
All you need to know about oranges
As we all know, oranges are round, sweet and bursting with vitamins. But this citrus fruit also has much more to offer than nutritional goodness. Today, we tell you what else you should know about oranges.
A versatile little fruit
There are hundreds of different varieties of orange in different colours and shapes. They vary in taste also – from the refreshingly sour to the aromatically sweet.
Navel oranges take centre stage
One of the most famous sweet orange varieties is the navel orange and its relatives. By the way, this variety gets its name from the navel-like protrusion at one end of the fruit.
The Spanish connection
Bitter oranges, also known as Seville oranges, are not very pleasant to eat in their raw state but are ideal for making marmalade. Their intense flavour also makes them suitable candidates for making candied orange peel and lemonade.
Oranges versus orange juice
If you like eating oranges, the seedless navel variety is best as it is very easy to peel. The sweet and juicy Valencia variety is particularly good for freshly squeezed orange juice.
The southern fruit plays it cool
Citrus fruits do not continue to ripen after they have been harvested and they stay fresh for several weeks in the fridge. So you should store oranges at around 4 °C, only bringing them to room temperature when you want to squeeze them.
Don’t forget the peel
The orange peel also has its uses: it contains essential oils that smell divine and add a delicious flavour to your meals. Use a zester to shave off wafer-thin slices of orange peel and add them to your dishes. Dried orange peel is also great in tea blends.
Enjoy homemade orange juice
The best juice comes from oranges that you have squeezed yourself. For one glass of juice, you will need 3 to 4 oranges. Click here to find out how you can get even more juice from your fruit.
Here’s wishing you lots of fruity orange enjoyment!
Your Dole Team