What's the black thing at the bottom of navel oranges?
Sometimes I'll cut into a navel orange and notice something black inside which originates at the bottom of the orange, where the navel is. What is it?
I have seen it get pretty far into the fruit too. Like almost half way in... is it safe to eat an orange like this?
Best Answer
I'm not as familiar with citrus, but tomatoes and peppers can develop something called blossom-end rot. This is caused by the plant not receiving enough nutrients (specifically calcium), whether b/c the plant isn't getting enough water and thus can't get the nutrients out of the soil or b/c the soil is deficient.
Regarding whether it's safe to eat, a tomato w/ blossom end rot is still safe to eat, once you remove the affected area.
I hope this is helpful!
Do you have a picture of the orange in question? That would help greatly with diagnosis.
Pictures about "What's the black thing at the bottom of navel oranges?"
Is it safe to eat oranges with black spots?
Answer: Fruit with dark-brown discoloration on the skin has been attacked by citrus rust mites. Citrus rust mites, too tiny to be seen with the naked eye, generally just damage the skin. Fruit will often ripen normally, perhaps smaller, with the pulp and juice still good to eat.What is the bottom of an orange called?
Beneath the pith is the endocarp -- the part of the orange we eat. Each individually wrapped section of the orange meat is called a carpel. Carpels, in turn are each made up of smaller, individual juice filled sacs or juice follicles.Where is the seed of a navel orange?
The seedless part is pretty obvious\u2013 navel oranges have no seeds in them. Instead, if a grower wants more navel oranges, they have to cultivate a part of the plant they grow on in order to get new ones.Why do oranges have navels?
You most probably have asked yourself, \u201cWhy do Navel Oranges have Navels?\u201d The answer is simple: the navel-like formation on the fruit is a rudimentary or undeveloped \u201ctwin\u201d fruit that grew inside the main fruit. It is an oddity brought on by mutation which also caused the Navel Orange to be seedless.More answers regarding what's the black thing at the bottom of navel oranges?
Answer 2
It's probably Alternaria alternata or Black Rot, a type of mold. The fungus penetrates the orange through cracks that develop after harvest or during growth if the tree suffered through drought, frost, or disease. Typically the orange will also have a pale color and after some time will develop black spots on the surface. Discard.
Answer 3
Like this?
I was surprised to have selected one that looked like this on the inside. You really couldn't tell before cutting into it.
The rest of the orange looked fine. My family ate it this morning and none of us suffered any ill effects, as of 16 hours later.
Answer 4
Depending on how long you have had these oranges, this could be mold. However if you just bought them and the fruit is firm, it is very unlikely. In terms of safety, if it isn't very soft but firm, I don't see a problem with it.
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