Mandarins and clementines, those cute little citrus fruit that look like miniature oranges, are all over the place these days. They are easy, convenient, and even kids can peel them on their own. They are a total win-win! This post is all about how to select and store mandarins and clementines in order to be able to enjoy them to their fullest.
(This post is an excerpt from The Produce Nerd’s Grocery Guide. You can learn more about the Grocery Guide, which covers this information for 55 different produce items, with input from 26 crop-specific companies HERE.)
What to look for when picking the best quality mandarins?
- You want to look for firm mandarins. These are commonly sold in bulk packs. When selecting a bag to buy, make sure to inspect a few in the bag before deciding on one.
Common issues to avoid when selecting mandarins?
- Puffiness (where the peel separates from the fruit flesh when the fruit is still intact and not peeled)
- Blue/green mold
What is the best way to store mandarins at home?
- On the counter if you are planning to eat them quickly. If not, move the mandarins to the refrigerator. They are susceptible to chilling injury, but they are also highly susceptible to blue/green mold, so you are essentially choosing between the two. I, personally, would rather risk having chilling injury than the presence of blue/green mold that would destroy the entire bulk pack.
What is the best way to store peeled mandarins?
- If you have any peeled mandarins, you need to put them into an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator. I would only plan on storing them for 1-2 hours, because to be honest, the flavor starts to change and is not that good afterwards.
Are there any common things that consumers should look for not mentioned above?
- Mandarins are commonly treated with ethylene gas to degreen the peel (as are oranges). This does not necessarily mean that they were harvested early, as there are some growing areas where the environmental conditions prohibit the mandarins from turning from green to orange.
What is your favorite way to eat and prepare mandarins?
- Plain or mixed in with banana and/or kiwifruit.
If you enjoyed this post and would like to learn more about citrus, I would recommend checking out the following posts: