What to do with ALOT of canned mandarin oranges?

[sherry7]

There's a salvage grocery store near me, and they sell those huge restaurant sized (about a gallon?) cans for only $1-$2. They are either very dented, or lightly dented. I pick out the ones in the best condition.

The last time I went there, I got 3 huge cans of mandarin oranges, packed in a light syrup.

But, I don't know what to do with them! Once I open up a can, I need to use it up quickly...within a few days. I don't think they freeze well, so that's not an option.

DS and DH don't like eating them plain. Anyone have any ideas for recipes that use ALOT of canned mandarin oranges?

Thanks!

 

[las3888]

Hmmm...I'm not of great help...DS and I ) ) love to eat them plain. They doo keep in the fridge for a better part of a week or so--probably even longer. I do like them in salads too--just toss a few on top with a few of those Asian noodles.

Maybe somebody does have some better ideas...if not, I'm sure a food pantry or a local church that has a free meal would love to take them off your hands...good luck and what a great buy!

 

[problemchild718]

Oh my-I love them. My favorite is to put them in salad-I drain them and add them to organic mixed greens with same walnuts and a little red onion-so good. You can also make an oriental salad with them, romaine, sesame seeds, almonds and some wonton strips with a sesame dressing. I also make a great cake with em. Let me know if you want the receipe.
They are great if you beat them and add them to vanilla pudding. My kids love em out of the can and in fruit salad. They are great mixed with crushed pineapple.

 

[branv]

I would go to www.allrecipes.com and look for a recipe for Ambrosia. Usually uses a lot of mandarin oranges. I don't want to post any one recipe for it, b/c depending on what part of the country you're from and who ya' granny was different things in Ambrosia are considered heresy (My family comes from the whipped cream, coconut, pineapple, pecans Ambrosia clan)

 

[Imzadi]

Wendy's (Hamburgers) has a great Mandarin Orange Chicken Salad similar to the one a PP described.

I eat them plain with chocolate syrup, by rinsing off the light syrup, draining, then drizzling with chocolate syrup.

You can also make a nice English Trifle.

 

[sherry7]

Great ideas everyone.

I had forgotten about Ambrosia. I'm not allowed to eat it, but DH and DS will love it.

Oh, and I've love to have the cake recipe, Problemchild718. DH and DS would love that. Thanks!

 

[Mickey527]

Oh if I had one of those stores in my area I would be there every day. I love mandarin oranges. I remember when I was in high school I would go to the store every day after work and buy a can and eat them on the way home. Of course back then I could eat a cow and not gain a pound.
And branv, ambrosia is made with pineapple, mandarin oranges, miniature marshmellows, a bag of coconut, and sour cream. I LOVE Ambrosia...

 

[Belle0101]

I love madarin oranges! Given the chance I'd probably gorge myself on them until I was sick. Next time I get a can I'll have to remember the ideas and recipes. Yum!!


One question on buying dented stuff - how dented can it be before it is unsafe?

We have a store near us called the "Dented Can". I've seen some pretty dented stuff, banged up boxes, expired stuff (even stuff marked best before 2006) and them some stuff with no damage at all. I've been shopping there more often but I keep hearing my mom ... "dented canned foods will give you food poisoning". She wouldn't buy a dented can for any amount and if it got dented on the way home or in the cupboard it got tossed right away.

Thanks!!

 

[Cynt]

JELLO! If your son likes JELLO you can add them to any flavor. Excellent snack. Make a big batch and scoop into small sealable bowls or ziplock bags to take for lunch or snack time at school.

 

[HeatherBelle614]

Maybe use them as a waffle or pancake topping?

We just had strawberry waffles this morning, so that's what automatically came to mind - especially since they're already in a syrup.

 

[sherry7]

.........One question on buying dented stuff - how dented can it be before it is unsafe? ............

Here's my general rule. If it's dented along a seam, I won't buy it. It's it's bulging, I definitely won't buy it! I look for the less dented cans, which usually involves moving a bunch of stuff around.

My finds there include the mandarin oranges, pears, peaches, corn, roasted red peppers, tomatoes, tomato sauce, etc. Some are $1 a can, some are $2. Oh, and using up a gallon of roasted red peppers takes some serious imagination!

DH thinks I'm nuts for buying these big cans, but I'd pay just as much for a small can at WM.

Now that I think of it, I've used the pears and peaches to make fruit cobblers with. I wonder if I can use the mandarin oranges for cobbler? That would use up a bunch of them at a time.

I love the great ideas that everyone is giving me!

 

[meriface11]

i make ambrosia with mandarin oranges, pineapple, greek yogurt instead of sour cream, and just a little bit of marshmallows. fewer calories, and tons of protein from the yogurt.

 

[Belle0101]

Here's my general rule. If it's dented along a seam, I won't buy it. It's it's bulging, I definitely won't buy it! I look for the less dented cans, which usually involves moving a bunch of stuff around.

