🍊 The Difference Between Big Navel and Small Navel Oranges — Why It Matters
When buying oranges, one important feature to check is the navel — the small spot at the bottom of the fruit that looks like a belly button. This small detail can tell you a lot about the taste and juiciness of the orange.
✅ Big Navel Oranges
- Sweeter taste: Oranges with a big navel are generally richer in natural sugar, making them taste sweeter.
- More juice: These oranges tend to be juicier, which makes them perfect for eating fresh or making juice.
- Easy to peel: The skin of big navel oranges is usually looser, so you can peel them easily by hand.
- Seedless: Most large navel oranges are seedless, which is more convenient when eating.
⚠️ Small Navel Oranges
- Less sweet: These are often more sour or bland, with lower sugar content.
- Less juicy: They tend to be drier, which can be disappointing if you’re looking for a refreshing fruit.
- Tighter skin: Harder to peel due to tighter, thinner skin.
- May contain seeds: Some small-navel varieties may have seeds.
👉 What You Should Do
When shopping, turn the orange over and look at the navel.
- If the navel is large and pronounced, it’s likely a sweet and juicy orange.
- If the navel is small or barely visible, it might be less flavorful and drier.