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Oranges are loved globally for their sweet yet slightly bitter taste, which is why they are regarded as one of the most popular fruits in the world. Some shops will price organic produce such as oranges on their weight instead of setting a general price. This can lead to you overpaying if you do not know how much you should normally pay. Finding out the average weight of an orange can make sure you never overpay again.
Not only is this helpful for buying oranges, but it is also a good trick for knowing if an orange is still ripe or not. Most of the weight, as with the majority of fresh produce, is water weight. Once subjected to natural dehydration, and the loss of water due to age, an orange will start to weigh less and less. Knowing how much the average orange should weigh is a great way to make sure you are only using the freshest and finest fruits in your day-to-day life.
Table of Contents
- What is an orange?
- Different species of oranges
- How much does each species of orange weigh?
- Why do oranges weigh as much as they do?
- How to make orange juice
- Why oranges are worth it
What is an orange?
It may sound like a weird thing to sum up, but understanding the basics can still be important. An orange is a citrus fruit and is one of the most commonly found fruits in the world. They are one of the most consumed fruits and are seen in our daily lives as fruit, juice, smoothies, or as ingredients in recipes. Similar to an apple, there are many different species of oranges, all with their own distinctive flavor and size. As each species differ in size and weight, it can be normal for you to pay more for a larger orange than you would for a medium-sized orange.
Nutritional value of an orange
While the exact dosage of each nutrient in an orange will vary depending on its size and species, all oranges generally have the same nutritional value. They are incredibly healthy and have lots of nutrients and vitamins in them such as:
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
- Potassium
- Calcium
Thanks to this, oranges are known to boost your immune system, help fight cancer-causing free radicals, help your body make collagen, and also slow the rate of age-related vision impairment. Alongside this, oranges are also an anti-inflammatory that helps against health concerns such as diabetes, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s disease. A lot of these properties are caused by the high content of vitamin C that oranges have. They are a great source for it and the Vitamin C can also be obtained by drinking orange juice.
Different species of oranges
As mentioned, there are many different varieties and species of oranges, and comparing all of them will give you a drastic weight range when looking at an average, so it is best to divide them into the two main categories that you can. These categories are sweet and bitter, each matching the flavor profile of the species that are assigned to them.
Sweet oranges
Sweet oranges are quite literally known for being very sweet in flavor and are more often used for juicing than bitter ones. The four main species of sweet oranges are:
- Common oranges
- Blood oranges
- Navel oranges
- Acid-less oranges
- Mandarin orange
Bitter oranges
Bitter oranges have a more sour flavor to them and are more often used as garnishes or for more niche recipes. The main orange varieties for bitter flavors are:
- Seville orange
- Bergamot orange
- Trifoliate orange
- Kitchli
How much does each species of orange weigh?
While there is no fixed weight for how much an orange weighs, it will be easier to categorize them into sizes and give an example as to what species is considered what size.
Small oranges
A small orange will typically weigh 110 grams when fully ripe and ready to be sold. An example of a small orange is a mandarin orange or a tangerine. Not all small oranges are the same weight as it depends on how thick the peel is, but a single orange of small size should roughly weigh 110 grams, while still being defined as a small orange.
Medium-sized oranges
A medium-sized orange will on average weigh about 120 grams. but this differs depending on the species. A lot of commercially sold medium-sized oranges are species such as the Californian Valencia. On average these weigh 121 grams while still being labeled as no bigger than medium.
Large oranges
On the larger end of the scale, we have the navel orange. This is a large-sized orange that weighs around 140 grams on average. When looking to buy oranges in order to harvest the fruit, it is best to buy multiple singular large oranges than a large pack of smaller oranges. This is because large oranges have a better fruit-peel ratio. By this, I mean that multiple small oranges will have a lot of peel compared to one large orange.
Why do oranges weigh as much as they do?
One of the main reasons for an orange to be relatively heavy is all to do with hydration. When things are hydrated and saturated, they can be quite heavy. A sponge for example is very light unless you soak it in water. The same applies to an orange as they are quite light when dried. With this in mind, you can judge how ripe an orange is by its weight. Riper oranges will weigh more as they are hydrated, whereas older oranges will have started to dry out and therefore be a lot lighter.
The peel is another factor that comes into the weight of an orange. It is a lot denser than the flesh and fruit of an orange, and also it varies in thickness. Because of these two attributes, it can weigh the orange down significantly.
How to make orange juice
An excellent way to introduce oranges into your diet is to make fresh orange juice and drink it. If the fruit is too bitter for you, despite buying the sweet varieties, then the juice is perfect as it offsets the bitter flavor while still giving you all the necessary vitamins from the fruit.
It really is as simple as squeezing some oranges into a glass, but you can always go an extra step if you fancy. For traditional orange juice, you need about 4 small oranges or 2 medium oranges. It is as simple as rolling them on the table to loosen up the fruit and get the juices flowing, and then cutting them into halves. Once halved, either hand squeeze the juice into a jug, or use a juicer. You want to first put the juice in a container with a spout as it is best to then put the juice through a strainer to get rid of any seeds left over.
Otherways to enjoy orange juice is to mix it with other fruit juices, such as cranberry juice. Maybe you fancy something a little more ‘weekend-friendly’ and if that is the case, you can mix orange juice with ice and some vodka to make a cocktail that is known as a screwdriver. Just make sure to serve with a fancy umbrella and garnish with a whole slice of orange.
Why oranges are worth it
Oranges are a rich source of fiber and vitamin C. Therefore, knowing how to properly identify ripe and perfect oranges is ridiculously helpful. Oranges should make an appearance in everyone’s diet, even if they are eaten in a fruit salad or squeezed into juice. The nutrients, minerals, calcium and protein are all very much worth it. It also helps that they are absolutely delicious.
