As of: February 9, 2024 3:33 p.m
Freshly harvested citrus fruits are in season in winter. They provide a lot of vitamin C during the cold season. What is the difference between orange, kumquat, grapefruit and the like? Tips on purchasing, storage and preparation.
Citrus fruits are one of the most popular types of fruit in winter. Oranges, tangerines, grapefruits and other delicious varieties are in bright colors in the shops. They are healthy and an important source of vitamins during the cold-prone season. Citrus fruits contain a lot of vitamin C, as well as vitamins from the B group, minerals such as calcium and potassium and fiber. Since citrus fruits are mostly eaten raw, the valuable components are completely preserved.
Lots of vitamin C in citrus fruits
Per 100 grams of fruit contains:
Lemons: 55 milligrams (mg)
Orange: 50 mg
Limette: 45 mg
Grapefruit: 40 mg
Kumquat: 35 mg
Mandarine: 30 mg
for comparison
Apple: 10 mg
black currant: 175 mg
Daily requirement of an adult
100 mg
This is how the most important citrus fruits differ
There is a large selection of citrus fruits in stores. But what do the fruits actually taste like and what are the differences? An overview:
Orange, blood orange and kumquat: Oranges are sensitive to pressure. Damage to the shell leads to faster decay. Blood oranges are particularly juicy and have a strong taste. The high content of secondary plant substances, the so-called anthocyanins, ensures the dark, red-orange flesh. Kumquats are particularly small fruits. They have a soft, edible shell. The kumquat seeds are also soft and edible. The taste is bitter-tart to sweet-sour. Like oranges, kumquats can be used as a sauce for savory dishes or in desserts, as a liqueur and as a syrup.
Mandarin and clementine: Tangerine is a collective term for various citrus fruits that are available from October to January. The clementine is a cross between mandarin and bitter orange. It is particularly juicy and sweetly aromatic, easily divided and practically seedless. Clementines have a firmer skin than tangerines. Very old tangerines and clementines feel soft because a cavity forms between the peel and the pulp when stored for a long time.
lemon: Unlike oranges, lemons continue to ripen. Nevertheless, the skin should not be leathery and, if possible, not too thick. Small, heavy fruits are ideal – they give a lot of juice. When slicing, good quality can be recognized by a thin shell and few seeds. Because of its high vitamin C content, lemon juice is considered an all-purpose weapon for colds.
Further information
The healthy and aromatic fruits can be used in many ways in the kitchen. Storage tips and recipes. more
Lime: The fruits contain almost twice as much juice as lemons. They are green in color and have hardly any seeds. Dark green limes may be overripe. They then taste unpleasantly sour. Yellow-colored limes, on the other hand, have a bitter taste. They are available all year round because they come from tropical growing areas.
Grapefruit and grapefruit: Grapefruits have a pink colored skin. They are a natural cross between orange and grapefruit. Grapefruits are a separate species: the green to deep red fruits with a firm peel reach a weight of up to 1.5 kilograms, making them the largest citrus fruits. If grapefruits and pomelos are stored at around 15 degrees, they can gain in aroma. Caution: The furocoumarins (also furanocoumarins) in grapefruits can dangerously increase the effects of cholesterol-lowering drugs, antihypertensive drugs, anticoagulants and antibiotics.
Season in the winter half of the year: Recognize ripeness when shopping
In southern Europe, citrus fruits are harvested in winter, early varieties from November and late varieties until May. This means they are sold fresh in the cold season. Some species, such as oranges, do not ripen and must fully ripen on the tree. There they hardly lose any quality for months. The color of the peel says little about the degree of ripeness. A rich orange color does not occur when there is a lot of sun, but when there are large differences between day and night temperatures. Green spots do not mean any loss of quality.
Store in the refrigerator – eat at room temperature
The thicker the peel, the longer citrus fruits can be stored. They stay just as fresh in the fruit compartment of the refrigerator as they do in a cool pantry. So that they can develop their full aroma, they should be at room temperature when consumed.
Peel of organic fruits less contaminated with pesticides
There may be chemical residues on the peel of citrus fruits. For organically grown citrus fruits, neither sprays nor protective agents are used to ripen or preserve them. Citrus fruits Conventional cultivation, on the other hand, is treated with pesticides all year round, often waxed and sometimes dyed. The pesticides are contained on and in the peel.
For lemons, oranges and tangerines there is a requirement to label preservatives. References such as “preserved” or “with preservatives” are intended to ensure transparency. The term “untreated” is misleading for consumers, which simply means that the fruits were no longer chemically treated after harvest. The use of wax must be labeled on all citrus fruits.
Preparation: Wash fruits from conventional cultivation
When preparing conventionally grown citrus fruits, avoid contact between the peel and the pulp due to possible pesticide residues. Wash the fruit carefully under hot water before peeling. After peeling, wash your hands with warm water and soap. Only give small children fruit that has already been peeled. Do not consume the peels or use them to flavor food and drinks.
Do not take medication with grapefruit or juice
Anyone taking medication should be aware of possible interactions with grapefruits. Although they are healthy, they also contain so-called furanocoumarins. These substances ensure that certain medicines, such as antihypertensive drugs, pass from the intestines into the bloodstream in much higher doses than intended. The result can be a dangerous overdose. Anyone taking medication should therefore read the package leaflet carefully and, if in doubt, avoid grapefruits and their juice.
Further information
Zora Klipp prepares the delicious dish with salted lemon and potatoes in a North African stew pot. Recipe
4 Min
For the festive soup, Rainer Sass cooks a tasty chicken broth as a base and uses the meat as a garnish. 4 mins
A festive dessert with citrus flavors: bitter liqueur, star anise and amarettini give the cream a special touch. Recipe
A healthy and delicious starter from the show Family Cooking Duel. Recipe
Oranges contain vitamin C – ideal for the cold season. This allows consumers to recognize juicy and ripe fruits. more
This topic in the program:
NDR Info | Economy | July 21, 2023 | 3:01 p.m