Exact Answer: 1-3 weeks
Fruits contribute a lot to your general body health. Oranges, in this case, have various health benefits, including keeping the doctor away since they raise your body immunity. Oranges can either be consumed as a fruit or cooked alongside other dishes.
Here are some of the health benefits of including oranges in your diet
1) Maintain a normal cholesterol level
Oranges contain compounds that help regulate blood cholesterol levels. For instance, the fiber present in cholesterol stops the digestive tract from digesting too much cholesterol.
2) Improve cardiac health
Potassium and Vitamin C present in oranges are essential in promoting excellent cardiovascular health.
3) Prevent contraction of kidney stones
Citrate, a compound found in urine, causes kidney stones when in low amounts. Consumption of oranges regularly reduces the risk of contracting kidney stones since they increase cerate levels in urine.
4) Improve immunity
Vitamin C in oranges improves your general health. Oranges also contain other essential nutrients suitable for the proper functioning of your immune system.
5) Regulate blood pressure
Oranges contain nutrients that maintain blood pressure and prevent the occurrence of blood pressure-related diseases.
How long do oranges last?
Oranges last depending on their storage and freshness. Fresh oranges tend to last longer. At room temperature, they are suitable for consumption for 2-3 weeks. In a refrigerator, oranges last for a maximum of 3 months.
Whole oranges last longer than cut oranges. Cut oranges are exposed to numerous factors, including air and moisture, that fasten the rooting process. It is, therefore, essential to ensure that oranges are stored whole. The cut ones should be consumed as soon as possible or stored in a refrigerator for a maximum of two days.
As a farmer, you can ensure that your oranges are in a good state by leaving some of them on the trees during harvesting. By doing so, you enhance their sweetness and increase their shelf life.
Below is a table of the various storage conditions of oranges and how long they last in each state.
| Storage condition | Shelf life |
| Room temperature | 1 week |
| Refrigerator | 2-3 weeks |
| Freezer/Cold Storage | 3-4 months |
Always remember that oranges should be discarded as soon as any spoilage occurs to prevent food poisoning.
Why Do Oranges Last That Long?
At room temperature
As mentioned earlier, at room temperature oranges are edible for a maximum of seven days. After that, mold starts forming on the skin of the orange. As time progresses, the mold penetrates to the flesh of the oranges, making them unfit for human consumption.
At room temperature, various factors cause food spoilage like moisture and oxygen, thereby causing the fast deterioration of food.
Refrigerator
The conditions in a refrigerator are not suitable for the growth of micro-organism, resulting in slow mold growth. Oranges in a fridge, therefore, last for a few more weeks compared to those stored at room temperature.
Freezer
In a freezer, the temperatures are very low, discouraging the spoilage of food. Oranges to be stored in a freezer should be coated in sugar to prevent them from becoming bitter.
