Mandarin oranges are a fruit that is small and have a sweet and sour taste. This fruit can be eaten fresh or added to a salad. If you have too many fresh mandarins, you may be wondering if you can freeze them for later?
Can you freeze mandarin oranges? Yes, you can freeze mandarin oranges, whether it’s fresh or in a tin can. By freezing the mandarin oranges, you can keep them fresh for much longer.
Does Mandarin Oranges Freeze Well?
Mandarin oranges freeze well due to their high moisture content. You can either freeze them as a whole fruit or freeze them in segments.
Depending on what you plan on using them for, freezing mandarin oranges can be bad or good. If you’re going to use the oranges to add to fruit salads, freezing them isn’t going to work.
However, if you’re planning to use the frozen mandarins in recipes, freezing them will work. Since the mandarins will be blended with other ingredients so the texture of it won’t matter much.
Can You Freeze Fresh Mandarin Oranges?
Fresh mandarins can be frozen either as a whole fruit or in pieces. Freezing whole oranges can be eaten as an icy treat, while pieces can be blended into smoothies.
Whichever you choose to freeze, the freezing method is the same. Below are the method to freezing mandarin oranges:
1. Preparation
Start by peeling the mandarin oranges. Choose whether to leave them whole or in pieces.
2. Flash Freezing
On a tray, lay a sheet of parchment paper on it. Then place the oranges onto the tray. Keep them from touching each other.
Place the tray into the freezer. Flash freeze the oranges for about 2-3 hours or until it’s completely frozen.
3. Storage Container
Once the mandarin oranges are completely frozen, remove them from the freezer. Immediately transfer them to an airtight container or freezer bag.
4. Sealing
If you’re using an airtight container to store the oranges, check the seal on the lid first. Make sure there are no cracks or tears. If there are not any, secure the lid to the container tightly.
For freezer bags, squeeze out as much air as you can. The less air that’s in the bag, the less likely the chance of the oranges getting freezer burn. Once all the air is squeezed out, seal the bag.
5. Label and Freeze
With a marker, write the date of freezing on the container or bag. Then place them into the freezer for storage.
Can You Freeze Canned Mandarin Oranges?
When it comes to freezing canned mandarin oranges, you’ll need to prep them first. This fruit will be submerged in a lot of liquid, so it will be high in water content.
Below are the process of freezing canned mandarin oranges:
1. Preparation
Start by draining the liquid from the can. Open the can and place the oranges into a colander and let it sit for about 10 minutes. This will allow the liquid to drip from the oranges.
After about 10 minutes, use a clean dry paper towel and gently rub the oranges of extra moisture.
2. Flash Freezing
On a tray, lay a sheet of parchment paper. Then place the mandarin segments on it. Keep them from touching each other.
Place the tray of mandarins into the freezer. Flash freeze them for about 2-3 hours or until it’s completely frozen.
3. Storage Container
You can either use an airtight container or freezer bag to store the mandarins. Just make sure they are approved for freezer usage. Otherwise, due to the freezing temperature, they will crack.
Once the mandarins are completely frozen, remove them from the freezer. Immediately transfer them to the airtight container or freezer bag.
4. Seal and Label
If you’re using an airtight container, check the seal on the lid first. Make sure there are no tears or cuts on it. The last thing you want is air leaking into the container and damaging the mandarins.
If there are no damages, secure the lid to the airtight container tightly.
For a freezer bag, squeeze as much air from the bag before sealing it.
With a marker, write the date of freezing on the container or bag.
5. Store in Freezer
Place the mandarin oranges into the freezer for storage.
Can You Freeze Mandarin Orange Juice?
If you made mandarin orange juice or have some leftovers, you can freeze them. It’s simple and doesn’t take a lot of time at all.
Below is the method to freezing the mandarin juice:
Pour into Container
Put the mandarin juice into an airtight container. You can either store the entire content or portion them into smaller containers.
Avoid Overfilling
Leave about an inch of space in the container. This will allow the juice to expand during freezing.
Seal and Label
Check the seal on the lid to make sure there are no damages. If there are not any, secure the lid to the container tightly.
With a marker, write down the date of freezing. You can store them for up to 3 months.
Freeze
Place the mandarin juice into the freezer for storage.
How Long Can You Freeze Mandarin Oranges?
Fresh mandarin oranges will last for up to 10 months in the freezer. After that time, the oranges are still safe to eat, but the quality of it will begin to deteriorate.
For tin mandarin oranges, you can freeze them for up to 3 months. Due to additional preservatives added, it doesn’t last as long as fresh ones do.
It’s best to consume them within 3 months for the best quality.
How Do You Defrost Mandarin Oranges?
When it comes to mandarin oranges, I highly recommend that you not thaw them at all. Freezing the oranges change their texture considerably. When you thaw them, the result will be mushy and soft to eat fresh.
Instead, it’s better to use frozen mandarin oranges in a recipe, add to smoothies, or use it to flavor water.
All you need to do is remove the oranges from the freezer and put them directly in the recipe or smoothies.
For water, instead of using ice, you can use frozen mandarin oranges to keep the water cold and give it a refreshing citrus flavor.
Can You Refreeze Mandarin Oranges?
For mandarin oranges, it’s not a good idea to refreeze them. Freezing them a second time will cause the quality of it to deteriorate greatly.
When it thaws, you’ll notice the oranges will become inedible.
To avoid having to refreeze mandarin oranges, you should
Other Questions about Mandarin Oranges
Can you freeze mandarin orange salad?
Yes, you can freeze mandarin orange salad, but only if there is no dressing added. If there is dressing, it will make the entire salad soggy when it thaws. Instead, freeze just the orange salad and put the dressing on the salad after it has thawed.