial to wrap the fruit in plastic wrap or store it in an airtight container while not in use.
Tips:
By keeping your ripe oranges in good condition throughout storage, you may utilize them to make fresh orange juice, smoothies, or simple orange slices for snacking.
Check for ripeness. Look for bright, rounded fruit with smooth rinds and no stains or dings. Overripe fruit will decay more quickly than under- and over-ripe fruit, and ripe fruit will keep longer and taste better (which will not yet have developed their sweetness or juiciness). Citrus fruits do not continue to ripen after being picked, so look for oranges that are ready to use when grocery shopping.
Keep out of the sun. Oranges won’t stay very long if you store them in direct sunlight.
When storing oranges on the kitchen counter at ambient temperature, please keep them in the shade and consume them within a few days. Oranges appreciate a cool, dry environment, like the vegetable crisper in your refrigerator.
Keep the oranges dry. Before putting your oranges in the refrigerator, dry them off if they were moist when you picked them up from the store. Wet oranges are more likely to develop mold.
What are the Different Health Benefits of Consuming Oranges?
Prevent Cancer
As a reliable resource, Oranges, a reliable source of the antioxidant vitamin C, may assist in preventing the production of cancer-causing free radicals.
Although getting enough vitamin C is important and useful, the amount required to have the desired therapeutic effect on cancer is higher than most people could reasonably ingest.
For instance, one research.
In the future, medical researchers may be able to use oranges’ vitamin C to inhibit colorectal cancer cells. The authors acknowledge that 300 oranges’ worth of vitamin C would be required, though.
However, a 2015 study found a correlation between drinking grapefruit and orange juice and an increased risk of skin cancer. The likelihood of developing melanoma was almost a third higher in those who consumed large volumes of whole grapefruit or orange juice than in those who consumed little. Citrus chemicals that have photocarcinogenic characteristics may be to blame for this.
The Heart Rate
Oranges have no sodium. Thus they can help someone stay within their daily sodium limit. However, a cup of orange juice can increase daily potassium intake.
It’s crucial to keep your salt consumption modest to lower your blood pressure. However, as it can encourage the relaxation and opening of blood vessels, increasing potassium consumption may be equally as significant for lowering a person’s risk of high blood pressure.
The Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) claims that increasing potassium consumption can lower the risk of reputable resources for hypertension and stroke.
Cardiac Health
Oranges are a good source of potassium and fiber, both of which are good for the heart.
A 2017 review of earlier meta-analyses found that increasing fiber intake considerably lowers the risk of developing and dying from heart disease. According to the review, this effect is related to its capacity to reduce blood cholesterol levels.
According to a reliable source, one cup of orange juice can satisfy 14% of a person’s daily potassium needs.
According to the ODS, people who consume more potassium may be at a lower risk of stroke and other cardiovascular illnesses. They primarily blame the effects of potassium on blood pressure for this.
Diabetes
A medium orange weighing 131 grams (g) has 3.14 g of fiber, about 10% of the daily need for adults. According to several studies, fiber can help various aspects that contribute to the onset and progression of diabetes.
For instance, a 2019 study found that taking 4 g of a dietary fiber supplement daily enhanced how the body reacts to insulin but did not lower blood sugar levels. Type 2 diabetes may be exacerbated by low insulin sensitivity.
Weight management is crucial for lowering the risk of diabetes because type 2 diabetes can be exacerbated by obesity and overweight. Fiber is processed by the body more gradually than other nutrients, which might make a person feel satisfied for longer and less inclined to go for snacks throughout the day.
Reference: Oranges: Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits
Is Consuming Orange Juice Preferable to Eating Fruit?
Let’s eliminate a myth: eating fruit is always healthier than drinking juice. Regardless of how recently you squeezed orange juice from an orange, it doesn’t matter how fresh it is. It simply isn’t the same. Juice drinking raises your risk of type 2 diabetes and, according to science, causes blood sugar levels to jump more abruptly and quickly. Additionally, if you regularly consume the juice with a fructose base, you risk later acquiring diabetes, liver disease, and cardiovascular disease. Juices from supermarkets also go through multiple steps of preparation.
