Almost everyone loves juicy and fragrant tangerines. A wide variety of gifts from nature are presented in abundance on store shelves today. Tangerines are also no exception. It is almost always possible to choose the most preferred variety and country of origin of these citrus fruits. And although the time of food shortages is long past, it sometimes happens that tangerines are purchased for future use and with a large supply. In this case, the issue of preserving your favorite fruits fresh for a certain period of time becomes relevant, because eating them all at once is hardly possible.

Storing tangerines: temperature conditions and timing

At room temperature, tangerines can last no more than a week. The optimal temperature for them will be about 6 degrees Celsius with a humidity of 80-90%. In addition, during storage it is necessary to ensure an air flow, without which the fruits begin to quickly deteriorate.

Suitable for storing tangerines at home:

  • lower compartment of the refrigerator intended for vegetables and fruits;
  • insulated balcony or loggia of the apartment;
  • a fairly deep cellar in a private house.

Do not leave tangerines in plastic bags - this will spoil them faster

If the specified conditions are met, these citrus fruits can be kept fresh for a month, and strong and healthy fruits of some varieties even longer - up to 2-3 months. At higher temperatures, tangerines begin to dry out quickly and become tasteless. Freezing fruits is also unacceptable. After this they lose all their beneficial properties.

How to store tangerines at home?

Before storing fruits, they must be sorted, removing soft, damaged and those with signs of rot. Then place the tangerines in the prepared container. It can be used as perforated boxes or baskets for storage on the balcony or in the cellar.

If the tangerines will be in the refrigerator, they should be placed down in a special box or on the bottom shelf in a box, net or basket.

Attention! Plastic bags are not suitable as containers for storing tangerines. In them, the fruits will be without access to air, as a result of which the resulting moisture will begin to rot.

It is better if, when placed in containers, the tangerines lie freely, without touching each other. If it is not possible to provide such storage, you need to place the fruits in a box in no more than 3 rows. If they are laid tightly and in multiple layers, they will quickly deteriorate. But the shelf life of tangerines can be slightly increased, for this you need:

Place tangerines in 2-3 layers to avoid crushing the fruits

  • apply vegetable oil or wax to each fruit, then dry and place in a container for storage;
  • If such an opportunity exists, buy fruits with a green branch, with which they are stored much better.

Advice. When storing tangerines, they need to be sorted at least once a week, removing fruits with signs of spoilage. After all, rot from one fruit very quickly spreads to neighboring ones, which without proper control over the condition of citrus fruits leads to a disastrous result in general.

Anyone can preserve tangerines for a long enough period of time. You just need to observe the temperature and humidity conditions, select suitable containers for storage and do not forget to regularly check the condition of the fruits, immediately discarding those that have begun to deteriorate.

How to choose tangerines: video

How to store tangerines at home: photo




How long to store? The keeping quality of purchased tangerines is determined by the color of their skin and, of course, the variety. Yellow fruits can easily be stored at a temperature of one or two degrees for at least two weeks. However, fruits with greenish skin can also be stored for two weeks or more, but at a temperature of two to six degrees. Moroccan and Abkhaz tangerines are famous for having the longest shelf life, but their Spanish and Turkish counterparts...

How long to store?

The keeping quality of purchased tangerines is determined by the color of their skin and, of course, the variety. Yellow fruits can easily be stored at a temperature of one or two degrees for at least two weeks. However, fruits with greenish skin can also be stored for two weeks or more, but at a temperature of two to six degrees.

Moroccan and Abkhaz tangerines are famous for having the longest shelf life, but their Spanish and Turkish counterparts give up much faster. If there are no labels on the fruits, you can try to learn to distinguish them by color. Both Abkhazian and Moroccan fruits have light or bright yellow porous skin and are characterized by a pleasant sweet taste. Spanish varieties are characterized by very large fruits, and the surface of the skin of cute Turkish tangerines is always very smooth.

If you comply with all the storage conditions for juicy citrus fruits, then some varieties will easily last up to three to four months. The degree of ripeness of these beautiful fruits also plays an important role - fruits that are not too ripe can last much longer.

How to store?

Ideally, tangerines are stored in the fruit compartment of the refrigerator, and their storage temperature should be an average of six degrees. If it is higher or lower, the fruits will either freeze or begin to deteriorate. If tangerines are fresh and of high quality, then you can store them in the refrigerator for at least about a month. As for their average shelf life, it is usually ten days. But at room temperature, citrus fruits will begin to deteriorate very quickly, and if, in addition to everything else, the room is too warm, then the tangerines will begin to dry out.

If you have a windproof, insulated balcony, you can save tangerines there in winter. And the most suitable container for this would be wooden boxes with spaces between the slats. In this case, a lid is not needed.

Under no circumstances should tangerines be packaged in cling film or plastic bags - they vitally need free access to air. It is best to store these juicy fruits in a net.

Stored tangerines need to be inspected from time to time. Fruits on which the first signs of rotting or drying have been detected should be isolated as quickly as possible from fruits lying nearby. If you ignore this recommendation, you can quickly say goodbye to all your supplies. Tangerines with damaged skin should be consumed as a priority.

