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.
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infographic of what’s in season 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
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!
Dull winter days are made so much brighter thanks to citrus being in peak season!
While most people associate summer with things like lemonade, January is actually the best season for fresh citrus fruits. Fresh citrus is the best way to improve your at-home bartending game, whether you want fresh squeezed orange juice or you’re looking to level up your homemade beverages!
From lemons and limes to oranges, citrus fruits are literally ripe for the picking at farmer’s markets and grocery stores during winter months. You can even find specialty varieties like meyer lemons and blood oranges. This lemon simple syrup is a great way to use lemons in all your beverage recipes, like this Limonata recipe!
Lemons are also some of the best fruits for homemade salad dressings! Check out this recipe for lemon pepper dressing, which can also double as a marinade!
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Passionfruit is a tropical fruit that makes its seasonal appearance in January and it’s worth hunting down!
If you’ve never had passionfruit, think of it as a mix between citrus and pineapple. It’s sweet but tart, especially if it’s not eaten fully ripe. The fruit can vary in color from greenish red to deep purple, and some varieties are yellow!
This tropical fruit is increasing in popularity, meaning it’s becoming easier to find in your local grocery store. It’s very popular in Brazil, where it’s called maracuyá. In Hawaii, it’s known as lillikoi. Passion fruit is in season from early winter to late spring, with peak season being in January and February.
One of the easiest ways to use passion fruit is in cocktails and mocktails, and this easy passion fruit simple syrup is the perfect recipe for both! Once you whip up a batch, you can enjoy tasty drinks like passion fruit lemonade or tropical passion fruit mojitos!
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!
