Is there anything better than fresh oranges or orange juice? Undoubtedly, this is one of the favorite fruits of most people and never lacks in our house. But how long do they stay good? How long do oranges last in the fridge? Can we freeze them? That’s what we’ll see here!
To enjoy the fresh taste of oranges for a long time, you need to store them properly. When stored correctly, oranges last for some time (even at room temperature) and maintain their nutrients and vitamins.
It is one of the richest fruits in vitamin C (excellent for our immunity). In addition, it has a lot of fiber (which benefits our intestinal tract and consequently our overall health).
So, if you want to know everything about orange storage, recipes and pantry is the right place. We will see!
How long do Oranges last in the Fridge and Freezer?
Oranges’ shelf life depends a lot on how they are stored. For example, if you keep the orange at room temperature, it lasts less time. However, if you keep it in the cold, it can last longer. To know exactly how long oranges last, see this table here!
Room Temperature | Fridge | Freezer | |
Whole Oranges | 1-2 weeks | 3-4 weeks | For up to 1 year |
Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice | For up to 2 hours | 2-3 days | For up to 3 months |
Cut Oranges | For up to 2 hours | 3-4 days | 10-12 months |
Mandarin Oranges | 1-2 weeks | For up to 3 weeks | For up to 10 months |
Blood Oranges (Red Oranges) | For about 1 week | 1-2 weeks | For up to 3 months |
Cuties Oranges (Clementines) | For about 1 week | 1-2 weeks | 10-12 months |
At room temperature, oranges last about 1 to 2 weeks. However, if you want to store them long-term, you can keep them in the fridge. In the fridge, they stay good for up to 4 weeks. Save your oranges in a plastic bag and place them in the refrigerator for best results.
The good news is that you can freeze them if you want to keep them for more than one month (in the freezer, they last for up to one year).
As you have seen in this table, depending on the type of orange, it lasts longer or less at room temperature and in the refrigerator and freezer. So let’s see in detail each type of orange and how long they last in the fridge and freezer.
How long do Cut Oranges last in the Fridge and Freezer?
If you have cut oranges, you must wrap them with plastic wrap (you can use aluminum foil as well) and save them in the fridge to maximize their shelf life. You can also keep them in the refrigerator in an airtight container. If you store cut oranges this way, they will last for 3 to 4 days.
In the freezer, cut oranges last for about 10 to 12 months. To maintain their best quality, follow these steps:
- Wash cut oranges and remove all seeds and white membranes
- Divide fruit into sections so you can use it easily
- Then, combine 2 ¾ cups of sugar and 4 cups of water in a saucepan. Mix well and bring to a boil
- Let the syrup cool and then pour over the cut oranges
- Put the syrup and oranges in freezer bags or in an airtight container and put them in the freezer (don’t forget to label each bag or container)
You can also save whole oranges in the freezer. Check how easy it can be!
- Wash the oranges
- Place them in a freezer bag or in an airtight container
- Place the freezer bag or container in the freezer
✅ Recommended reading: how long can thawed chicken stay in the fridge
How long do Mandarin Oranges last in the Fridge and Freezer?
Mandarin oranges last 1 to 2 weeks at room temperature. However, if we want to keep them longer, we can store them in the fridge for up to 3 weeks. You can also freeze them for up to 10 months. To properly freeze mandarin oranges, follow these steps:
- Peel mandarin orange and then remove the white membranes
- Then divide it into portions
- Place the portions in a freezer bag or in an airtight container
- Put the bag or container in the freezer
How long do Blood Oranges last in the Fridge and Freezer?
Blood oranges, also known as red oranges, last for about 1 week at room temperature. However, they last for 1 to 2 weeks in the fridge and up to 3 months in the freezer.
Although red oranges last for 1 week at room temperature, if you know you won’t eat them at this time, you must store them in the fridge or freezer. To keep their best quality in the freezer, follow the following steps:
- Wash the oranges
- Place them in a freezer bag or in an airtight container
- Place the freezer bag or container in the freezer
If you want to keep the oranges peeled, do the following:
- Wash the oranges
- Remove the peel and divide it into sections
- Place the orange sections on a baking sheet (the sections should not touch each other) and place them in the freezer
- After they have frozen, remove from the freezer and place the portions in a freezer bag or container
- Put the container or bag in the freezer
How long do Cuties Oranges last in the Fridge and Freezer?
Cuties Oranges, also known as Halo Oranges, or Clementines, last for about 1 week at room temperature. If you resist eating clementines for a week (a challenging task, isn’t it?), you should store them in the fridge or freezer. In the refrigerator, they last for 1 to 2 weeks. They maintain their best quality for 10 to 12 months in the freezer.
To freeze clementines, you must follow these simple steps:
- Remove the peel
- Separate clementines into segments or sections
- Place sections or parts in a baking sheet (note that they should not touch each other) and put them in the freezer for about 30 minutes
- Remove from the freezer and then place the sections in freezer bags or in an airtight container
- Place the freezer bag or container in the freezer
How long does Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice last in the Fridge and Freezer?
Do you love freshly squeezed orange juice? Well, you need to know that you must drink it as soon as possible to get all the rich nutrients this juice offers. It has a lot of vitamin A and a lot of fiber. However, with time running, vitamins start to disappear, and you won’t get all the benefits of the fruits.
It doesn’t mean that orange juice goes bad. This just means you won’t get all the nutrients you could have taken advantage of if you’d drunk your orange juice as soon as you squeeze the oranges.
Your orange juice guarantees a good taste if stored in the fridge for 2 or 3 days (always remembering that you will lose the nutrients, and the benefits will not be the same). You can also store it in the freezer for up to 3 months.
How to Store Oranges long term in the Fridge?
One of the advantages of oranges is that they do not spoil quickly and will last for some time, even at room temperature. However, if you want to increase the shelf life of this fruit, you should be careful when saving it.
Let us now see the best methods to save this fruit for a long time and what care we should take.
How to Store Whole Oranges?
Whole oranges last a few weeks at room temperature and do not need to be placed in the fridge or freezer (unless you have many and know that you will not eat them in the coming weeks). Therefore, you can save them on the counter or in the pantry.
Store them in the fridge if you want to ensure oranges last longer and always have a fresh taste (especially if it is to make juice).
Don’t wash the oranges before storing them in the fridge to make them last longer. Excess moisture causes the fruits (and foods in general) to spoil faster.
Place the oranges in an airtight container or zip-top bag and place them in the fridge’s crisper drawer. If you keep them this way, your oranges will look great for up to a month.
How to Store Cut Oranges?
When you cut the orange, it will last much lesser than if whole orange. So, you should be much more careful when storing the orange pieces so that they will stay good for a while.
Therefore, you must first wrap the pieces in plastic wrap to store cut oranges correctly. Then you must place them in an airtight container and keep them in the refrigerator’s crisper drawer. This way, orange pieces will stay good for 3 to 4 days.
How to Freeze Oranges?
If you have a lot of oranges and you know you’re not going to wear them anytime soon, it’s best to freeze them. Following the method we will show you now, oranges will stay good for up to a year. Note the following steps:
- Wash the oranges very well and peel them
- Cut into slices or wedges
- Then, place the orange slices on a baking sheet, making only one layer and ensuring that the pieces do not touch each other
- Cover the baking sheet and place it in the freezer
- Leave it in the freezer for at least 4 hours (can leave overnight, for example)
- Remove the baking sheet from the freezer and place the already frozen orange slices in a freezer bag or airtight container
- Put it back in the freezer
How to Thaw Frozen Oranges?
If you’ve frozen oranges (whole or in sections) and you have doubts about how to defrost them, just know that it’s pretty simple.
Simply put the frozen oranges in the fridge until they thoroughly thawed to get the best result. This is the best way to defrost this fruit, allowing slow thawing. Usually, oranges take between 2-4 hours to defrost in the refrigerator.
If you want to use the oranges faster, just take them out of the freezer and leave them on the counter. Then, the oranges are ready to use in about 1 hour (sometimes less).
How do you know when Oranges go Bad?
If you have questions about whether an orange is spoiled or not before using it (or throwing it away), you should check if it shows any of these signs:
- Mushy spots
- Bruising
- Shriveled peels
- Mold
- Unpleasant smell
Fresh orange has a firm texture, vibrant color, and no stains.
Even when we keep the oranges in the fridge, they can get spoiled. For reference, when oranges are stored in the refrigerator for more than four weeks, they will begin to lose their flavor and degrade until they spoil and show the signs we presented to you above.
How long do Oranges last
Ingredients
- Whole Oranges
- Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice
- Cut Oranges
- Mandarin Oranges
- Blood Oranges (Red Oranges)
- Cuties Oranges (Clementines)
Instructions
- Check the table at the top of the article
- Outdated oranges can be bad for your health
- If the orange has a strange taste or smell, don't eat it.
Conclusion
Oranges are fruits very rich in vitamin C and bring many benefits to our health. Including them in our daily diet (always in moderation) is essential to getting our immune system on the rise.
However, to take advantage of all the nutrients, we need to ensure that the oranges are excellent.
In our article “How long do oranges last in the fridge?” we teach you how to store and preserve this excellent fruit properly. We are waiting for you in our next posts with other great tips.
FAQ’s
Do oranges go bad in the fridge?
The answer is yes. If you keep oranges for more than 4 weeks, they will lose their fresh flavor and, with time, oranges will spoil. So, you must use the oranges in 4 weeks (maximum).
Can old oranges make you sick?
Old oranges can make you sick. That’s why you must pay attention to the appearance and smell of the oranges to ensure they are good to eat. If you notice mold, mushy spots, or an unpleasant smell just through oranges away.
How do you make oranges last longer?
If you want oranges to last longer with their maximum quality, put them in a plastic mesh bag and then keep them in the crisper drawer of your fridge.
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Welcome to my food site, RecipesAndPanty.com. I am a man who enjoys creating recipes and researching everything about food. This blog is dedicated to my grandmother because she gave me a taste for cooking.