Apricot is a summer delight, the fruit of the tree called apricot (Prunus armeniaca). It is a typical drupe, that is a fruit with a thin skin, a fleshy pulp and a woody stone. It is smaller than peach, softer than plum, and when fully ripe it has a sweet and slightly acidic flavor. To guarantee maximum taste, you need to know how to select the best ones and store them in the appropriate way. Fortunately, it's not hard to recognize ripe apricots if you know what to look for. The choice of the right method to preserve them depends only on the degree of ripeness of the fruits.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Selecting the Apricots
Step 1. Buy apricots when they are in season
You can find them ripe for a short time of the year, depending on where you are. If you buy them in the right season, the chances of them being good increase dramatically. In the northern hemisphere, they generally ripen from mid-May to mid-August, while in the southern hemisphere they are in season between November and January.
During the winter, in Italy, it can happen to find apricots that come from the other hemisphere, since in those regions they are in season. However, the best choice remains to buy only those grown locally because imported fruits generally tend to be very unripe or overripe
Step 2. Examine the color and texture of the peel
Ripe apricots are yellow-orange with reddish hues. The peel should be smooth and wrinkle-free, so discard any that are dented or scratched.
- Also discard those that are pale yellow or have greenish undertones.
- Apricots that have a wrinkled, shriveled appearance are generally overripe.
Step 3. Evaluate the size of the fruit
There are apricots of different sizes, the diameter usually varies from 4 to 6 cm. On average, a ripe apricot is the same size as a golf ball, so it's best to exclude the larger ones.
If the color and texture indicate they are ripe, there is no need to discard apricots smaller than a golf ball. They are often the tastiest because they have not been forced to grow through excessive watering
Step 4. Touch the fruits to check they are firm
Ripe apricots should feel firm to the touch. If you squeeze them gently, they should give way slightly. If, on the other hand, they are very hard, it means that they are still unripe. You can buy them anyway, but you will have to wait for them to mature before eating them.
- Hard apricots are unripe, but will continue to ripen; those that are green in addition to being hard are likely to never reach full maturity, so it is better not to buy them.
- Very soft or mushy apricots are overripe, so it's best not to buy them.
Part 2 of 3: Storing Unripe Apricots
Step 1. Seal the unripe apricots in a paper bag
If the apricots you bought are hard and not ripe yet, place them in a paper bread bag. Fold the edges of the bag to close it so that the ethylene gas produced by the apricots gets trapped inside and helps them ripen.
- You should use a bag made of natural paper, such as those used by bakers and greengrocers. The brown ones are preferred over the white ones.
- Do not store apricots in a plastic bag. Unlike paper, which is slightly porous and lets some air in and out of the bag, plastic is watertight. Ethylene could be too effective and in a short time the apricots could become soft and overripe.
Step 2. Store the bag at room temperature
Do not put unripe apricots in the refrigerator. Leave the bag on the table or kitchen counter at room temperature. After two or three days the apricots should be ripe.
Make sure the bag is out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources
Step 3. Smell and touch the apricots after a couple of days
Open the bag to evaluate the state of ripeness. If they have a sweet scent, they are most likely ripe. In addition to smelling them, gently squeeze them to make sure they have softened. The pulp should be slightly soft but not soft.
Part 3 of 3: Storing Ripe Apricots
Step 1. Put the apricots in a bag or plastic container
If you have been lucky enough to find them mature, don't leave them exposed to the air to avoid the risk of them rotting quickly. Close them in a plastic bag or container so they are protected.
Step 2. Store them in the refrigerator
To make them last as long as possible, put the bag or container inside the refrigerator. The cold will prevent them from rotting prematurely. However, keep in mind that if the temperature is too low the taste and texture may be affected.
Check that all the apricots are ripe before placing them in the refrigerator. If there are some unripe, store them at room temperature otherwise they will not ripen due to the cold
Step 3. Eat apricots within a few days
The refrigerator can extend their life, but you shouldn't wait too long before using or eating them. To best enjoy them, you should either use them or eat them within two to three days.
Apricots generally keep good even for a week if you keep them in the refrigerator. However, they may gradually lose flavor and become soggy
Advice
- Apricots lend themselves well to numerous recipes; in addition to the classic jam, you can use them to prepare a dessert, a chutney or a sweet and sour sauce.
- Apricots are an excellent source of beta-carotene and one is enough to meet your daily vitamin A requirement.
- Apricots can be frozen, but you should know that they will become softer in the freezer. However, you can use them to prepare a sauce, a puree or a sorbet.
- Apricot puree can be used as a substitute for butter for lighter cooking.
