Oranges taste sweet, are juicy and are full of vitamins. But not only that: oranges are also versatile. Whether pure, as juice or jam, in desserts or smoothies – oranges are just as suitable for baking and cooking as they are as a little snack in between. We reveal what makes oranges so healthy and why the juicy vitamin bombs are so good for our immune system.
Ingredients: Why oranges are so healthy
Oranges are rich in vitamins and minerals. For example, 100 grams of their flesh contain around 50 milligrams of vitamin C – more than half the recommended daily requirement. The vitamin strengthens the immune system and thus protects against infections. In addition, vitamin C improves the absorption of iron, which is needed for oxygen transport in the blood. The mineral is also found in the round fruit (0.4 milligrams per 100 grams). Oranges also contain vitamins of the B group, folic acid and phosphorus. Also in terms of calories oranges do not need to hide: 100 grams contain only about 47 kilocalories.
Oranges – versatile
In our country, citrus fruits are in season, especially in winter. Meanwhile, however, oranges are available in the supermarket all year round and are a fixed part of our menu. The southern fruit can be used to make much more than just freshly squeezed orange juice. For example, they taste particularly good this way:
- As orange marmalade
- In cookies, muffins and cakes
- In desserts such as tiramisu, orange cream or fruit salad
- In orange sauce as a garnish for fish or meat
- In salads, for example in fennel salad
- As a component of smoothies
What’s in orange peel
When peeling an orange should not be too thorough: Because not only the flesh of the orange is healthy, but also its white skin. This contains many secondary plant substances, which are supposed to protect against various diseases. The outer, orange-colored layer of the peel is also edible. It is used in wafer-thin strips (so-called zests) or in grated form, mainly for baking and cooking, but also for decorating desserts. However, care should be taken to use oranges of organic quality and to wash them thoroughly with hot water beforehand. Conventional oranges are often treated with preservatives or – to make them shine more beautifully – with wax, which is why their peel is not suitable for consumption. The candied orange peel, so popular in Christmas baking, is also obtained from orange peel. For its production, the peels of bitter oranges (bitter orange) are candied.
Orange essential oil
The orange peel also contains essential oils that spread a wonderful fragrance. This is not only made use of at Christmas, when you make scented candles from the peels or dry orange slices as decoration. The essential orange oil is also used throughout the year in aromatic bath additives and other cosmetics, but also in orange liqueur and food. 5 facts about oranges – jarmoluk
5 Tips for buying oranges
When buying oranges, you should look for good quality. It is best to take the following tips to heart:
- The peel should look thick and healthy, with no damage.
- Shriveled or damaged fruit is better not to buy.
- The fruit should be heavy in the hand and give a little under light pressure.
- Want to use the orange peel for consumption, be sure to use organic oranges.
- Be careful not to squeeze the fruit when buying, otherwise they will mold faster.
Harvest time of the orange
The harvest time of oranges varies depending on the variety and growing region, but is usually in late summer to winter. However, oranges develop their characteristic color only through cold weather. A green color is therefore not an indication of a lack of ripeness, but is quite normal, especially for fruit from an early harvest. In Europe, however, almost exclusively orange fruits are available. Like lemons and other citrus fruits, oranges do not ripen after harvest. Fruit in winter
The right storage
Oranges do not like it too warm or too cold. At room temperature, they will keep for about a week. However, if they are stored too warm, they can dry out internally and lose flavor.It is therefore better to store them in a cool pantry or in the cellar in an air-permeable basket. In addition, they should be checked daily for mold and rotten oranges should no longer be consumed.
Origin of the orange
Originally, the orange comes from China – hence the name orange (“apple from China”). There, the fruits were created from a cross between tangerine and grapefruit. In contrast to the bitter orange, which found its way to Europe as early as the Middle Ages, the sweet orange only came to us by sea in the 15th century. Today, oranges are the most widely grown citrus fruit – there are about 400 different varieties of the fruit worldwide.
