Oranges

History

Oranges originate from South East Asia, but are now available in most warmer climates, with the United States being the major producer of oranges in the world./p>

Oranges were not named for their color. The word orange comes from the Sanskrit naranga which means "fragrant".

Season

Depending on the variety, oranges are available all year long, with a peak season during the winter months.

Varieties

There are three main varieties of oranges: sweet, loose-skinned and bitter.

Sweet: these oranges are for eating and juicing. They may have seeds or they may not. They are usually hard to peel. The three most popular sweet oranges are navel, Valencia and blood oranges.

Loose-skinned: these tend to be a part of the mandarin orange family. They can be sweet or even tart!

Bitter: these oranges are too bitter to eat raw. They need to be cooked to be palatable, for example, orange marmalade or bigarade sauce. Bitter oranges are also used to make essential oils and to make candied peel. Two types of oranges to look for when needing a bitter orange are Seville and bergamot.

Storage

Oranges can safely be stored on the countertop for 2 - 3 days, but keep longer in the refrigerator, up to 14 days.

How to Select

Select an orange that is heavy for its size and shows no signs of bruising, or has any shriveled or moldy skin. If possible, pick a brilliant colored orange.

Nutritional Qualities

Oranges have been touted to have extremely high Vitamin C, which helps maintain a healthy immune system. They are also have high fiber and no fat, which means you will be able to lose those extra holiday pounds easier! Oranges also have a fair amount of Folic Acid, Calcium, Potassium and Thiamine! So, not only are oranges good for anyone to eat, but they are particularly healthy for expectant mothers.

Once cut or squeezed, the Vitamin C quickly disappears. After only 8 hours at room temperature (or 24 hours in the refrigerator), approximately 25% of the Vitamin C is lost. Thus, canned or bottled orange juice products tend to have lower Vitamin C content unless they are fortified!

Wine Pairings

Depending on how you prepare your oranges and to what you are going to serve your orange-based recipe with, try one of these wines:
Chardonnay, Fume Blanc, Grenache Rose, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel or a Syrah.

Spices

Oranges are unique in the fact that if you are making a sweet dish, you can use spices like: cinnamon and nutmeg with it. But oranges, also, go well with garlic, basil and thyme in savory dishes!