Some housewives claim that tangerines are perfectly preserved in wax. Of course, you can try to preserve these wonderful fruits in this way, but it is important to take into account that the wax is extremely difficult to wash off from your hands - the process of peeling tangerines in this case can turn into real torture.

We extend the shelf life

To keep the surface of the tangerines looking fresh all the time, lightly rub it with vegetable oil. And in order for citrus fruits to be stored even longer and not lose their attractive appearance, it is advisable to purchase tangerines along with twigs.

Green fruits

If tangerines are not very green, they are stored at a humidity of about 90% and a temperature of two to three degrees. And very unripe fruits should be stored at a humidity of around 80% and a temperature of four to six degrees.

Citrus fruits, including tangerines, are the main sources of fresh vitamins in winter. Their ripening season occurs in November-December, but depending on the variety and place of growth, it can last until spring.

Source: depositphotos.com

The issues of storing tangerines are of more concern to those who grow them or buy them in bulk. They have to use special refrigeration equipment with controlled temperature, humidity and ventilation. Housewives who want to create optimal conditions for storing food at home also need to take these parameters into account.

How to store tangerines at home

If you have a large number of tangerines or their varieties at home - tangerines and clementines - then in order to preserve their taste and beneficial properties as much as possible, take care of their proper storage:

  1. Select ripe or unripe fruits, but only whole and healthy ones with tight-fitting skin. Tangerines that are too soft, have damage, dents or stains are best eaten immediately.
  2. Where to store tangerines? Place the tangerines prepared for storage in a net, basket or perforated box so that they do not “suffocate”. Plastic bags are absolutely not suitable! Do not lay tangerines very tightly and in no more than 3 layers, otherwise the lower layers will wrinkle under the weight of the upper ones.
  3. You can store tangerines at home on a glazed balcony or in the basement, where there are suitable conditions: temperature 4-6 ℃, humidity 80-90%, ventilation.
  4. You can also store tangerines in the refrigerator in the fruit and vegetable compartment for 3-5 weeks.
  5. From time to time, review your stock of tangerines and remove from it all fruits that show signs of spoilage.

Source: depositphotos.com

Helpful tip: you can check the quality of the tangerine by lightly pressing the peel. Ripe and fresh citrus fruits will produce oily, aromatic juice.

Different varieties of tangerines differ from each other in shape, color, size and taste. If you like sweeter ones, then choose round, medium-sized, bright orange, heavy fruits - for example, those brought from Abkhazia. Tangerines, which are grown there on calcareous rocky soils in a subtropical - warm and humid - climate, contain up to 10.6% sugars. Large, flattened, thick-skinned fruits often have a sweet-sour or even sour taste.

At normal room temperature, that is, in a fruit bowl on your table, tangerines will last only a few days. In the refrigerator or on the balcony, the average shelf life will be 1-2 months. For longer storage - up to 4 months - it is better to choose medium-sized tangerines with yellow peel or with a small amount of greenery (no more than 1/3 of the surface area). Depending on the ripening of the fruit, every 2 weeks it is recommended to lower the temperature by 1-2 ℃, and increase the humidity.

Source: depositphotos.com

Tangerines are stored longer if they are picked straight from the “stem” - a small fragment of a twig with a green leaf.

Compared to other citrus fruits, tangerines can withstand the lowest storage temperatures, but the optimal ones are slightly above zero. At temperatures below 0 ℃, tangerines lose all their taste and juiciness. Therefore, they cannot be frozen.

In conditions of low humidity (below 80%), tangerines dry out quite quickly, the peel becomes hard and brittle, and is difficult to separate; if the humidity is too high (above 90%), the peel softens, which leads to the rapid appearance of signs of rotting and spoilage.

The shelf life of tangerines can be extended 1.5-2 times if you wipe each of them with vegetable oil or melted wax.

Peel - natural protection

Its peel naturally helps preserve the juicy pulp of the tangerine. It contains phytoncides and essential oils that have antibacterial and other protective properties. So, when eating a tangerine, do not rush to throw away the peel. It can be dried and added to tea or baked goods.

Even if you just intensively crush the fresh peel in your palms and then lightly wipe your face with them, you will nourish your skin and save a little on expensive cosmetics (if you are allergic, then this tip is not for you). Mandarin essential oil is included in many of them. It is also used for medical purposes to stimulate digestion and increase appetite, reduce blood sugar levels, treat bronchitis and other diseases of the upper respiratory tract, and strengthen the nervous system. It is believed that tangerine essential oil has a beneficial psycho-emotional effect: it relieves fatigue and tension, gives vigor and improves mood!

Source: depositphotos.com

So, to paraphrase the classics, we can safely say: store tangerines in barrels!

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Text: Olga Chebotareva

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Everyone loves tasty, juicy, aromatic tangerines. This is a constant guest on the New Year's table, and on the daily menu almost all year round. Considering the rather soft structure of these fruits, in order to store tangerines at home correctly and for the longest possible time, a number of conditions will need to be observed.

Below we will consider the basic requirements for storing tangerines at home.

