Tangerines belong to the same family of citrus fruits as oranges do. In fact, they may be considered small oranges by some cultures.
Tangerines are eaten raw, used in jam and other desert foods, and are excellent dried as well.
Read on below, where we discuss whether or not tangerines continue to ripen after they are picked.
Do Tangerines Ripen After Being Picked?
Tangerines, unfortunately, do not continue ripening after being picked. For that reason, they don’t tend to last awfully long after picking (so it’s better to pick only a bit at a time).
How Do You Ripen a Tangerine?
The best practice for ripening tangerines is leaving them on the tree until they are fully ripe. Only tangerines that are mostly ripe will continue to ripen after being picked (and only by a smidgen, if that). You can try the brown paper bag trick (placing the fruit inside with a banana or apples and hoping the ethylene gas will induce ripening), but it isn’t likely to yield good results.
How to Tell if a Tangerine is Ripe?
Ripe tangerines are easy to identify; they are plump, orange in color, and put off a sweet citrus scent. If you pay attention, you may notice birds and insects beginning to take interest in your tangerine tree when the fruits begin to ripen.
How Long Do Ripe Tangerines Last?
Depending on the species, tangerines take anywhere from 6 to 10 months to ripen. Once fully ripe, the fruit is typically good for an additional 1 to 2 weeks if you keep them refrigerated. On the counter, they last only a few short days.
What Color is a Ripe Tangerine?
Ripe tangerines have orange or red skin when fully ripe. The skin is firm, but yields to the fingertips. The skin is rough and has no dividers or grooves in it.
Are Ripe Tangerines Supposed to be Soft?
Tangerines that are fully ripe should be slightly soft to the touch, yet firm. They should feel hefty in your hand for their size. That said, if the skin is so soft that it breaks, or is gooey, the tangerine is past ripe and has started to spoil.
Hey, I’m Joey. I’ve been cooking since I was a little kid and love everything about it. You can find my writing about food, kitchen appliances (such as blenders) and much more. Thanks for stopping by!
