How To Know If An Orange Is Bad

Learn the signs of a bad orange with this comprehensive guide about How to Know if an Orange has Gone Bad. Handy information, and some delicious citrus inspired recipes too!

Jump to:

• Appearance: How to Spot Mold and Discoloration
• Smell: Check for Strong or Sour Odor
• Texture: Soft and Spongy?
• Taste: How to Test for Freshness
• Avoiding Food Poisoning: When to Toss Oranges
• Serving Ideas
• Pan Seared Chicken Thighs
• Fresh Tangerine Sorbet
• Lemon Shrimp Salad
• Lemon Shortbread Cookies
• One Pot Lemon Ricotta Pasta
• Peach Green Tea Lemonade
• Maple Dijon Salad Dressing
• Frequently Asked Questions
• More Recipes to Try

Citrus fruits look pretty, shiny and fresh at the grocery store or farmer’s market, but what about when you get them home?

There’s more than one way to know if that orange you’re about to eat is bad, and it all comes down to these four things:

• Appearance
• Smell
• Texture
• Taste

Lets answer these burning questions, and give those bad oranges the boot!

Appearance: How to Spot Mold and Discoloration

The appearance of your citrus is a good way of knowing its freshness status. Watch for these signs:

1. Give them a good look on all sides. Sweet oranges should have a bright color, and that’s also a good indicator of a tasty orange.
2. If you see any mold or dark brown discoloration, time to say goodbye.
3. Same with outside skin discoloration, like in the photo above. Dark spots and old, dried-up skin are red flags.

Smell: Check for Strong or Sour Odor

Next, check the smell of your oranges.

1. Does it smell sour? If your nose wrinkles at the scent, time to toss it.
2. Do you detect a strong, unpleasant odor? If you catch a whiff of something funky, or see signs of mold developing, walk away.
3. Remember, a stinky orange is a sign that your orange is no longer at it’s juicy, fresh best.

Texture: Soft and Spongy?

TIP: This citrus assessment we’re doing applies to lemons, limes, and grapefruits too!

Here’s some telltale signs of bad texture in citrus fruits:

1. Soft spots that feel spongy to the touch. If you press on it and it feels soft, that’s a prompt to toss it.
2. Tight, dry looking skin on the orange. It can look shriveled, which means the fruit is drying out.
3. Bruising. Is it a mushy orange? Are there weird spots on the fruit? (A clear indication that it’s starting to break down and is close to going bad.)
4. If you notice any rubbery, gummy, sticky or otherwise strange textures, these are a clear signs of spoilage.
5. It’s never a bad idea to inspect your fruit first before eating it. And it’s best to err on the side of food safety, meaning, if you’re unsure, discard it.
6. Want more orange tips? Here’s a handy guide about How Long Oranges Last.

Taste: How to Test for Freshness

There’s nothing better than a juicy, cold, refreshing orange. And there are so many different types of oranges too, such as blood oranges, navel, mandarin, cara cara, or valencia oranges, plus many other varieties.

Fresh, ripe, cold oranges are a real treat in peak season and full of vitamin C.

Here are my expert tips about how to taste an orange for freshness:

1. The best method is to cut into a small piece of your fruit, avoiding the discolored spots.
2. Smell it! Is it giving you fresh, citrus-y vibes? Does it smell sour or off?
3. Take a small bite…are you getting a sweet taste of fruit juice? Sour and bitter flavors means it’s time to throw it out.

Avoiding Food Poisoning: When to Toss Oranges

Here’s some helpful tips that can reduce your chances of food poisoning with citrus fruits.

While there’s no precise answer, it’s a good idea to be cautious and use your best judgement when it comes to food safety in general. If in doubt, throw it out!

1. Wash your hands and the fruit before peeling and eating it. This will remove any bacteria, dirt or chemicals that may be present.
2. Look at the fruit – are there any signs of spoilage like discoloration, mold, soft texture, dry skin or a sour smell? Discard the fruit if any of these show up.
3. Store the fruit properly. A cool, dry, place or room temperature away from direct sunlight is best. A warm and damp environment will quickly cause spoilage.
4. Be cautious with already-cut fruit! Be sure to store orange slices in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for just a day or two before eating.
5. Cooking with citrus fruit? Use the appropriate temperature for the recipe to destroy any harmful bacteria that may be present.

Serving Ideas

Oranges and other citrus fruits are a great ingredient for cooking and baking, and depending where you live, they may be available year-round. Generally, the season for citrus fruits is November through April.

Use fresh citrus for:

• Baked goods: Orange, lemons and lime zest add a fresh citrus flavor to cookies, pies and cakes.
• Main meals: Use fresh citrus with chicken, fish, and even beef to add lots of flavor to main meals. Also great as a marinade with olive oil and seasonings.
• Salads: So many choices here! Great for homemade salad dressings, or sliced and added to green salads for a burst of fresh flavor.
• Drinks: Use fresh citrus to flavor lemonade, iced tea and cocktails.
• Sauces: Use the zest and juice to make a lemon butter sauce, glaze or cream.
• Snacks: Eat fresh citrus wedges by themselves for a healthy snack.

Need some recipe ideas that use fresh citrus? Take a look below for some delicious recipes to get you started!

Pan Seared Chicken Thighs

• Pan Seared Chicken Thighs: Tender, juicy and full of flavor, these chicken thighs get the orange flavor boost from marinating in citrus fruits and searing the outside in a skillet. Delicious!

Fresh Tangerine Sorbet

• Fresh Tangerine Sorbet: This cold, icy treat is super easy to make, and is absolutely delicious. 1000% better than sorbet from the grocery store!

Lemon Shrimp Salad

• Lemon Shrimp Salad: An all-time favorite salad with romaine lettuce, flavorful lemon marinated shrimp, homemade croutons and lemony ranch dressing. Perfection!

Lemon Shortbread Cookies

• Lemon Shortbread Cookies: Made in a cake pan and sliced, these Lemon Shortbread Cookies are soft, thick and incredibly delicious, with a tart sweet glaze on top.

One Pot Lemon Ricotta Pasta

• One Pot Lemon Ricotta Pasta: An easy and comforting one-pot dinner with green peas and lots of parmesan cheese. Yum!

Peach Green Tea Lemonade

• Starbucks Peach Green Tea Lemonade Recipe: Bring out a tray of these refreshing drinks and watch everyone say “ooh and ahh” …this peachy, citrus-y drink really hits the spot.

Maple Dijon Salad Dressing

• Maple Dijon Salad Dressing: This vibrant dressing tastes wonderful on salads and grilled vegetables. It’s easy to make and lasts several days in the refrigerator.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Recipes to Try

• Soft Triple Chocolate Cookies: These taste truly amazing. So good.
• How To Tell If Squash is Bad: A Simple guide.
• Citrus Chicken Recipe web story is here. Recipe is above!
• Carrots with Almonds: A very tasty side dish.
• Carrot Currant Salad: A wonderful fresh salad with no mayo!

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