How to properly store tangerines

There are several options for places to store tangerines:

  • general refrigerator compartment;
  • glazed balcony;
  • Quite a deep cellar.

Regardless of the option chosen, tangerines should be stored at home in a perforated box that provides air flow to the fruit. If you store tangerines in a closed plastic bag, moisture will accumulate in it, which over time will lead to rot on the fruit and spoilage of the stock.

Optimal storage conditions for tangerines

It is correct to store tangerines at home by maintaining their temperature at +4-+8°C and a humidity level of about 80%. It is worth noting that if you store tangerines at home at low humidity levels, the fruits will begin to dry out, which will lead to their loss of taste. If these conditions are met, tangerines can be stored at home for one month.

If you store tangerines at home at room temperature, this will significantly speed up the spoilage of the fruit. In this case, the storage period for the fruit will be about a week.

Before storing, tangerines must be properly placed in boxes or perforated boxes. To prevent spoilage of stocks, you should not place tangerines in many layers. For maximum long-term storage, it is best to lay them in a maximum of three layers.

It is worth noting that before storing tangerines at home, you must carefully inspect all the fruits and remove any bruised ones or those that show signs of rotting.

If you want to store tangerines at home for as long as possible, you can rub the peel of the fruit with vegetable oil before storing them.

How to store green tangerines

The conditions for storing green tangerines will depend on how ripe the fruits are.

In this case, it is worth noting that the required temperature and humidity for fruits with different degrees of ripeness are slightly different.

For example, when storing tangerines with a small green area at home, they need to be kept at a temperature of +2 to +3°C and a humidity of about 90%. If there is greenery on half or more of the total area of ​​the fruit, the required storage temperature will be from +4 to +6 ° C and humidity about 80%.

Citrus connoisseurs can easily determine the variety of tangerines and their storage conditions. However, not everyone knows this. Many people do not know how to extend the shelf life of fruits. Let's consider where and how to store tangerines at home and what conditions to observe.

Optimal conditions

Before purchasing fragrant fruits, you should take into account a few simple rules. All of them are presented below.

  • Choose only strong tangerines without any damage or stains.
  • If you are purchasing fruits for future use or for a festival that will not take place soon, give preference to unripe fruits.
  • Remember that if voids are felt under the skin, it means that the tangerines are ripe and cannot be stored for long.
  • When buying citrus fruits in winter, make sure that they are not frostbitten.
  • Ripe and juicy tangerines are much heavier than those that have been stored for a long time. Therefore, when choosing, be sure to pay attention to the weight of each fruit.

As for optimal conditions, such “orange suns” must be stored at a temperature of +4 ... +8 ° C and a humidity of about 75–80%. If these requirements are met, the supplies will last for about a month, and the strong and juicy fruits of some varieties will last even 2–3 months. Please note: if you store citrus fruits in low humidity, they will begin to dry out and lose their taste.

Selecting a location

The most suitable places to store tangerines are a cellar or basement, a vegetable compartment in the refrigerator and a glazed balcony. Before sending fruits for storage, they should be carefully sorted, weeding out spoiled, soft and with traces of rot. Place the selected fruits in prepared containers.

If you plan to store tangerines in the refrigerator, then place them on the bottom shelf, choosing a box, basket or net as packaging. Never store citrus fruits in a plastic bag. Due to lack of ventilation and excessive humidity, they will begin to deteriorate much faster.

In winter, tangerines can be stored on a glassed-in balcony.

Some housewives believe that orange fruits feel great at room temperature. This may be true, but their shelf life is reduced significantly. After just 7 days, the fruits begin to dry out, and the peel sticks to the pulp so tightly that it is difficult to peel.

In winter, fragrant fruits can be stored on a glassed-in balcony. Of course, provided that the temperature there does not drop below +5 °C. It is better to keep tangerines in a box with ventilation holes. To prevent daylight from falling on the fruits, they need to be covered. If possible, place citrus fruits in no more than 3 rows. Otherwise, they will be pressed under their own weight and will quickly become unusable.

Storing unripe fruits

Unripe tangerines last a little longer than their ripe counterparts. But at the same time they need a temperature from +2 to +3 ° C and air humidity of about 90%. As the fruit ripens, the optimal conditions change. If green spots cover less than half the area of ​​the fruit, they are transferred to the temperature regime of ripe fruit.

If necessary, the shelf life of ripe tangerines can be extended. To do this, use the tips listed below.

  • When purchasing, give preference to fruits with a branch. Such citrus fruits are stored longer and have an attractive appearance throughout their entire life.
  • When storing fruit at home, rub the peel with vegetable oil or wax, dry it and place it in a prepared container. This will increase the shelf life by 1-2 weeks.
  • Once a week, go through your supplies and immediately remove fruits that show signs of spoilage.

Preserving supplies of tangerines at home is not a difficult task. The main thing is to maintain the required temperature and humidity, use the right containers and promptly remove fruits that have begun to deteriorate. If these conditions are met, you will be able to enjoy the taste of fresh and juicy citrus fruits for 1 to 2 months.