Here are some guidelines for keeping your fresh Florida citrus fresh and delicious.
Skin color is not an indicator of tangerine ripeness. Those with skin hues can be as tasty as bright orange ones. But, it is generally true that:
A ripe tangerine should be firm, but not hard with a noticeable bright citrusy fragrance.
Fresh citrus can be stored at room temperature on an airy countertop or roomy pantry (if not in direct sunlight) for up to 1 week.
The number of days the fruit will remain fresh depends on how hot it gets in the area where you live. Do not cover the fruit with anything as airflow will be important in maintaining freshness.To prolong life, do not place in storage if wet and make sure they stay dry.
Fresh citrus kept in the refrigerator can be stored up to 4 weeks.
For longest life, keep or place them in a mesh bag as opposed to a ziplock bag. In most cases they will stay freshest if you keep them in the vegetable crisper and turn them occasionally to allow airflow.
It is recommended that you don’t freeze whole citrus fruit. Because of its water content and structure, when thawed it will be reconstituted a bit more soggy and with less of its original flavor.
It is recommended that you don’t freeze whole citrus fruit. Because of its water content and structure, when thawed it will be reconstituted a bit more soggy and with less of its original flavor.
According to the USDA, the Florida tangerine citrus group “has soared in popularity, with per capita availability more than doubling between 2000 and 2022. This broad group includes tangelos, mandarins, clementines, and traditional tangerines. A comparison of per capita fresh tangerine and fresh orange availability over the last 20 years shows the share going to tangerines increasing from 20 to 40 percent.”
The article goes on to say that growth of the U.S. tangerine market coincides with the launch of marketing campaigns for easy-peel seedless mandarins…”