Can You Freeze Oranges? – A Quick Guide on How Easily The Freezing Process of Oranges Can Be Done?

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Can You Freeze Oranges?: Spotted a big deal on oranges then grab it without any second thought because we have an ultimate guide that can help you preserve your oranges for longer.

Yes, it is correct you can store oranges after their lifespan too by only one method ie., freezing. Can you freeze oranges will be your biggest question at this moment, am I right? If yes, then get the answer to your query from this article.

Also, you can see the best ways to freeze oranges and how to thaw them properly when you continue reading.

Can You Freeze Oranges

Can You Freeze Oranges for Smoothies or Baked Food?

Yes, you can freeze oranges and use them later as whole or segmented. If you are planning to freeze oranges for further juicing after defrosting then whole oranges will work best. When it comes to frozen segmented oranges, it is best to go in smoothies. Else, you can take time and make orange juice for preserving in the freezer.

The texture after defrosting oranges will definitely affect the dish so it is better to use in sherbet or juices or smoothies. You may also have questions like Can Oranges Go Bad or Can orange juice go bad if not frozen? Answers to such questions have been clarified by our team on our sister website, please go through the links available and get clarity on the same.

How To Freeze Oranges?

Freezing oranges can be done easily in various methods after going through these two important guidelines. Check them and proceed with freezing methods of oranges:

1. Preparing the Oranges: If you are confused in dealing with how to prepare the oranges for freezing then here is the process. First, wash them properly with cold water and dry them with paper towels. After that, cut the oranges slices into circular rounds, or else leave them whole by removing the outer peel.

Peeled oranges are useful for cooking dishes with frozen oranges. Circular slices are used mostly for garnishing. Now, move to the next step which is container sterilization.

2. Sterilizing The Containers: In this step, you have to take freezer-safe canning jars, and food storage containers and wash them thoroughly in hot soapy water. Ensure that it should clean before storing the oranges. When it comes to canning jars, always remember to boil the lids for upto 5 minutes.

Freezing Methods To Preserve Oranges in Freezer

There are a few techniques that are commonly used to preserve oranges for freezing:

Dry Pack Method – Steps on Freezing Peeled & Sliced Oranges

In this method, you have to follow the below steps and complete the process of preserving oranges safely for a longer time. This dry pack method includes both peeled and sliced freezing techniques which are almost the same so continue your read:

  • Firstly, follow the above two prep steps and complete them properly.
  • After that, storing or preserving the orange slices or peeled segments of oranges is what you need to do.
  • For that, you need an airtight container or freezer bag.
  • Place the sections or slices as per your desire and seal them tightly. Before sealing make sure to remove the excess air as much as you can so that it will hold its taste for a longer time.
  • Whenever you use the containers to store your oranges segments or slices for freezing, leave the space of 1/4 or half an inch from the top. It may expand when freezing. Cover with the appropriate lid and label the date and content on it for further quality check.

Syrup Packing Method – Process of Freezing Oranges in Sugar Syrup

Oranges dipped in syrup work well for a longer time with the best texture and flavor but one downside is time-consuming than the dry pack method. This method includes one more step extra which is preparing the syrup and letting the syrup cool in the fridge.

Oranges can be sliced or sections as per your choice and layer inside canning jars or containers. Now, pour syrup over the top of the oranges till it is completely covered. Note that the space you should leave at the top is near 3/4 inch to permit both oranges and syrup to expand while freezing.

Place a container lid and seal them tightly as much as possible. Take a marker and note the date on the lid to check its shelf life. That’s it! Now you can enjoy the oranges off-season for breakfast or as snacks. Want to know how to prepare the syrup then check out this point. Take two parts of sugar and add three parts of water now boil the mixture well. Sugar needs to dissolve in the water completely then it is ready to go in the fridge. Leave the mixture at a cool temperature for some time.

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Nutritional Advantages Of Oranges

Oranges are one of the healthiest fruit of all and you can enjoy them for a long time now by using the above methods. Also, it gives numerous long-term health benefits. Below is the small table that speaks about the nutritional content of a 100g serving of orange.

Nutrient/Mineral Amount
Total Fat 0.1 g
Cholesterol 0 mg
Sodium 0 mg
Potassium 181 mg
Total Carbohydrate 12 g
Dietary fiber 2.4 g
Sugar 9 g
Protein 0.9 g
Vitamin A 4% of RDI
Vitamin B-6 5% of RDI
Vitamin C 88% of RDI
Calcium 4% of RDI
Magnesium 2% of RDI

How Long Do Frozen Oranges Last?

Here is the answer to How Long Can You Freeze Oranges? Frozen oranges can last for about 3-6 months from freezing when you store and follow freezing methods properly. Though it can change in texture after thawing but remains the same taste and flavor. If you are a smoothie or dessert lover then frozen oranges are best to fulfill your craving at any time. In case, you leave your oranges at a frozen temperature ie., below 0 °F in the freezer then they will stay long and safe indefinitely.

Can You Freeze Oranges

Best Tips for Freezing Oranges

After knowing how to freeze and how long oranges last in the freezer, please have a look at the simple & recommendable tips on freezing which give the best results in no time. They are:

  • Not suggestible to freeze whole oranges for eating
  • Use Oranges slices for decorating cocktails and mocktails to feel cool & refreshing.
  • Grate Zest from the freezer
  • Expect Texture Variations

How To Defrost Frozen Oranges?

You can thaw frozen oranges in various ways. We have explained some of them here so pick the best approach that fits your preserving & freezing method:

  • On the counter: Oranges slices or segments can be thawed at room temperature for 4-6 hours before you use them in any smoothie or cooking meal. When it comes to whole oranges, defrosting on the counter is not recommendable as it becomes soggy, and mushy easily.
  • In the fridge: Thawing whole oranges or any fruit by refrigerating overnight helps hold its freshness and best quality. If you want to thaw frozen orange slices or segments then keep them for 2-4 hours in the fridge.
  • Toss them frozen: Sometimes there will be a situation to use the frozen oranges immediately like smoothie making. At that time you can directly throw frozen slices of oranges like ice cubes in a smoothie.

Do Check:

FAQs on Are Oranges Good Frozen? – Can Freeze Oranges Whole/ Slices/ Segments?

1. What is the best way to freeze oranges?

The best way to freeze oranges is to remove their peel and make them into segments and then keep oranges segments in a freezer bag and seal it tight after removing air from the bags. For extra shelf life, go with the syrup freezing process with orange slices or sections.

2. What to do with frozen oranges?

You can see numerous ways to use frozen oranges either whole or segments. Some of the ideas are listed here for your reference:

  • Making smoothies
  • Use in baked goods
  • Toppings on ice creams
  • Use frozen orange slices as decoration
  • In cooking dishes like orange chicken, etc.

3. Does one moldy orange ruin the rest?

Yes, one moldy orange can spoil the rest of your oranges stored in a bag or container as it includes high moisture content. Toxins can spread easily throughout the food so discarding the entire bunch if one orange is moldy is suggestable.

In a Nutshell

Now, you have gained some knowledge on how can you freeze oranges and preserve them for a longer time along with the processes to consider for defrosting them. Do follow all the instructions carefully and consume oranges at any time to avoid vitamin c deficiency. We feel knowing all fruits-related freezing techniques is a must for everyone so we have gathered important stuff on the same in this guide called can you freeze fruits? Take help from it too and clear all your doubts. If you are interested to know more food articles, visit our main website @canyoupreserve.com

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