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Oranges Delivery or Pickup
The Instacart guide to orange products
About oranges
Originating in Southeast Asia, oranges have been around since ancient times. The word "orange" comes from the Sanskrit "naranga," which means fragrant. The orange began as a domestic fruit from a cross between a hybrid pomelo and a non-pure mandarin after its use spread to India. Spanish travelers were thought to bring the orange into America. In 1493, Christopher Columbus was thought to have planted the fruit in Hispanola. Spanish, Dutch, and Portuguese sailors planted these citrus trees along their routes to prevent scurvy.
Today, oranges are one of the most popular fruits around the world. In the United States, Florida and California are the largest orange producers, with 85% of its oranges produced used for juice. Orange juice is considered one of the healthiest beverages in the world due to its range of health benefits, which include improving circulation, boosting metabolism, and protecting against cancer. Packed with vitamin C and antioxidants, oranges are sweet and delicious, and you can use them in a variety of culinary dishes.
How to tell if oranges are ripe
Oranges are usually found year-round, although their peak season runs from November through April. Typically the tastier oranges are firm, smooth, and thick-skinned. The color of the skin doesn't signal if the fruit is ripe or has flavor, especially since some oranges are green when ripe. When you pick up the orange, it should have a noticeable amount of weight. This heaviness shows how much juice is in the orange. Give the orange a sniff as the sweetest and ripest fruits emit the scent of their juices through the skin.
Avoid oranges that have soft spots, feel spongy, or have any type of mold. Don't be afraid of small scratches or marks on the skin, as this has not an indicator of the juiciness of the fruit.
Common orange types
With more than 600 varieties of oranges available throughout the world, you're bound to find a flavor that suits your palate. Some of the more common types of oranges include the following:
- Common: Also called round and white, common oranges make up about two-thirds of all orange production. Most of these oranges are used for juice extraction. This category includes Valencia and Hamlin.
- Navel: These oranges seem to have a second fruit growing at its apex, which protrudes slightly and almost resembles a human navel. These are the most common type of orange that is eaten since they have a thicker skin that's easy to peel and have less juice. Caracara, which is also called red naval, is the most popular type.
- Blood: High concentrations of a pigment called anthocyanin give these oranges their dark red color. They're usually used for juice and in marmalade.
- Sweet: These oranges are also called acidless and are an early-season fruit. The lack of acid, which protects the juice against spoilage, makes them unfit for processing into juice, so they're primarily eaten.
- Hybrid: Several types of sweet oranges have produced a range of hybrids, most notably the grapefruit, Orangelo, Tangor, and Citrange.
Now that your mouth is watering and your brain is shuffling through all the recipes you can think of to use these delicious oranges, let Instacart help you select your oranges. Open your Instacart app, place oranges in your cart, and an Instacart shopper will get started on your order. You can wait at home for your oranges to arrive in as little as 2 hours!
Oranges Near Me
Buy your favorite Oranges online with Instacart. Order Bitter Oranges, Blood Oranges, Cara Cara Oranges, and more from local and national retailers near you and enjoy on-demand, contactless delivery or pickup within 2 hours.
FAQs about oranges
All citrus fruit will keep for a few days at room temperature, but the best way to store oranges is in the refrigerator. Keep them in the vegetable drawer, and they should last for several weeks. Don't put the fruit in a plastic bag or airtight container, since this can cause the fruit to get moldy. If you want to keep them contained, opt for a mesh bag so air can circulate around the fruit. For oranges that you want to use for juice, bring them back to room temperature as this will give you the most juice.
Yes, you can freeze oranges as long as you know that the texture changes when thawed. Freezing oranges is the perfect way to save them for later to make juice or add them to smoothies. To freeze them, peel the oranges and remove as much of the pith as possible. Divide each orange into segments, and place them into freezer-safe plastic bags or containers. They should keep for up to six months in the freezer.
Even if you're not planning to use the orange peel for any culinary dish, make sure you wash the orange before eating. Use an orange peeler or knife to remove the peel. Rolling the orange gently between your hands can loosen the peel and make it easier to remove.