How Long Does An Orange Last?

Oranges last a long time, typically around two weeks. However, how long an orange lasts greatly depends on its storage conditions. If oranges are stored in a cool, dark place, they will last longer. If they are stored in a warm or humid place, they will begin to spoil more quickly. To make an orange last even longer, you can store it in the fridge. This will keep it from drying out and prevent it from going bad as quickly.

How To Store Oranges?

There are two different approaches to take when it comes to keeping whole oranges.

You may store them at room temperature in the pantry or even in a fruit basket in the kitchen, whichever is most convenient for you. They retain more of their juices this manner, but their shelf life is significantly shortened. If you know that you are going to consume those fresh oranges within the next several days, this is the best choice to go with.

The second option is to chill the oranges in the refrigerator. They won’t be as juicy, but in return for that, you gain a shelf life that is far longer. If you are purchasing in quantity during a sale, or if a member of your family or a friend who owns an orchard contributed part of their crop with you, this is the ideal choice for you.

Keep oranges that have already been peeled, chopped, or segmented in the refrigerator if you have them on hand already prepared. Put them in either a container with a tight-fitting lid or a freezer bag, depending on what you have on hand. If you are using a plastic bag that can be sealed again, you should press out all of the air before you close it.

Oranges may be frozen for later use if there are more oranges on hand than there are opportunities to utilize. Even if there are just a few things you can do with frozen oranges, freezing them is still a better alternative than throwing them away.

Tip: Juicing oranges is a fast and efficient way to use up a large quantity of oranges. Many people like drinking orange juice in the morning since it is a good source of vitamin C and a tasty beverage. The one and only drawback of making your own orange juice is that it will only keep for a few days; however, you can get around this problem by freezing the orange juice.

How Long Do Oranges Last?

	Pantry	Fridge
Whole orange	10 – 14 days	21 – 30 days
Cut orange		3 – 4 days

These storage periods, as you can see, are pretty comparable to the length of time that grapefruits are good for, but they are somewhat longer than the amount of time that clementines remain edible.

The precise length of time that oranges may be kept fresh is notoriously difficult to determine. It all relies on the selection, the quality, and something that a lot of people overlook, which is how long the items were kept before they were put on the shelf.

If you search the internet thoroughly, you will find that the solutions are dispersed in many different places. My suggestions are based on both my own experience and the information provided by the FoodKeeper app.

How To Tell If Oranges Are Bad?

There are a number of potential pitfalls to watch out for when purchasing almost any kind of food product. Begin with the orange in its entirety and look for these things:

Visual changes: It is okay for the fruit to have minor discolorations on the rind (dots, etc.), but you should throw it away if it develops mold.
Texture alterations: If the fruit seems to be in good condition, give it a little squeeze. It need to have a little bit of give, but not a lot. It is time to get rid of it if it has become very soft, mushy, or dried out.
Off smell: You should toss the orange if it has lost its zesty scent and smells weird (or strange).

If your specimen has made it through all of the previous inspections, you may now peel it and examine the insides of it. Again, be sure to look for any changes in the way the color, texture, and smell of the food.

In the event that everything seems to be in order, the last step is to sample its flavor. If it does so with flying colors, then you may congratulate yourself; that orange is in excellent condition. If it has an average flavor, the decision to consume it or throw it away is entirely up to you. Get rid of the citrus fruit immediately if you find that it has an unpleasant flavor.

Tip: You can determine whether or not your tangerines and clementines are still safe to consume by using the same procedure.