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How To Check If An Orange Is Bad: The Signs Of Rotten Oranges

Fresh oranges taste sweet and refreshing. But what if you end up biting into a bad orange? The fruit doesn’t just taste terrible but it also has a rancid smell.

How To Check If An Orange Is Bad: The Signs Of Rotten Oranges

Rotten oranges don’t just lose their flavor but they can also be dangerous for your health. That’s why, it’s a good idea to check your oranges before you eat them.

In this article, we take a look at the different signs of bad oranges and how you can check if an orange is rotten.

Signs That Oranges Are Bad

In order to tell if an orange is bad, you will need to check for a few clear signs on your orange, from a soft texture to a rancid smell.

Here are the signs that show you that your orange has gone bad.

The Orange Smells Bad

Fresh oranges have a slightly sweet smell, similar to other citrus fruits. However, a bad orange has a foul odor that smells musty.

If your orange doesn’t smell at all or you can sense as rancid fragrance coming from your fruit, then your orange has gone bad.

The Orange Has A Soft Texture 

One of the first things you notice when you touch an orange is its firm skin. This being said, rotten oranges have a mushy texture with a soft skin.

As oranges ripen, their skin gets softer over time. Not all oranges with a soft skin are bad, so make sure to check some of the other signs on our list.

The Orange Shows Signs Of Mold Growth

If you notice a few small green spots growing on the orange rind, then this might be mold growth.

While not all brown spots on an orange are bad, you should avoid any green or blue spots as this could indicate mold or fungi growing on your orange peel.

The Orange Rind Has Brown Spots

If your orange has brown spots that look mushy and soft, then your citrus fruit might have gone bad.

This being said, an orange can also have small imperfections, such as scratches or specks on the rind.

These are just small scars on the surface and they don’t impact the taste of your orange.

However, if you spot any white or brown discolorations on the orange rind, then this could be due to bacterial growth. It’s best to dispose of your orange then.

The Orange Rind Is Dry Or Shriveled 

Store-bought oranges usually last longer because they are refrigerated. This means that they don’t grow mold so easily.

This being said, if you keep your oranges in a fruit bowl, then it’s easier for fungi, mold and bacteria to grow on your fruit’s surface.

If you store your oranges in the fridge for weeks, then you will spot the orange peel going dry. The peel shrivels and feels very fragile when you touch it.

This is a sign that your refrigerated orange has gone bad.

How To Check If An Orange Is Bad: The Signs Of Rotten Oranges

The Orange Tastes Sour Or Bitter 

A rotten orange doesn’t just look bad but it can also taste bitter or sour. If you notice your orange juice has a bitter taste, then it’s not fresh anymore.

The Orange Skin Is Slimy 

A spoiled orange also has a slimy skin with a mushy texture. This may not show with the first signs but if you notice a slimy skin on your orange, then just throw it away.

Best Ways To Tell If An Orange Has Gone Bad

Make sure that you look for all the signs that indicate your orange has gone bad, including a soft skin and green growth on the surface.

Here are some of the best ways how you can tell if an orange is rotten.

Look At Your Orange

The first thing you should do to check if your orange is good or bad is to look at the fruit close. If you can spot any white or brown discolorations or slimy spots, then your orange is starting to rot.

Keep in mind that some oranges may have surface scars that are natural but make sure to check for any other spoiled orange signs.

Smell Your Orange

Another clear sign that your orange has turned bad is a foul or moldy smell. A fresh orange has a lightly sweet fragrance that is typical for many citrus fruits.

If you notice an unpleasant smell coming from your orange, then it is likely that the fruit has started to rot. The bad smell of an orange is a clear indicator that the fruit has gone bad.

Gently Squeeze Your Orange

Once you took a close look at your orange and checked the smell, you can pick it up and gentle squeeze it in your hand.

Bad oranges have a soft texture with mushy spots across the fruit’s surface. You may even notice juice coming out of the orange if it has been left rotting for a longer time.

Taste Your Orange

If you couldn’t find any signs on the outside of your orange, then you should peel it and taste it. A rotten orange has a bitter, fermented taste that means you should throw the fruit away.

Final Thoughts

The best way to check if your orange is bad is by checking its appearance and smell. If it smells musty and has brown or green spots, then it’s best to put your orange into the trash.

Justin Roberts