Can You Freeze Oranges?
Learn all the tips and tricks for how to freeze oranges to build a freezer stash of this versatile fruit. Freezing oranges is a great way to preserve without needing to know any special kitchen skills.
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While oranges are available year-round in every grocery store, it doesn’t mean they always taste that great. Oranges shine during peak citrus season – November through April. If you find a great deal on some delicious oranges, it’s so simple to freeze them to enjoy anytime.
Can You Freeze Oranges?
Yes! Oranges can be frozen whole, halved, sliced, sectioned, zested, and juiced. In the printable recipe card below, I will walk you through all the different methods for freezing oranges.
When oranges freeze, it changes the cellular structure, making them softer, juicier, and a bit mushier. Frozen oranges will taste great if eaten when thawed, but the appearance won’t be exactly the same as a fresh orange.
If you are processing a lot of oranges for juicing and have a stand mixer, we love using this Kitchen Aid juicer attachment. It makes quick work getting every possible drop out of juicing oranges.
If you want to make fancy slices for freezing, this post on How to Segment an Orange will walk you through the process step by step.
How Long Do Frozen Oranges Last?
Frozen oranges will last for 6-12 months in the freezer. If you have a deep freeze, storing it in there would be most effective and they will last longer than in a fridge/freezer combo.
I’m a big fan of reusable freezer-safe bags for frozen orange slices and segments. These are our favorites and last forever. Freeze juice in wide-mouth jars, souper cubes, or leak-proof freezer bags.
How Do You Use Frozen Oranges?
It depends on what form you freeze them in (juiced, whole, etc.,), but here are a few of my favorite ways to use up frozen oranges: Instant Pot Orange Chicken (juice & zest), Healthy Sweet Tea (slices/garnish), Frozen Smoothie Packs (whole, halved, slices), Orange Chocolate Madeleines (zest), or this Whole Orange Cake (whole/halved).
How to Thaw Frozen Oranges
In many cases (smoothies, using as drink garnishes, etc.,), oranges are best kept frozen. But if you need to thaw oranges for baking, you can leave them on the counter for a few hours, or microwave slices/segments on 50% power for 60 seconds. Do not microwave a whole orange.
Pro Tips/Recipe Notes
- If freezing orange juice in glass jars, you’ll want to choose wide-mouth jars and leave 1-inch of headspace at the top of each jar. This allows the juice to expand while it freezes and prevents the jars from cracking. Thaw at room temp or in the fridge overnight. Do not heat a frozen jar in hot water or the microwave as it might crack.
MORE KITCHEN TRICKS YOU’LL LOVE:
- Freezing Pineapple
- Freezing Peppers
- How to Freeze Potatoes
- Freezing Strawberries
- How to Freeze Asparagus
- How to Cut a Peach
- Freezing Zucchini
- How to Freeze Cranberries
- Freezing Spinach
- Freezing Raspberries
- How to Freeze Onions
- How to Cut a Watermelon
- Check out all my canning recipes!
- Check out my Homemade Seasonings page
How to Freeze Oranges
Ingredients
- oranges
Instructions
How to Freeze Whole Oranges
- Wash the outside of the orange and dry off excess water.
- Places oranges in a freezer-safe bag, seal, and remove excess air.
How to Freeze Orange Halves
- Wash the outside of the orange and dry off excess water.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment or waxed paper.
- Cut the orange in half down the middle (not end to end).
- Place oranges cut side down on the parchment. Freeze for 4 hours.
- Remove frozen orange halves and place in a freezer-safe bag, seal and remove excess air.
How to Freeze Orange Slices {With Rind}
- Wash the outside of the orange and dry off excess water.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment or waxed paper.
- Cut the orange in half from end to end. Slice each half in half, and then each of those halves in half. This will produce 8 total slices.
- Place oranges cut side down on the parchment. Freeze for 4 hours.
- Remove frozen orange halves and place in a freezer-safe bag. Seal, and remove excess air.
How to Freeze Orange Segments {No Rind}
- Line a baking sheet with parchment or waxed paper.
- Slice the top and bottom off of the orange.
- Position the knife next to the pith (the white stuff inside the peel) and make a slice to the bottom following the shape of the rind. Trim the whole fruit.
- Hold the fruit in your hand, and position the knife on one side of the section. Carefully make a slice downward toward the center, making sure to not cut through the entire orange.
- Repeat on the other side of the section, popping the section out. Continue with the rest of the fruit.
- Place segments on the parchment. Freeze for 4 hours.
- Remove frozen orange segments and place in a freezer-safe bag. Seal, and remove excess air.
How to Freeze Orange Juice
- Transfer orange juice to wide-mouth glass jars (leaving 1-inch of headspace) fitted with a lid, or carefully pour into freezer bags.
- (If using bags), carefully remove excess air, and seal completely. Place flat on a baking sheet and freeze for 4 hours.
- To save space, stack frozen bags of juice on top of each other in the freezer.
How to Freeze Orange Zest
- Wash the outside of the orange and dry off excess water.
- Zest orange, making sure you only zest the peel and not the pith (white part).
- Mix zest with a tiny bit of water, to create a "paste".
- Press the paste into ice cube trays and freeze for 3 hours.
- Remove zest cubes and place in a freezer-safe bag. Seal, and remove excess air.
Notes
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