Savor the flavor: Your guide to picking perfect oranges
Oranges are an essential part of winter days. We eagerly reach for them as a healthy snack, an addition to cakes, or an ingredient in salads. Unfortunately, not every orange is equally tasty. Check out how to recognize the sweetest and juiciest ones.
橙子是冬日生活中不可或缺的一部分。我们总是热切地把它们当作健康的零食，或是添加到蛋糕中，又或是作为沙拉的一种食材。遗憾的是，并非每个橙子都同样美味。来看看如何识别出最香甜多汁的橙子吧。
Pay attention to the skin
留意橙子的表皮
The first thing that catches your eye is the color of the orange. A bright orange, uniform skin usually indicates the fruit is ripe. However, if you notice green spots, it's better to put that fruit aside — it means the orange hasn't fully ripened and may be sour.
首先映入你眼帘的是橙子的颜色。色泽鲜亮且均匀的橙色表皮，通常表明果实已经成熟。然而，如果你看到有绿色斑点，最好把那个橙子放到一边，这意味着橙子还没有完全成熟，可能会很酸。
Avoid fruits with spots, discolorations, or visible damage. Such blemishes may indicate the fruit's low quality or dryness.
要避开有斑点、变色或有明显损伤的橙子。这些瑕疵可能表明橙子质量欠佳或水分不足。
The condition of the skin is another crucial factor. Firm, slightly "waxy" skin with shallow pores is a sign that the fruit is juicy and fresh. On the other hand, oranges with thick, wrinkled skin may be dry and less tasty.
表皮的状况是另一个关键因素。紧实、略带“蜡质”且气孔较浅的表皮，是橙子汁水丰富且新鲜的标志。另一方面，表皮厚且有褶皱的橙子可能比较干，口感也没那么好。
Also, be cautious of fruits that shine unnaturally—they are often coated with a layer of wax, which can affect their taste and freshness.
另外，要小心那些光泽不自然的橙子，它们通常涂了一层蜡，这会影响橙子的口感和新鲜度。
The weight of the orange is also an important clue. Lighter fruits usually have thicker skin and less juice, while heavier ones are full of juicy pulp. Just pick up a few fruits and compare their weight—the difference can be noticeable at first touch.
橙子的重量也是一个重要线索。较轻的橙子通常表皮较厚，汁水较少，而较重的橙子则果肉多汁。只需拿起几个橙子，比较一下它们的重量，第一次触摸时就能感觉到明显的差别。
Another element to pay attention to is the fruit's ends. Highly raised ends suggest a thick skin and consequently less pulp. It's best to choose oranges with rounded ends, which have thinner skin and more sweet pulp.
另一个需要注意的地方是橙子的两端。两端凸起较高表明表皮较厚，相应地果肉就会较少。最好选择两端圆润的橙子，它们的表皮较薄，甜美的果肉更多。
Look for oranges with a "navel"
寻找有“肚脐”的橙子
Oranges with a distinctive "navel"—a small indentation at one end of the fruit—are usually a safe choice for sweet and juicy fruit lovers. This detail is not accidental. The "navel" is a characteristic feature of the Washington Navel variety, one of the most valued in the world. Interestingly, these fruits result from a natural genetic mutation, which causes a small undeveloped second fruit at the "navel" location.
有着独特“肚脐”（果实一端的小凹陷）的橙子，对于喜爱甜美多汁水果的人来说通常是个稳妥的选择。这个细节并非偶然。“肚脐”是华盛顿脐橙品种的一个特征，该品种是世界上最受推崇的橙子品种之一。有趣的是，这些橙子是自然基因突变的结果，这导致在“肚脐”位置有一个发育不完全的小橙子。
Additionally, this variety tends to have thinner skin, meaning you get more pulp relative to the fruit's volume. "Navel" oranges are also easier to peel—their skin often comes off smoothly, making them ideal as a quick and convenient snack.
此外，这个品种的橙子往往表皮较薄，这意味着相对于果实的体积，你能吃到更多的果肉。“脐橙”也更容易剥皮，它们的皮通常能很顺滑地剥下来，这使它们成为快速方便的零食的理想选择。
翻译：豆包
2025年1月19日于经典龙苑
