Tips for Storing Tangerines Properly

Image by little blue hen via Flickr

If you're thinking about buying a lot of tangerines, you need to know how to store them properly. Whether you want to eat them over the course of the next few days or put them up for later consumption, it's necessary to store each tangerine in a way that keeps it as fresh-tasting as possible. By keeping just a few things in mind, you can store your tangerines so that they maintain their greatest appearance and flavor well after the date of purchase.

For starters, you'll need to buy good fruit. When shopping for bulk quantities of this, pick up at least a few samples from each container you see for sale and make sure they are heavy and full of juice. Also make sure their peels are free of most blemishes and that they display a healthy orange or red color. You'll also need to decide if you want tangerines with seeds or a seedless variety depending on your needs.

When you purchase your fruit, set aside as many tangerines as you need for the next few days only. Rinse them off under cold water and dry them completely with a cotton towel. Now you may place a stack of fruit anywhere you think it will make an attractive display or in a fruit basket where you can easily pick one up for a quick snack. Be sure to keep them out of direct sunlight, however, so that the tangerines will stay fresh and juicy.

As for any citrus fruits like oranges, grapefruits or tangerines you want to save for more than just a few days, place them in the refrigerator immediately upon rinsing and drying them off. The refrigerator isn't the perfect habitat for citrus fruit, of course, but it will keep them edible longer than leaving them at room temperature for a week. After six or seven days, however, the quality of the fruit in your refrigerator will start to deteriorate.

Keep these tips in mind for storing your tangerines, and it's likely they will retain their fresh taste for up to a week if not longer. It's a good idea to buy tangerines in bulk during the holiday season when they're so plentiful. Not only can you snack on them whenever you get a hankering for fresh fruit, but they can be used in desserts served at Thanksgiving and Christmas or in holiday gift baskets. As long as you're storing them properly, the tangerines should stay sweet and juicy.

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