Freezing Oranges: How to Do it the Easy Way!
You might be wondering if freezing oranges is possible, and the answer is yes! Oranges freeze beautifully for use in tons of delicious recipes, from your favorite smoothies to fresh juice to sauces and more. I’m showing you the easy steps to learn how to freeze oranges.
Preserving the Harvest
There’s nothing like the bright, citrusy delicious taste of oranges! And not only are they tasty, but they’re good for you, too! Oranges are a good source of fiber, vitamin C, and folate, and they’re low in calories and fat.
But did you know you can freeze your oranges?!
Yes, you can freeze oranges and other produce like bell peppers, cucumbers, ginger, pineapple, strawberries, and more for use in your favorite recipes year-round!
I personally like to stock up and freeze a big batch of oranges whenever they’re in season or on sale.
Just follow the simple steps to freeze them, and you’ll have oranges ready to go whenever you want them.
Ingredients & Equipment Needed
Notes:
- You can freeze any kind of orange! Navel Oranges, Blood Oranges, Mandarins, and more, will all freeze perfectly!
- Choose oranges that are firm and heavy in weight. This usually means they’re full of juice!
- Use large freezer-safe bags. I like to use reusable silicone bags! ♻️
Step by Step Instructions
Step 1: Wash and peel the oranges.
I like to use a spoon to help separate the skin from the flesh, or you can use your hands or a sharp knife to peel the oranges.
Use your hands or a knife to separate the whole orange into smaller sections, about 4-6 per orange.
Step 2: Lay the oranges in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Set the tray in the freezer, uncovered, for an hour.
👉 Partially freezing the oranges before transferring them to bag allows the segments to harden slightly, which will keep the pieces from sticking together once you transfer them to a bag.
This is especially important if the segments are wet and juicy from breaking them apart. No one wants to have to break apart a huge clump of frozen orange pieces when it’s time to make a smoothie!
Step 3: Remove the tray from the freezer and transfer the oranges to a freezer-safe bag.
Squeeze the air out of the bag, then seal it. Set the bag in the freezer until the oranges are fully frozen.
Expert Tips & FAQ
- If you’re planning to use the oranges mostly in smoothies, cut the wedges in half before freezing. This will make them easier to blend later on.
- Use a spoon to separate the skin easily as you peel the oranges.
- Use the peels to make candied orange peels or a fragrant simmer pot.
- Get my free Freezer Inventory Chart to keep track of what’s inside your freezer!
Use frozen orange segments in smoothies, infused water, or any recipes that require cooking or blending of the fruit. You can make juice with frozen oranges, but allow the frozen orange segments to fully defrost before juicing them. I don’t recommend serving frozen defrosted oranges alone or uncooked in recipes like fruit salad, because they tend to get mushy in texture once defrosted.
According to USDA, fruit frozen and stored at 0°F or lower will maintain a high quality for between 8 to 12 months. Freezing for longer than that results in a lower quality taste and texture, but it doesn’t make the fruit unsafe to eat.
Frozen oranges can be defrosted by setting the bag on a plate and thawing in the refrigerator overnight, by running warm water over the bag, or by microwaving the oranges.
Oranges are in season from fall until early spring, usually starting in October and ending in April. During these months, you’ll usually find oranges at the best prices, and you’ll be more likely to find specialty oranges, like blood oranges or satsuma oranges, in stores.
Recipes that Use Frozen Oranges
I’d love to hear about your experience making this recipe!
Please leave a comment below or tag me on Instagram @cookathomemom.
How to Freeze Oranges
Ingredients
- 6 oranges
Video
Instructions
- Wash and peel the oranges.Use your hands or a knife to separate the whole orange into smaller sections, about 4-6 per orange.If you’re planning to use the oranges in smoothies or blended recipes, cut each wedge in half before freezing to make them easier to blend later on.
- Lay the orange slices in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Set the tray in the freezer, uncovered, for an hour.
- Remove the tray from the freezer and transfer the oranges to a freezer-safe bag. Squeeze the air out of the bag, then seal it. Set the bag in the freezer until the oranges are fully frozen.
Notes
- Storing: According to USDA, fruit can be frozen for up to 8 to 12 months and still maintain high quality.
- Defrosting: Frozen oranges can be defrosted by setting the bag on a plate and thawing in the refrigerator overnight, by running warm water over the bag, or by microwaving the oranges. They can also be cooked or blended into drinks directly from frozen.
