There’s a reason certain fruits and vegetables are sold in nets (Image: Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Ever picked out the most luscious-looking orange from your local , only to find it less vibrant at home?
You’re not alone. And it’s all to do with the netting in which certain fruits and vegetables are sold.
Scientific American revealed on : “Ever wonder why fruits and vegetables come in bags that look like this? It’s got to do with something called ‘the confetti illusion’.”
According to , the confetti illusion alters our perception of colour, creating an array of apparent colours through foreground stripes.
This effect was first discovered by German perception psychologist Karl Gegenfurtner, reports .
Lemons are commonly sold in nets (Image: Getty Images/Westend61)
In a study published in , Gegenfurtner explained: “Our research introduces a novel aspect by showing how unripe and greenish-looking oranges can be perceived as ripe and vibrantly coloured when viewed through an orange net.”
The net’s colour also contributes to this illusion, enhancing the fruit’s vibrancy through the combined effects of the confetti illusion and colour reflections between the net and the fruit. Gegenfurtner added: “The effect is certainly partly due and strengthened by interreflections between the net and the fruit.”
The netting on fruit and vegetables isn’t merely decorative; it also provides room for the produce to ‘breathe’. However, given the potential for a misleading impression of ripeness, shoppers may need to adopt alternative methods to select their fruit.
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A more dependable approach to determining ripeness is to opt for fruits that aren’t encased in netting.
Pay attention to inconsistencies in texture, appearance or aroma.
Citrus fruits, along with apples and pomegranates, are reportedly heavier when ripe, so keep an eye out for fruits that feel slightly heftier than anticipated.