Oranges with big navel and “small navel” are different

Introduction

Standing in the produce aisle wondering which oranges are the sweetest? Many shoppers have heard that small-navel oranges are juicier than large-navel oranges, but is that actually true?

While the size of an orange’s navel can offer a small clue, it isn’t the most reliable indicator of flavor or quality. Factors like ripeness, variety, growing conditions, and freshness play a much bigger role.

Here’s what you should know before filling your shopping basket.

Does Navel Size Affect Taste?

Navel oranges get their name from the small secondary fruit that forms at the blossom end, creating the characteristic “navel.”

Some oranges have:

• A large, open navel
• A small, nearly closed navel

Although some people continue reading …