You can buy navel oranges nearly any time of year, but they’re in peak season between November and January. That’s when they taste best. But if you’re like me, I like to keep these refreshing fruits on hand all year long. They’re perfect for a mid-day snack, can be turned into a tasty orange marmalade, and used in a variety of baked goods. In the summer months, I especially love using them in smoothies and sherbets. If left on the counter at room temperature, oranges will only last about a week. They do fare better in the fridge, where they’ll stay fresh for 3 to 4 weeks. But what if you want if you want to keep them longer? To preserve your oranges even longer, you can freeze them! Surprised? Many think that oranges won’t freeze well since they have a high water content. As you may know, food items that contain lots of water expand as they freeze, causing them to break or burst. When this happens, they lose their integrity, often drying out and tasting bland. But such is not the case for oranges! Sure, frozen and defrosted oranges aren’t as yummy as fresh ones, but they’re still surprisingly good. You can use them in baked goods, throw them on top of salads, blend them up in your smoothie, and so much more. Here are 3 of the best ways to freeze your oranges.
How to Freeze Oranges
Frozen oranges will keep well for up to six months. Here are two ways you can do it:
Method One: Dry Packing
Method Two: Syrup Packing
This method takes more time and effort, but it allows the oranges to keep their fantastic flavor and texture. It will also help preserve the color of the fruit. As you probably deduced from the name, you’ll need to make a syrup to execute this option.
Method Three: Juice Freezing
Don’t want to go through the hassle of freezing your oranges? Freeze the juice instead!
How to Thaw Frozen Oranges
Method One (Dry Packing): Take the oranges out of the freezer and defrost at room temperature for 4 to 6 hours. Method Two (Syrup Packing): Follow the step above. Drain and rinse the oranges before use. Consume thawed oranges within 3 to 4 days. Method Three (Juice Freezing): Thaw the cubes in a microwave for 20-30 seconds. Or let them defrost at room temperature for several hours. Note: Although you can eat thawed oranges as is, you may be disappointed. But don’t worry! There are many different ways to use your newly thawed oranges. They work as excellent ingredients in salads, yogurts, smoothies, sherbet, and juices. So, orange you glad you froze them oranges?
Tips & Tricks
Be sure to clean your container by washing it in soapy water. If using a canning jar, boil the lids for at least 5 minutes to make sure they are sterilized.Grate some of the peel before freezing to get orange zest! You can freeze orange zest in an air-tight container, and it will last for up to 6 months.
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