Winter isn’t always associated with meals full of flavor, but that’s not how things have to be in your kitchen! The key to keeping meals flavorful is using the freshest quality ingredients you can find. So…what is in season in January?! This guide for the month of January will help you to stay inspired while using the freshest in-season produce all month long!
Think of cozy favorites featuring winter squash and root vegetables like potatoes. Heavy holiday meals are out! Instead, turn to light and crisp salads featuring the freshest winter leafy greens like bok choy and kale. Your drinks won’t be left out, either! Use the bounty of citrus fruits and fresh herbs to add bold flavor to all your drinks! Dry January doesn’t have to be flavorless thanks to all these in-season fruits!
While this list will vary slightly based on your geographical location, here’s what you can expect to find across the United States in the winter month of January.
Got a minute?!
I’d be so grateful if you could fill out this quick survey for me!
I use all the responses to help make sure my site is as useful as it can be, just for YOU!
🖼️ seasonal foods infographic in January
From passion fruit puree to pomegranate arils, there are a lot of flavors to be savored in January. Save this image for all your grocery trips this month, or pin it for later!
🧾 complete list of fruits & veggies in season in January
Check out the two comprehensive lists of fruits and vegetables available in January.
Fruits that are in season in January:
- Apples
- Clementines
- Grapefruit
- Kiwi
- Kumquats
- Lemons
- Limes
- Oranges
- Passionfruit
- Pears
- Persimmons
- Pomegranate
- Pomelos
- Tangerine
Vegetables that are in season in January:
- Avocados
- Beets
- Broccoli
- Carrots
- Cauliflower
- Kale
- Onions
- Parsnips
- Potatoes
- Radishes
- Sweet Potatoes
- Swiss Chard
- Turnips
- Winter Squash
Wanna save this recipe for later? 📬
I'll email this recipe post to you so you can have it for later!
✨ January ingredient spotlight & recipe share
Here’s a focused list of fresh produce from the January produce guide, with some different ways to use each item in seasonal recipes!
Want more recipe inspo? 👀
Drop me a comment and let me know what you’re looking for! I run this site by myself, and I’m here to help YOU stay inspired! I’d be thrilled to help develop a recipe just for you!
🍋 lemons – ready to star in the show!
January is peak season for fresh citrus fruits like lemons, even though you can find them year-round. A good tip is to watch for sales: if it’s on sale, it’s likely in season!
When picking lemons, choose fruits that feel heavy for their size. This indicates they’re juicy! Look for lemons with smooth, bright yellow skin and avoid any with soft spots or wrinkles.
Lemons are so versatile and worth the spotlight on their own! They’re perfect for homemade salad dressings like lemon pepper dressing, or you can make lemon simple syrup to use in all your favorite beverages!
recipe ideas for lemons:
lemon pepper salad dressing
This homemade lemon pepper vinaigrette is perfect for your salads, grain bowls, or even to marinate your favorite proteins!
limonata (Sparkling Italian Lemonade)
Lemonade is great but BUBBLY Italian lemonade soda is even better! This limonata recipe uses a homemade lemon syrup + fresh lemon juice, too!
Make a homemade citrus salt
Swap the lime zest for lemon zest in this seasoned citrus salt recipe and use the pop of lemon zest + salt in any recipe!
💜 passion fruit – a burst of the tropics!
Passion fruit is in season from early winter to late spring, with peak season being in January and February. This tropical fruit is becoming easier to find in your local grocery store, so keep an eye out for it!
When picking passion fruit, choose fruits that feel heavy and have wrinkled, dimpled skin. Yes, wrinkly is good here!! The fruit can vary in color from greenish red to deep purple, and some varieties are even yellow!
If you’ve never had passion fruit, think of it as a mix between citrus and pineapple. It’s sweet but tart, especially if it’s not fully ripe, when it can be more sour in taste. It’s called maracuyá in Brazil and lillikoi in Hawaii. The easiest way to use it? In drinks, cocktails, and mocktails!
recipe ideas for passion fruit:
fresh passion fruit purée
Turn fresh passionfruit into an easy-to-use fruit purée that you can use to make homemade juice and as an ingredient in other recipes!
passion fruit simple syrup
Making homemade passion fruit infused syrup is the easiest way to flavor any beverage, from iced tea to happy hour cocktails!
passion fruit mojito cocktails
Regular mojitos are great and all, but this super-tropical passion fruit mojito is like an instant vacation in a glass!
Parsnips are like cousins of carrots, and they’re perfect for roasting in winter!
Parsnips are a root vegetable that resemble white carrots, but they don’t have the same flavor as carrots at all. They are slightly nutty in flavor, and roasting enhances this flavor big time! Try them pureed, in soups, or as a side dish for dinner in winter. They partner wonderfully with potatoes and squash when roasted in the oven. They’re also excellent on salads! Try these roasted parsnips as your next winter side dish!
Broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower are in season in January…
…and they’re also just begging to be roasted. Broccoli just so happens to be delicious when roasted with lemon juice and parmesan cheese, making it the perfect side dish for your next pasta night!
Winter squash like butternut and acorn varieties are still going strong…
…even if it seems like people seem to forget about the harvest after the Thanksgiving season. It’s still prime time for all of your squash recipes, like this butternut squash soup!
🛒 So, what’s on your shopping list this month?
Our passion vine is always producing fruits overtime this time of year, so I know we will be having lots of passion fruit juice on hand! Also, living in Florida means it’s mandatory to indulge in citrus season, so you can bet to find all kinds of oranges stashed in our fridge!
