Monday, January 28, 2008
Picking the right fruit
This may seem like a silly post. I just bought oranges tonight for the first time this winter. It's almost February! I have bad luck with oranges. I can pick ten yummy, juicy oranges in a row and then the next ten are dry, sour, or mush. Yet, to me they look the same. Is there a good way to pick the perfect orange? Anyone have any secrets to finding good fruit?
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6 comments:
Not sure about oranges, but I've become really good at picking good pineapple. Some people pick them by smell, some people pick them by seeing how easily the leaves can be pulled out.
I once heard on Racheal Ray that you pick pineapple by making sure that the eyes on it are the same size at the top as they are at the bottom. You then wait until the pineapple has turned more yellow than green. By using Racheal Ray's method I've never picked a bad pineapple. With the other two methods it was hit and miss...
One more comment! I just grabbed my Better Homes and Gardens cookbook (one of my favourites!!) and it has a section on picking fruits and veggies. Their recommendation is to choose oranges that are "firm and heavy for their size. Brown specking or a slight greenish tinge on the surface of an orange will not affect the eating quality". So its probably still luck of the draw, but hopefully that helps a little bit...
Good Question Liz. I sometimes wonder if I'm picking the best fruit of the batch too. I usually shop at Wal-Mart and they have little guides under each veggie/fruit title explaining how to pick the best one and how to best store it. I know that doesn't answer the question but I do like that they offer that info.
I pick oranges based on weight and firmness. The heavier they are for their size the more juice they have in them, which is why they are heavier. It seems to work for me. Thanks Claire about the pineapple comment, I have been too nervous to buy one because the leaves never pulled out easily. I love fresh pineapple!
Here is my cheating method for apples and oranges: buy the Walmart pre-bagged. Seriously, I've had the best luck buying bags of Gala apples and naval oranges. Pineapple has always worked for me to smell it. I need some pointers about picking good peaches, plums, nectarines, and the like. I NEVER pick the good stuff. Excellent question!
I taught at a Catholic school once, and our nun (sweetest lady ever) swore by #3107's. While living in Minnesota, I rarely went wrong when I picked 3107's. I have had a harder time finding them now that I'm not there.
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