Yes, you can slice oranges the night before. Just make sure to refrigerate the slices properly, and you’re good to go.
The shelf life of sliced oranges varies greatly with how your store them.
If the oranges are sliced properly and then refrigerated, they can last you up to 3-4 days before going bad.
If you decide to freeze them after slicing, as long as they are stored properly, they can last up to 10-12 months in the freezer.
In this article, we’ll be giving you a couple of tips for slicing and storing oranges so that they can last you a very long while and save you some time in the kitchen.
Read on to learn more.
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So, Can You Really Do It?
As we mentioned earlier, you can definitely do this, as long as you store them and slice them properly.
To properly slice an orange, you will need to remove the peeling, the white pith that surrounds it, as well as the membrane that separates each segment.
You will need a sharp knife that you’re comfortable using to accomplish it and it might take some getting used to, but this is by far the best way to cut an orange.
From there, you are going to need to properly wrap the slices and put them in the refrigerator.
You can put them in either the refrigerator or the freezer, depending on how long you would want them to stay good.
How Long Can Sliced Oranges Last In The Refridgerator?
Whole produce can last much longer in the refrigerator compared to sliced ones as sliced fruits have more exposure to air and any other contaminants.
But if you slice them properly, making sure to remove the membrane and white pith, then the fruits could last you about 3-4 days if wrapped and stored in the refrigerator.
This means that you’ll be able to slice the oranges ahead of time or even a couple of days prior to cooking and eating without worrying about them going bad, as long as they’re kept chilled.
And if you want the fruits to last you a long time, you can also store them inside the refrigerator, making sure to wrap them the same way you would if storing them in the chiller.
If you do this, the fruits can last up to 10-12 months before losing their flavor and last a couple more months before going completely bad.
How To Properly Store Orange Slices
Step One: Slice Them Properly
The first step to storing your orange slices is making sure you slice them properly.
To do this, grab a sharp knife and cut off about a half-inch from the top and bottom of the fruit, exposing the flesh.
From there, stand the orange up flat and begin cutting the peel using the contour and white pith of the orange as a guide.
Once you have removed all the peeling, take note of the membrane that separates each segment, and then use the knife to carefully slice between the flesh and the membrane.
Repeat this until you have sliced all of the segments, and from there you can move on to storing, or cut them further into cubes, depending on how you like the fruit eaten.
Step Two: Wrapping & Storing Them
Once you have sliced the fruit, you will then need to wrap it properly.
You can do this by storing them in a bowl (juices included), and then covering them with plastic wrap, making sure it’s air-tight.
Alternatively, you can also put them in an airtight container if you have come on hand.
From there, you can simply store them in the fridge for a couple of days.
If storing the oranges in a freezer, you would first have to the juices that are in the bowl.
Once drained, you can put the fruit in freezer packs or containers designed for freezing, and your orange slices will last you months on end before going bad.
Conclusion
So there you have it, the answer to your question.
Remember, you can also slice up and store the fruit in the refrigerator at the start of the week and have a cold and refreshing snack to eat for the next couple of days.
Regardless of the reason you’re storing them, just make sure that they are sliced and wrapped properly, and you’ll have sweet and ripe fruit ready for eating for much longer than you might expect!