Choose the best common fruit

For something that seems so simple, buying fruit can be extremely complex. If you look around in any grocery store’s produce section, you’ll notice people sniffing, squeezing, and examining their fruit very carefully. Apples - A ripe apple will be firm and intensely colored. Depending on the variety, there should also be a somewhat rosy tone. Blueberries - Look for blueberries that are dry, firm, and brightly colored. Pass up those that are moist, watery, or dull in color. Cherries - Look for a bag full of purplish cherries, mostly dark, filled in with a few bright red ones. The darker the cherries, the sweeter they’ll taste.

Oranges - When looking for a ripe orange, no need to worry about color. Oranges with green or brown patches can be just as ripe. For the best flavor, heavy orange with a thin, look for a firm, smooth skin. Pears - Most pears in the supermarket are not yet ripe, so prefer those that are firm, but not extremely hard, and free from dark soft spots. Plums - The best plums are those that yield somewhat to pressure and have a deep color and semi-soft tip.