Oranges are sweet, juicy, and citrusy. They make a great healthy snack to pack in your bag or your child’s lunchbox. Oranges freshly picked are a great source of vitamin C. Vitamin C helps boost your immune system and fight infection.
Oranges have many benefits but will only last for a while if left out at room temperature.
Oranges have many health and flavor benefits. It is essential to store them properly.
They are usually only in season for a few months and taste better when they aren’t. You might wonder if you can extend the life of your oranges. Can you freeze oranges, for example?
Oranges can be frozen whole, dried, packed for freezing, or in syrup. You can still safely eat an orange after it’s frozen. However, the flavor of the orange will change. If you have more oranges than you can eat, freezing them for up to 6 months is a smart idea.
How to Freeze Oranges?
You can freeze them whole if you intend to juice or zest them later, or you can cut them into pieces if you wish to use them in smoothies. if you are looking more about freezing orange juice then read this post.
Freezing whole oranges
While freezing whole oranges is easy, there are a few things you need to keep in mind, especially if zesting them later.
Here’s how to freeze whole oranges.
- Prepare the oranges. Wash them under running water. If you intend to zest them, wax them. This is important because you will want to zest oranges while frozen. It depends on how you juice them and how you intend to zest them. You can leave the peel on if you are using a citrus juicer. If you use a centrifugal or masticating juicer, you can peel them after thawing.
- Place them in a freezer bag. If you feel it useful, add a label with the date and freezing time.
- Put the bag in the freezer. That’s it. Whole oranges frozen for 3 to 6 months will retain their quality.
Freezing Orange Slices
Step 1: Picking and preparing oranges is the first step. We recommend picking the best or freshest oranges to get the best results. You can cut your orange slices into rings or semi-circles to prepare them. The freezing process will not be affected by the shape or size of the slices.
Step 2: Arrange your orange slices in a neat arrangement on a baking sheet. You want to ensure that the pieces don’t touch each other, or they will accidentally freeze together! Cover the baking tray with the orange slices and cling film.
Step 3: For 3-4 hours, place the baking tray covered in plastic wrap in the freezer. You can leave them overnight if you have a hectic schedule or don’t want time to track. It is okay to leave them alone for too long.
Step 4: It would be inconvenient to leave the baking tray in the freezer. Place the orange slices frozen in a bag and seal them.
You can save space in your freezer by using this method. The orange slices are also neatly organized so you can easily retrieve the desired amount of defrosted orange slices.
How can you defrost frozen oranges?
You can either place frozen oranges in hot water or microwave them to defrost them.
Avoid using the microwave to defrost frozen food, as it can cause cell damage.
You can freeze berries and keep them in the fridge overnight.
They will be thawed entirely after 12 hours but may retain some ice on the exterior.
You can avoid this by using a fork to remove the ice crystals gently.
To speed up the process, you can submerge frozen fruits in cold water.
To finish thawing, transfer the fruit to a bowl with lukewarm warm water after 30 minutes.
Drain the fruit entirely after it has thawed.
How To Use Frozen Oranges?
Although you can freeze an orange and still eat it fresh, a thawed one will taste differently. There are many ways to use an orange frozen.
- Blend them in a smoothie. Smoothies are a great way of using frozen fruit. Blending frozen oranges with unsweetened almond milk and Greek yogurt makes a delicious smoothie that tastes like a creamsicle. This is the perfect summer beverage.
- You can use them in a fruit-based salad. Combine other fresh fruits with the thawed oranges for a delicious fruit salad. You’ll still get the citrusy punch of the oranges because the freshness of the other ingredients will mask their defrosted flavor.
- You can use them in a cake recipe. A defrosted orange is the best choice if a recipe calls to puree an orange (as some cakes do).
- Make orange slices as ice cubes. Add a slice of frozen orange to a glass of water for a touch of citrus. Or, use the frozen oranges to make a fruity cocktail that keeps the drink chilled without watering it down. You can make any cocktail with orange juice.
- Make some marmalade. For marmalade recipes, frozen oranges are just as good as fresh ones. You can then enjoy the orange goodness on toast, biscuits, and muffins. You can also use homemade marmalade as a filling for layers of cakes if that’s what you desire.
- Enjoy some chutney. To make a delicious chutney, combine your thawed oranges with olive oil, ginger, cinnamon, shallots, Turkish figs, sugar, red wine, vinegar, mustard, and frozen Cranberries.
How can you tell if oranges have gone bad?
You will notice some changes in oranges when they start to turn bad.
Oranges are protected against the elements by a thin layer of colored wax. If you notice any dirt, mold, or orange peel on your oranges, it might be time to get rid of them.
You can also tell if they become mushy or soft.
Before you throw them out, make sure they smell good.
You must not eat them if they smell musty or rancid.
You can also check for mold or bruising outside of oranges to determine if they are bad.
You should avoid eating them if they have any bruising.
The best way to determine if oranges have gone bad is to watch them turn brown.
This can be a sign that the animal is spoiled.
You should throw out any signs you see so that no one gets sick.
Conclusion
Freezing oranges can prolong their life span so that you can still enjoy them when they aren’t in season. You can save money, avoid food waste, and have delicious oranges ready for your next smoothie, salad, or snack.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Freeze Orange Zest?
It is possible to freeze the zest by itself. Place the orange zest in a bag and freeze it. However, there is an alternative approach. You can freeze a whole orange. Once it’s frozen, grate the orange into your dish. Because the zest is so fine, it will thaw almost immediately. If you are looking alternatives to orange zest then read more about it to make dishes of your choice using zest.
Can you freeze oranges for smoothies?
We recommend freezing the orange juice only for smoothies. Make a smoothie by taking a cube of orange juice and putting it in a blender along with the other ingredients.
Can you Refreeze Oranges?
Most food items don’t freeze well. Oranges are no exception. Due to the freezing, thawing, and refreezing processes, you’ll lose flavor and juiciness.
Refreezing oranges is not a worthwhile activity.
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