Do Oranges Go Bad?

Let’s say you find yourself hungry and want a quick and simple snack. A great option is oranges. They are a natural and healthy food that you have to peel, and they will be ready to eat in segments, although you can also use them to prepare juices and dishes, it all depends on what you want to do.

You may be thinking of buying a couple of oranges, or you have already done it. In both cases, you may be concerned about how long they can last before they go bad and how to store them properly so that they last as long as possible. If that is the case, you arrived at the right place. In this article, we will teach you everything you need to know about it.

How to store Oranges

The orange is a traveling fruit that has spread from Southeast Asia, its region of origin, to the entire world. This particularity is because it is an excellent source of vitamin C. Consuming 100 grams of this fruit will provide you with around 90% of the amount you need daily of this vitamin. Apart from that, the orange also has anti-cancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor.

For all these reasons, oranges are one of the best options to be part of your daily diet, but you will only have access to all their benefits if you dedicate the necessary effort to store them properly. To store the oranges in such a way that they do not spoil once you have obtained them, you must do the following:

Get a suitable place.

Oranges can be stored at room temperature as long as the place where you keep them is cool, dry, and also dark. The pantry should work perfectly for this task, so you should not have problems if you use it.

The best thing to do is to put them in a basket or an uncovered container if you choose this method to preserve their freshness. It should be noted that while oranges are at room temperature in the open, they will not last long in good condition, but on the other hand, they will remain very juicy, so you should choose this option only if you plan to consume them quickly.

Keep them refrigerated

A more durable option is to keep them refrigerated. Oranges will not stay as juicy as leaving them at room temperature, but if the period in which it is possible to consume them extends, then this is the way you should take.

The above mentioned is for the case of oranges when they are complete. That is to say, when you have chopped the orange, you intend to save leftovers. You must take other procedures, but don’t worry, it is very simple. All you have to do is place the orange segments in an airtight container that guarantees that they will not be affected by pollutants and bad smells. Once this is done, what continues is to store the orange in the refrigerator.

Can You Freeze Oranges?

You probably don’t feel like consuming oranges for now, or suddenly you receive an abundant harvest of oranges, and you can’t use them all so quickly. For any of these cases, you will be thinking about long-term conservation methods. Luckily you can count on freezing because it is an effective way to store oranges.

You can keep your oranges whole or chopped, with or without the peel. Whatever the case, all you have to do is place them in a freezer bag and remove all the air you can. Once this is done, they will be ready to freeze. In this state, they will remain fresh from three months to a year, depending on how many times you take them out of the freezer and store them.

How Long Does Oranges Last

Regarding how long oranges last in good condition, you must remember that it is an organic product. Specifically speaking, fresh fruit. These are not recognized for being long-lasting, so it is always recommended that you consume them so as quickly as possible and buy only the amount you plan to use within a short time.

Oranges do not come with labels that indicate dates of consumption, and defining one is not an easy task because this capacity is determined by various factors such as the quality of its harvest, the conditions, and the methods used to be stored before you get them.

Assuming that your oranges are of a high-quality harvest and that in the course of that moment until you get them, they have been treated in the best possible way, then we can estimate their duration in two different cases:

-If they are complete, they can last three weeks at room temperature and around two months in the refrigerator.

-If you chopped the oranges into segments, they will last only a couple of hours at room temperature and about three days when refrigerated.

How to Tell If Oranges Is Bad

After your oranges have been stored for a while, you need to ask yourself if they are in good condition and check them before consuming them. Otherwise, you may be exposing yourself to the possibility of getting sick from eating something that may be harmful to your health.

When you take an orange to see if it is spoiled, you must check two parts, the exterior and then the interior. In both parts, you must check for the presence of mold, any unpleasant smell, or changes in the consistency and color that are out of parameters that are considered normal.

If your orange has any of these characteristics, the best you can do is get rid of them immediately. Otherwise, you can consume them without any problem. A slightly old orange may not taste as fresh, but if it does not show signs of being in bad condition, it is completely up to you to decide if you want to consume it or not.

Sources:

Does it go bad

Eat by date

Foods guy