There are many types of citrus fruits – oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruit, tangerines, tangelos and mandarins – with most being available year-round. If you’re looking for the best way to store citrus, there are some general rules of thumb.
Storage Tips for Citrus
Citrus fruits can be stored short-term, up to 1 week on the counter at room temperature. If you want to store them longer-term, citrus can be refrigerated up to 3 weeks. Typically, the citrus’ texture is better when the fruit is kept in the refrigerator. If you have a bunch of citrus fruits, they can be frozen in wedges, slices, zest, juice or whole to then have on hand to add to meals and drinks.
Whether storing them on the counter or in the fridge, it is best to leave the citrus fruits unwashed. Before eating, just rinse under running tap water using clean hands.
You can store the citrus in the bag you purchased it in, just make sure to loosely tie the bag to help give the fruit some airflow during storage.
Overall, the sooner you enjoy your citrus fruits the better the freshness, flavor and texture will be.
