The Juicy Secret to Choosing Fresh, Ripe Oranges

There'southward nil worse than a bad apple, or in this case a bad orangish. Choose the freshest ripe oranges every fourth dimension, no thing the season!

Photo: Shutterstock/Andrey Burkov

At that place's goose egg better than bringing home a bag of juicy, ripe oranges for baking, drinking, or simply nibbling. Packed with vitamin C and antioxidants, oranges are a sweetness and delicious care for year-round—and versatile in the kitchen. Y'all tin use oranges to whip upward a batch of pancakes or create a salmon glaze. But how exercise yous get the perfect one no matter the season? Here are some secrets to ensuring the most delicious picks:

Give 'em a squeeze

By and large, the tastiest orangish—whatever the diversity—volition be firm, full-colored, smooth and thin-skinned. Equally you would with most fruits and veggies, steer articulate or those that are too soft, show even the smallest signs of mold, or experience every bit though they take bruises. Don't be afraid of slight scratches or marks on the skin; this is called "wind scarring," which happens when fruit rubs confronting the tree branches during windy weather.

Go for heft

When y'all pick one up, you should feel a good amount of weight in your hand, like a small-scale sports ball. This heaviness indicates how much juice is in your orange. Don't exist afraid to requite it a sniff. The sweetest and ripest fruits will emit the scent of their juices through the skin.

Choose the season'southward best

Make sure to selection a multifariousness that is in season. Omphalus oranges, for example, sense of taste freshest from midwinter to early spring. Valencias are their juicy best from late spring to midsummer. And blood oranges are in their prime from early wintertime until early bound.

Consider the colour

No matter the variety, your orangish should be a bright color. With navels, look for a brilliant, solid orange hue. Ripe Valencias might still have a greenish tinge, equally they reabsorb chlorophyll while hanging on the tree during warmer months.

Store them properly. Use oranges as a cheery accent on your tabular array (they'll keep at room temperature for upwards to a week), or shop in your refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Our Best Wintertime Citrus Recipes

Lemon-Garlic Cream Fettuccine

I've been making this lemony pasta for the family for years. It's both uncomplicated and indulgent enough to make it a go-to recipe. —Anne Miller, Glenfield, New York

Bake-Sale Lemon Confined

The recipe for these tangy lemon bars comes from my cousin, who is famous for cooking upwards farm feasts. —Mildred Keller, Rockford, Illinois

Lime Chicken Tacos

Our fun, simple chicken taco recipe is perfect for a relaxing dinner with friends. If we have any leftover filling, I toss it into a garden-fresh taco salad. —Tracy Gunter, Boise, Idaho

Cranberry Orange Muffins

These cranberry orange muffins are and then uncomplicated to fix, my husband and I relish one for breakfast almost every morning. —Sara Eichenlaub, Burlington, Ontario

Haddock with Lime-Cilantro Butter

Here in Louisiana, the good times whorl when we broil fish and serve it with lots of lime juice, cilantro and butter. —Darlene Morris, Franklinton, Louisiana

Lemon Chiffon Cake

This moist, blusterous chiffon cake was my dad's favorite. Mom revamped the original recipe to include lemons. I'g not much of a bakery, simply whenever I make this retro Christmas dessert my family is thrilled! —Trisha Kammers, Clarkston, Washington

Honey-Citrus Chicken Sandwiches

During the summer months, our three children keep me plenty busy. So it's a welcome relief when my husband volunteers to melt out. These chicken sandwiches are his specialty! —Claire Batherson, Westchester, Illinois

Conga Lime Pork

Dinner guests won't be too shy to get in line when this yummy chipotle pork moves to the buffet tabular array. —Janice Elderberry, Charlotte, N Carolina

Lime-Glazed Pork Chops

These tangy grilled chops are all the talk at barbecues and tailgates. You gotta have them with the sweet and sour glaze. —Jacqueline Correa, Landing, New Jersey

Citrus Salmon Fillets with Salsa

Take lemony salmon fillets to the next level with a fresh, colorful homemade salsa. Simply add a simple side of rice for a complete dinner. —Tiffany Hartpence, Lander, WY

Lemon-Roasted Chicken with Olive Couscous

If you can find preserved lemons, try them instead of the plain lemons for an even more authentic flavor in this N African-inspired recipe. —David Feder, Buffalo Grove, Illinois

Tomato-Orange Soup

Who knew orange and love apple were such a expert pair? Whenever I serve this, I proceed the recipe handy for requests. —Barbara Forest, St. John's, Newfoundland

Tortellini with Asparagus & Lemon

This is a terrific warm-weather dish, loaded with fresh flavors. I make mine meatless, but some sliced grilled craven on top would be awesome, too. —Crystal Schlueter, Northglenn, Colorado

Orange Cheesecake Breakfast Rolls

These yummy rolls are a nice alter of footstep from the typical brown sugar and cinnamon kind. They make a nice treat for breakfast or brunch. —Hannah Cobb, Owings Mills, Maryland

Broccoli Slaw with Lemon Dressing

Our family absolutely loves broccoli, so I'm and then happy in that location'southward finally a slaw mix in stores that uses broccoli stems. I like this slaw best after xx minutes or so to let the flavors to meld. —Donna Marie Ryan, Topsfield, Massachusetts

Grapefruit Poppy Seed Staff of life

I had grapefruits handy, then I used the zest and juice for this lovely quick bread. It'due south got a prissy footling tang and a tender crumb. —Lisa Moriarty, Wilton, New Hampshire

Sesame Chicken Slaw Salad

I tasted many types of Asian chicken salad in California. When I moved back to Georgia, I wanted more. Hither'southward a gingery-sweet recipe using wonton strips. —Michelle Mulrain, Evans, Georgia

Florida Citrus Meringue Pie

Why limit a fantastic dessert to just one kind of citrus fruit? Cheers to orangish and lemon, this lovely pie packs a assuming sweet-tart flavor! —Barbara Carlucci, Orange Park, Florida

Citrus Turkey Roast

I was skeptical at first about fixing turkey in a slow cooker simply once I tasted this dish, I was hooked. With a fiddling cornstarch to thicken the juices, the gravy is easily made. —Kathy Kittell, Lenexa, Kansas

Gorgonzola & Orange Chicken Tenders

My mom likes to brand this for family unit gatherings, and we all like to eat it. Marmalade and Gorgonzola might sound like an unusual combo, but they actually make a great pair. —Yvette Gorman, Denver, Pennsylvania

Coconut-Lime Craven Back-scratch Soup

I created this craven recipe to replicate the flavors of my favorite curry dish—slightly sugariness with just the right amount of spicy heat. When served with a garnish of greenish onions and toasted coconut, the soup makes the perfect common cold-weather repast. —Lisa Renshaw, Kansas City, Missouri

Citrus Scallops

My hubby and I like to eat seafood at least once a week. Oranges and lemon juice give scallops a refreshing burst of flavor. —Cheri Hawthorne, North Canton, Ohio

Orangish Ricotta Pancakes

These popular pancakes are likely to spark a craving. For a different twist, switch the citrus ingredient to lime or lemon juice.—Brehan Kohl, Anchorage, Alaska

Lemon Roasted Fingerlings and Brussels Sprouts

My trick to roasting veggies is to choose ones that cook in the same amount of time. Other combinations to try? Cauliflower florets with infant carrots or okra with ruby-red tomatoes. —Courtney Gaylord, Columbus, Indiana

Morning Orange Drink

I love to care for overnight guests to this creamy orange frappe. Merely blitz a few basic ingredients in your blender and enjoy. —Joyce Mummau, Mount Airy, Maryland

Lemon-Parsley Baked Cod

Afterward trying a few baked cod recipes, this was the first fish recipe that got ii thumbs up from my picky meat-only eaters. The tangy lemon gives the cod fish some oomph. —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho

California Citrus & Avocado Salad

The awesome flavors in this salad remind me of my childhood in Southern California. My great-uncle had an orchard, and so our family meals were filled with avocados, citrus fruits and nuts of all varieties. —Catherine Cassidy, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Lemony Chicken Soup

While living in California, I enjoyed a delicious chicken-lemon soup at a local restaurant. When I returned to Texas, I experimented with many versions before landing on this one. —Brenda Tollett, San Antonio, Texas

Wearisome-Cooker Key Lime Fondue

Love fondue but desire something other than milk chocolate? Dip into this white chocolate Central lime fondue with graham crackers, fresh fruit and cubed pound cake.—Elisabeth Larsen, Pleasant Grove, Utah

Grapefruit, Lime & Mint Yogurt Parfait

Tart grapefruit and lime are balanced with a bit of dearest in this cool and easy parfait. —Lois Enger, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Dearest-Orange Wintertime Vegetable Medley

Tossed in sweetness-savory sauce, this hearty veggie side makes a lovely addition to a holiday dinner. —Jennifer Coduto, Kent, Ohio

Orangish Beef Lettuce Wraps

This is a lighter version of a restaurant favorite. I as well recommend trying these wraps with footing chicken or turkey.—Robin Haas, Cranston, Rhode Island

Citrus Cream Tartlets

This rich and flossy dessert is especially prissy for visitor. It'southward attractive and easy to serve, and much of it can exist fabricated alee of time. The citrus flavour is refreshing after a meal or on its ain with coffee. —Brian Barger, Chevy Chase, Maryland

Lemon Oatmeal Carbohydrate Cookies

This is an especially fun recipe to make with kids considering they tin roll the dough into balls and flatten them on the baking sheets. The lemon and oatmeal add a prissy twist to traditional carbohydrate cookies. —Susan Marshall, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Crispy Orange Craven

We enjoy these tangy nuggets and then many ways—over noodles or rice, in sandwiches, fifty-fifty on top of lettuce and cabbage. —Darlene Brenden, Salem, Oregon

Orange-Glazed Pork with Sweet Potatoes

When it's chilly exterior, I like to roast pork tenderloin with sweet potatoes, apples and an orange. The sweetness and spices make any evening cozy. —Danielle Boyles, Sparta, Wisconsin

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Source: https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/the-juicy-secret-to-choosing-fresh-ripe-oranges/

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