Choosing fresh fruits can be more difficult than it sounds. It takes a lot of observations and keen use of senses to spot which fruit is fresh and which one is not. A fruit can show freshness through its color--the skin usually appears bright and blemish-free when fresh, and turns darker and bruised when old。選擇新鮮的水果聽起來容易，做起來難。需要大量的觀察和敏銳的感覺才能發現哪些水果是新鮮的，哪些不是。可以通過觀看水果的顏色來判斷它是否新鮮——新鮮的水果果皮一般比較明亮、無瑕疵，時間長了顏色就發暗並有擦傷。 However, some types of fruits may appear fresh, even if the condition inside says otherwise. But you can still confirm freshness when these fruits smell sweet and are firm to the touch。然而，有一些種類的水果即使果肉不新鮮了，看上去可能也很新鮮。但如果這些水果聞起來很甜美，摸起來很硬，那它們無疑就是新鮮的。
1. Look for apples that are bright-colored and without any bruises. 挑蘋果要挑顏色鮮亮、表皮無擦傷的。 You can always tell that an apple is fresh when the skin appears lustrous and free from cuts and discolorations. Apples that are bright with small specs of green on the skin may also be fresh--but may not be as tasty as those with solid bright colors. The months of October to November are the best times to buy fresh apples. 如果蘋果有光澤、表皮無傷無色斑，那麼它就是新鮮的。如果表皮鮮亮帶有綠色色斑，那它也可能是新鮮的——但味道可能比那種色澤明亮的蘋果差一些。十月和十一月是購買新鮮蘋果的最佳時機。
2. Inspect the skin surfaces of bananas. 觀察香蕉的表皮。 Bruises and soft spots on a banana peel may mean that it's old. Fresh bananas usually appear radiant yellow and are firm to the touch. Bright yellow bananas with little shades of green may also be fresh, but need to be stored at room temperature to ripen completely. Bananas are available year-round, so you can go and buy you fresh ones anytime of the year。香蕉皮上有傷和點點說明它可能不新鮮了。新鮮香蕉看起來呈亮黃色，摸起來很硬。色澤明亮帶有綠邊的香蕉也可能是新鮮的，但需要在室溫下儲存來讓它完全成熟。香蕉一年四季都有，所以你可以在任何時候去買新鮮的香蕉。 3. Examine the firmness and color of fresh pears. Being firm to touch is one of the many indicators of freshness. 查看梨的硬度和顏色。摸起來硬說明它可能是新鮮的。
Fresh pears also have lustrous color and smooth skin。
The radiance of the color depends on the type of pear you're choosing--fresh Bartlett pears usually appear rich yellow, fresh Anjou and Comice pears often have radiant color of light green to yellowish-green, and fresh Bosc pears appear bright brown-yellow to greenish-yellow in color. Pears are best when bought within the month of November。新鮮的梨也有鮮亮的顏色和光滑的果皮。顏色的明亮程度取決於梨的類型——新鮮的巴梨通常很黃，新鮮的冬梨和考密斯梨的顏色通常在淺綠色和黃綠色之間，新鮮的博斯克梨顏色在棕黃色和黃綠色之間。梨最好在十一月份購買。
4. Go for fresh oranges with bright color, blemish-free and smooth-textured skin. 挑選橘子時，要選顏色明亮、無瑕疵、表皮紋理光滑的。Fresh oranges may also emit sweet orange scent, are firm and can be heavy for their size. Oranges that are not fresh may look dull, rough, light and spongy. You can buy sweet oranges in good condition from mid-November until February。新鮮的橘子會散發出甜美的橘子味，摸起來硬，稱起來重。不新鮮的橘子看起來暗沉、粗糙，重量輕、呈海綿狀。你可以在十一月中旬到二月間挑選美味的橘子。5. Choose peaches with smooth skin, and without cuts or bruises to ensure freshness. 選桃子時要挑表皮光滑、無傷或無瑕疵的來保證新鮮度。 Fresh peaches are also firm but somewhat soft when you put pressure on them. For peaches that are fresh but a little bit hard, you can store them in a brown paper bag under room temperature to ripen. These peaches will not be as sweet as those that are already completely ripe. You can buy fresh peaches from July to September。新鮮的桃子摸起來硬，但當你稍微用力就會覺得有點兒軟。新鮮但有點兒硬的桃子可以在室溫下放在棕色的紙袋子裡，這樣就會慢慢成熟。這些桃子可能不如熟透了的桃子甜。你可以在七月到九月間挑選新鮮的桃子。6. Spot good pineapples by observing their appearance, heaviness and scent. 挑菠蘿時要看外觀、稱重量、聞氣味。 A fresh pineapple usually has bright yellow, orange or brownish-yellow color; the "eyes" that surround its body may be a bit separated from each other. It may also appear plump and weigh heavy for its size. And when it's freshly ripe, it emits a sweet fragrance that can be smelled within a short distance. You can usually purchase fresh sweet pineapples during the start and peak of summer。新鮮的菠蘿呈亮黃色、橙黃色或棕黃色。表皮上的“眼睛”相互分離。看起來飽滿，稱起來重。成熟的菠蘿會散發出甜美的芳香，離近了就能聞到。你可以在夏初或夏中購買新鮮甜美的菠蘿。 7. Buy strawberries that are bright red in color, and choose those without blemishes and with green caps. 買草莓時挑顏色鮮亮、無瑕疵帶綠蒂的。 Fresh strawberries are also firm to the touch, have sweet fragrance, appear plump and are dry instead of being moist. Smaller-sized strawberries often are sweeter compared to those of the larger kind. Strawberries are usually at their best from June to early August。新鮮的草莓摸起來硬、聞起來香、看起來飽滿，表皮干燥而不潮濕。小草莓通常比大草莓要甜。六月到八月初的草莓最好吃。 8. Get a watermelon that is lustrous green rind and is free from blemishes, punctures or dents. 購買西瓜時要買顏色鮮綠、無擦傷、無洞或無凹痕的。
A fresh watermelon usually appears plump, firm, weighs heavy for its size and is well-proportioned. You can tell that a watermelon is fully ripe and juicy when you hear a deep and hollow sound as you tap it with your knuckles. If you want to buy sliced watermelons, an indication of freshness would be bright red, firm flesh and dark-colored seeds. Watermelons are usually at their peak from June to late August。新鮮的西瓜看起來飽滿、堅硬，稱起來重，比例勻稱。用指關節敲打西瓜，聽到深沉、空洞的聲音說明西瓜熟透了且多汁。如果你想買切好的西瓜，挑顏色鮮紅、果肉堅硬、種子深色的。西瓜通常在六月至八月下旬成熟。