More calories and carbs are contained in orange juice than in an orange. One cup of juice contains twice as many calories as an orange. And has less fiber than the fruit does in terms of total weight. As a result, you notice that the juice leaves your body more quickly than usual and that your appetites haven’t been satisfied. And you wind yourself swallowing more juice than you wanted to, adding to your calorie intake.
What Varieties of Oranges are There?
Navel Oranges
These oranges are slightly bitter and sweet. A belly-button-like mark can distinguish one at the fruit’s base. One of the most popular varieties of oranges, they’re great for salads and juicing because of their natural sweetness (due to a lack of seeds). They can also be eaten uncooked.
Cara Cara Oranges
Compared to navel oranges, these are sweeter. Cara Red-fleshed Cara oranges resemble a cross between a blood orange and a navel orange in terms of their appearance. They are coveted for their low acidity levels and make the ideal additions to snacks, drinks, and raw foods.
Blood Oranges
Due to its vibrant color, this orange with crimson flesh is incorporated into preserves and cocktails. They are larger than tangerines but smaller than navel oranges. Blood oranges come in three varieties: Moro, Taracco, and Sanguinello. They are ideal for marmalade, salads, and sauces.
Valencia Oranges
These oranges have an unpleasant taste to them. They aren’t consumed as snacks because of their natural acidity. Instead, they are employed in cooking. Additionally, they are employed in creating sauces, salad dressings, and marmalades.
Oranges Lima
Lima oranges also referred to as acidless oranges, are incredibly sweet and have very little acid. They have thicker skin and seeds, but because they are so soft and juicy, they are ideal for nibbling when they are still in their natural state.
Oranges Mandarin
Despite being called “oranges,” mandarins aren’t oranges. It’s noteworthy to note that oranges are a cross between pomelos and mandarins. Mandarins are ideal for salads and snacks because they are tiny, sweet, and have a flattened appearance.
Clementines
There are no seeds in clementines. They are also well-known for their sweetness. They have a glossy, smooth appearance. Compared to other oranges, they are less acidic. They are, therefore, quite convenient as snacks.
Tangerines
Tangerines are tasty, portable snacks that are little. They are identical to clementines; however, they are less delicious and have more seeds. They are simple to peel because of their thin, delicate skin. They contain a lot of vitamin C as well.
Tangelos
Tangelos are difficult to peel because of their tight skin. On the interior, though, they are juicy, sweet, and tangy. And while they could be difficult to consume raw, they’re ideal for juicing.
How May Oranges Included in Your Diet?
You can eat one orange daily in the morning, evening, or after exercise. Or find alternative methods to include fruit in your diet. Slices of the vitamin-rich fruit can be added to your go-to salad. A platter loaded with apples, strawberries, kiwis, oranges, and other fruits. To heat it, add a dab of honey, a pinch of red pepper flakes, and a squeeze of lemon. If you like greens, mix a cup of oranges with a few boiled spinach leaves before finishing the dish by adding salt and mango powder.
What Time of Day Should An Orange be Consumed?
It’s advised to avoid eating an orange or any other citrus fruit immediately following a meal. This will result in a rise in stomach acid production, heaviness, digestion-related problems, and a reduction in nutrient absorption. The best and worst times of the day to consume an orange are in the morning and as a snack in the evening. You don’t want a full stomach as you sleep, do you? The best time to eat a fruit is in the morning when your stomach is empty, and the fruit’s nutrients can be best absorbed. One can be used as a snack before or after exercise to replenish your body.
Conclusion
Store oranges in airtight containers, away from direct sunlight and heat-generating equipment. Remember to check the oranges often. You don’t want to throw away oranges because they’re covered in mold or have scars on their peels. Remember, a scarred orange is not necessarily rotten. Most likely, it was scraped by the tree but did not reach the inside of the fruit.
Keep oranges in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They can last up to a month if they are correctly stored. Please keep them in a zip-top bag or airtight container for extra protection. The shelf life of oranges is significantly increased when stored correctly. Avoid direct sunlight and moisture to extend their freshness.