My finds there include the mandarin oranges, pears, peaches, corn, roasted red peppers, tomatoes, tomato sauce, etc. Some are $1 a can, some are $2. Oh, and using up a gallon of roasted red peppers takes some serious imagination!

DH thinks I'm nuts for buying these big cans, but I'd pay just as much for a small can at WM.

Now that I think of it, I've used the pears and peaches to make fruit cobblers with. I wonder if I can use the mandarin oranges for cobbler? That would use up a bunch of them at a time.

I love the great ideas that everyone is giving me!

You're making me hugnry! I did a quick search and came up with this for orange cobbler, sounds pretty easy.

1. 2 tablespoons sugar
2. 1 tablespoon cornstarch
3. 1/2 cup cold water
4. 1/4 cup orange marmalade
5. 2 tablespoons orange juice concentrate
6. 2 teaspoons butter or margarine
7. 1/2 cup biscuit/baking mix
8. 1 dash ground nutmeg
9. 3 tablespoons milk
10. Vanilla ice cream

Nutrition Info

Per Serving

• Calories: 362 kcal
• Carbohydrates: 69 g
• Dietary Fiber: 0 g
• Fat: 9 g
• Protein: 3 g
• Sugars: 46 g

About: Nutrition Info
Powered by: ESHA Nutrient Database

2. Cooking Directions

1. In a saucepan, combine sugar and cornstarch. Stir in water, marmalade and orange juice concentrate. Cook and stir over medium-low heat until thickened. Stir in the butter until melted. Pour into a greased 1-qt. baking dish.
2. In a bowl, combine biscuit mix and nutmeg; stir in milk just until moistened. Drop by tablespoonfuls over orange mixture. Bake, uncovered, at 400 degrees F for 20-25 minutes or until topping is golden brown. Serve warm over ice cream.

Yield: 2 servings

 

[Imzadi]

Here's a thread I posted a while back that has Dump cake recipes (very much like cobblers.) You might be able to modify one with the oranges. It also has an English Trifle recipe, if you scroll down.

Quick and Easy Cakes from mixes

 

[Katlyn]

MANDARIN ORANGE CAKE

Cake:

1 box yellow cake mix
1 large (15 oz.) can mandarin oranges, undrained
1/2 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
zest of one orange (optional)

Beat all ingredients together with electric mixer 2 minutes. Pour into greased and floured 9 x 13 pan and bake at 350 degrees about 30 minutes or until a toothpick stuck in center comes out clean. Cool before frosting.


Frosting:

8 oz. carton Cool Whip, thawed
Large box vanilla instant pudding mix
20 oz. can crushed pineapple in juice, undrained

Beat all together with electric mixer until well blended. Spread on top of cake. Chill.



*You could also sprinkle the frosting with coconut or even stir some into the cake batter, too.

*The large box of pudding mix is the size that calls for 3 cups of milk but DON'T MAKE THE PUDDING; add it straight from the box.

 

[hambirg]

I was thinking freezer jam. I found this and I wonder if you couldn't just use all mandarines:

Strawberry-Orange Freezer Jam

12 ounces mandarin oranges -- drained, crushed
1 1/2 cups strawberries -- crushed
4 cups sugar
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 cup water
2 ounces pectin


Mix together oranges and strawberries. Add sugar and lemon juice and mix well. Let stand for at least 20 minutes. Put water and pectin together in a saucepan and mix thoroughly.

Bring mixture to rolling boil that cannot be stirred down and boil for 3 minutes.

Remove from heat and mix pectin solution into fruit, stirring constantly for about 3 minutes. Ladle into sterilized jars, with clean rings and new lids and seal.

Let set overnight. Store in freezer. Makes 6 half-pint jars.

 

[santa's surpriz]

If you can find a recipe Applebee's used to make Dreamsicle dessert with manadrain oranges. It was soo yummy but they took it off their menu.

I second the jello! Never to old to love that!

 

[cndij]

My tip is: Dehydrate them. I've had a dehydrator for a couple years now, and I have bought the small cans of mandarin oranges when Walgreens runs them on sale, specifically for drying. They turned out really good. My neices, love about any kind of fruit dried. When I first started doing it and they weren't familiar with it, I called it "Fruit Candy", now, I actually have to hide it and dole it out to them or they will inhale: dried apples, banana chips, strawberries, just about anything I dry. I bet you could get about a whole one of those big cans in a standard 6 tray American Harvet one. Mine is loaded up with bananas as we speak, for banana chips, I did 3 trays last weekend and they already ate them all, so I have all 6 trays going now, it holds 24 bananas.

 

[rdevine10]

our favorite way to eat them is just mixed with a little coolwhip. Tastes like a creamsicle!

 

[pixiewings71]

Oh man, "baby" oranges are DD8's FAVE!!! She loves them! I will definitely need to watch this thread! She just eats them plain, I open a small can and she finishes it! LOL She likes to take them for lunches so I will put them in a small tupperware bowl for her.