Care and Handling

Availability - Green Giant® Fresh Tangerines are available year round.

Selection - Tangerines will be at their best during the midpoint of their growing seasons. Choose tangerines that are firm, heavy for their size (they will be juiciest), and evenly shaped. The skin should be smooth rather than deeply pitted Thin-skinned tangerines are juicier than thick-skinned varieties, and small- to medium-sized fruits are sweeter than the largest tangerines. There is no need to worry about ripeness--tangerines are always picked when they are ripe.

Storage - Tangerines keep for up to two weeks in the refrigerator. But they keep almost as well at room temperature, retaining nearly all of their vitamin content even after two weeks. (They will also yield more juice at room temperature.) Their sturdy peel protects them and they require no further wrapping. In fact, if tangerines are placed in unperforated plastic bags, the moisture trapped inside may encourage mold growth. If you like to eat tangerines chilled, by all means refrigerate them.

Preparation - Halve unpeeled tangerines crosswise for juicing, or halve them either crosswise or lengthwise and then cut each half into thirds, for a juicy snack to be eaten from the peel. For garnishing, halve a tangerine lengthwise, then cut each half crosswise into slices.

Tangerines peel easily if you insert your finger into the opening and pull back the peel. If the peel is too rough, cut a disk of peel from the top, then cut slices of peel longitudinally from top to bottom. Finally, cut the remaining peel from the bottom. Or, peel spiral-fashion (as you would an apple) after removing a slice from the top. Separate the tangerine segments by cutting between the membrane and flesh with a sharp knife. Work over a bowl to catch the juices.

Cooking - Tangerine segments are an excellent way to boost the flavor, as well as the vitamin C content of your salads. Try mixing tangerine segments into your favorite green salad, spinach salad, fruit salad, or jelly salad. Dress grilled meats with slices of citrus fruits, or top pancakes and crepes with tangerines for a tropical twist.

Freezing - As with most citrus fruits, tangerines do not freeze well.