Freeze This Quirky Citrus Fruit Until the End of the Season

Sumo citrus season is almost over and I’m in a mess. By the end of this month, the lumpy, juicy fruit will be gone from both grocery markets and grocery stores, leaving me in a state of melancholy. If you’ve never tried these fruits, you should buy them now, but don’t give yourself an ulcer by eating sour citrus fruits. Citrus sumo freezes surprisingly well and has an added textural benefit.

A couple of days ago I ate two sumos and tweeted about it because I can’t help but tweet every thought I have.

It wasn’t one of my most popular tweets – it was pretty boring – but I’m glad I wrote it because I got an exquisite response:

I peeled one into segments yesterday and stuck it in the freezer until the innards were slushy and it was next level delicious.

I sent this man a direct message as I was intrigued by his method. I asked him how long he let them freeze before eating them to find a slushy treat, so to speak. “I think about 45 minutes,” he replied. “If you catch it before it is completely frozen, it will be so juicy/slushy and a real treat. If I leave it out too long, I’ll take it out about 15 minutes before I eat it.”

I spread a couple of segments on a plate, then put in the freezer for 45 minutes. As promised, the texture has changed due to the fruit’s high water content. As you probably know, water expands when it freezes, causing the cell walls of the fetus to rupture. If you were to freeze and then completely thaw the segments, they would be soft in your mouth, but if you eat them while they are partially frozen, they will take on a popsicle-like feel.

For best results, peel the fruit, removing as much of the fibrous white pith as possible. Arrange the segments on a plate, tray, or baking sheet, then place the whole thing in the freezer for 45 minutes if you plan to eat it right away.

If you don’t plan on eating them right away, freeze them for an hour until they’re completely frozen, then transfer them to a freezer bag and put them back in the freezer. The next time you want mini citrus ice cream, remove as many segments as you like from the bag and let them thaw for 15 minutes. You can also add the wedges to smoothies or use them in recipes – just don’t let them thaw completely and then eat them right away unless you like gruel.

Of course, you can do this with almost any citrus, not just sumo, but avoid this maneuver with oranges. According to DoesItGoBad.com , “A very bitter compound called limonin forms in oranges when they are frozen. This compound is found in high amounts in Navel oranges, making them a poor choice for freezing whole or as juice.” However, sumos don’t do that, because sumos are perfect.