Tangerines Delivery or Pickup

Tangerines are citrus fruits that are closely related to oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruits. Tangerines are a type of Mandarin orange, a popular variety of oranges grown in China for thousands of years. Tangerines are usually reddish-orange and smaller than most oranges. Many people refer to any orange that fits that description as a tangerine. However, a tangerine tastes sweeter and less sour or tart than most oranges. Like a Mandarin orange, it's easy to peel and separate the sections.

These fruits are named after Tangiers, Morocco, the port where they were first shipped to the rest of the world in the 19th century. When they arrived in Florida, they became an important commercial crop. Today, people also grow tangerines in Arizona, California, and Texas. They're also popular in Australia, Japan, India, and many parts of Africa.

Tangerines are available all year from a variety of stores through Instacart! In the United States, they're in season from November through January. Look for fruit with glossy, reddish-orange skin with tiny pores or dimples. Some of the skin near the stem may be green, and tangerines that feel heavy for their size are juicier. They often have a strong, citrus smell. You should avoid fruits with deep wrinkles, grooves, discolorations, bumps, bruises, or soft spots.

After tangerines are picked, they stop ripening. This means you should use them as soon as possible for the best taste. You can keep tangerines in your refrigerator for up to a month or in a cool place like a basement for two or three weeks. Before you eat them, rinse your tangerines.

Tangerines taste great in smoothies, fruit or green salads, and drinks. For a creamy tangerine smoothie, combine a peeled tangerine, shredded coconut, a frozen banana, almond milk, and vanilla extract. In a green salad, tangerines taste great with some almonds or pecans and dried cranberries.

You can also use tangerines to make desserts like scones, pies, and tarts. For candied tangerine peel, cook the peels in boiling water for a few minutes, then change the water and boil them for the same time again. Then, boil equal amounts of fresh water and sugar. Add the peels, simmer them for about 45 minutes, and then remove them and coat them in sugar. You can save the leftover tangerine syrup and use it on pancakes or waffles. You can also add the syrup to tea.

Tangerines shine in sauces for fish, chicken, pork, beef, and duck as well. For a delicious ham glaze, cook two sticks of butter, two tangerines, 2 cups of tangerine juice, 2 cups of brown sugar, 1 cup of water, two cinnamon sticks, and whole cloves in a saucepan for 30 to 40 minutes. Cut the tangerines into thin slices first. As your ham cooks, baste it with the glaze every half an hour for a delicious flavor and serve it with the remaining glaze on the side. 

With the advanced Instacart app, you can use your computer or smartphone to place your order from anywhere in just a few minutes. Then, an experienced Instacart shopper will take your purchase to you on the same day, or you can collect your order curbside at a store nearby!