To buy the best blood oranges possible, you need to learn what to look for and how to find them. You can find them at most grocery stores, supermarkets, and little markets.
It is not the nicest name for a delicious fruit
Blood orange is in name only. This great nutritious fruit got its name from the dark red or dark pink color found inside once you take the peel off. There are several reasons to buy this fruit option.
You can eat it like an orange for a great snack, turn it into juice like regular oranges, or add it to fruit cocktails and other desserts. This great-tasting fruit will meet any snack craving you have at any given moment.
What is the use of blood oranges?
There are many uses for blood oranges in both culinary and non-culinary applications. Here are some of the most common uses:
1. Culinary uses:
Blood oranges are versatile fruits that can be used in many different ways in the kitchen. Some popular culinary uses for blood oranges include:
Juicing:
Blood oranges make a delicious and healthy juice that is rich in vitamin C and other nutrients. The juice can be used as a base for cocktails, smoothies, or other drinks.
Salad dressings:
Blood oranges have a unique flavor that pairs well with many different types of salad dressings. They can be used to add a sweet and tangy flavor to vinaigrettes or other dressings.
Marmalade:
Blood oranges make a delicious marmalade that is sweet and tangy. The deep red color of the fruit gives the marmalade a beautiful hue that is perfect for gift-giving.
Baking:
Blood oranges can be used in baking to add a unique flavor and color to cakes, muffins, and other baked goods. They are particularly good when paired with chocolate.
2. Non-culinary uses:
In addition to their culinary uses, blood oranges have a number of non-culinary applications as well. Some of these include:
Aromatherapy:
Blood oranges have a refreshing and invigorating scent that is often used in aromatherapy. The essential oil of the fruit is used in diffusers, candles, and other products to promote relaxation and a sense of well-being.
Skincare:
Blood oranges are rich in vitamin C, which is a powerful antioxidant that can help protect the skin from damage caused by free radicals. The juice and oil of the fruit are often used in skincare products to help brighten and hydrate the skin.
Decoration:
The deep red color of blood oranges makes them a beautiful addition to any fruit platter or centerpiece. They can be sliced and arranged on a platter with other fruits, or used as a garnish for cocktails or other drinks.
Where can I buy blood oranges?
The fruit grows best in Mediterranean-like climates which means the trees for this fruit are found in Spain, Italy, and similar warm countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. They are also found in California and Florida.
If you live in those areas you may be able to buy them directly from the orchards. If not, then you need to go to your local supermarket, large grocery chain, or your local farmer’s market to find a great selection of these oranges.
They are even on sale at Walmart when they are in season. That means you can get them just about anywhere if the market has room for them on its shelves.
How to find blood oranges in the grocery store?
While they should be in your grocer’s fruit section, blood oranges are often mistaken for regular oranges. That is because they have the same type of orange-colored skin as regular oranges.
If your grocer hasn’t marked them as blood oranges, you can still tell them by either their more reddish tint or the green patches that come late in the season.
Most blood oranges will have an irregular deep red pattern on the skin setting them apart from the other kinds of oranges you can buy. They can also be more expensive than other types of oranges.
Although that price difference may not be very large. The key to finding them in your supermarket is to look for them when they are in season. The blood oranges are in season between December and April.
What to look for when you are buying blood oranges?
When the blood oranges are in season, you may find that your grocer has stocked one or all three of the varieties this orange comes in. There is the Moro, the Sanguinello, and the Tarocco varieties, and all are good.
Key features to look for when you buy blood oranges:
- Have a small light purple blemish on the skin
- Heavy = juicy
- Firm to the touch
Any that feels too soft, too mushy, and smells a bit moldy is discarded. Those options are going bad on you and won’t be good to eat. These oranges also have thick skin which means you do not have to put them in the fridge to keep them fresh and healthy.
What is the best time to buy blood oranges?
The best time to buy this variety of oranges is during its peak season. That season runs from December to April and the oranges are best during those few months.
However, it will depend on the variety of blood oranges when they are available. The Moro version, the most common in the United States, is only available from December to March.
Then the Tarocco variety is only grown during January and May with the Sanguinello between December and April. If your country, like Australia, is located in the southern hemisphere and grows its own blood oranges, their season is between August and October.
Those few months would be the best time to buy blood oranges from those countries. If you find blood oranges for sale in your country during August and October, then those oranges came from a southern hemisphere country and are still good to eat.
How much do blood oranges cost?
The cost you pay will depend on your grocer and if the blood oranges are in or out of season. Some prices have been quoted as $1.40 per pound in some locations.
But other locations are selling them for $35 for 10 pounds and $50 for 20 pounds. That puts the price between $3.50 and $2.50 per pound. You will have to check the different grocery stores in your area to see if they have blood oranges for less.
Look for specials and sales to help trim your costs a little bit. Every region of the country will have different prices.
Alternatives to blood oranges
There are quite a few orange varieties you can buy. Many of the more famous types, like Navel, Valencia, and Mandarin oranges have several categories. For example, Navel oranges have at least 4 different varieties. Tangerines are considered to be in the orange family as well.
Some final words
When you buy blood oranges, you are not being shortchanged. This variety of the ever-popular orange fruit family is filled with nutrition and great taste. The good news is that when they are in season, you can find this delicious fruit just about anywhere.
Their versatility makes them a popular fruit to buy. You can use them in desserts, as breakfast juice and so many other interesting dishes you can create.
Look for blood oranges that are heavy for their size, have smooth skin, and are free of blemishes or soft spots. The skin should also be brightly colored, with a deep reddish hue.
