Late summer and autumn are plum season. These small purple-purple fruits are loved by many people and are used in a wide variety of recipes. And that’s not without reason. These fruits contain a wide range of nutrients and minerals such as magnesium, iron or vitamins. If consumed regularly, the trace elements increase the immune system, influence the growth process of different cells and promote digestion and the formation of connective tissue. Even if you don’t have plum trees in your garden, it’s still important to know how to spot ripe plums. In the following article we explain how to collect and store properly ripe plums so that they stay fresh longer.
Recognize ripe plums? You can do this successfully in a few steps
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How do I know if plums are ripe?
There are over 2000 varieties of plums known worldwide, which differ mainly in terms of size, taste and colour. Two of the best known and most popular varieties are plums (Prunus domestica) and plums, which are actually a subspecies of plums. What’s the difference? plums are slightly larger and usually have the shape of a sphere. The flesh is soft and sweet-juicy. A furrow is clearly visible in the plums, which is not so evident in the plums. In terms of colour, plums have red, yellow, blue, purple, green and black skin while the flesh is yellow.
The plum is a fruit with an elongated shape. The flesh is light yellow to light green and has a distinctly sour taste. Unlike real plums, the pulp does not contain as much water. The skin is mostly red-purple.
On the left you see plums, on the right are plums
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But how do you know that the fruit is already ripe? First, lightly press the plum. If that Flesh yields a little, without being too soft, then that is a clear sign of maturity. You can also recognize ripe plums by smell and colour. They have a sweetish scent while the color strong is. Cut up the fruit and try those to remove shell. If you can do this without any effort, the plum is already ripe or even overripe.
If you want to recognize ripe plums, you need to know when the variety is harvested. The first plums are already available in August. Mirabelles, however, can only be harvested from mid-August. They have a yellow-reddish color and taste sweet and juicy.
Harvest the plums when they are still slightly unripe, as they will ripen later
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Ripe plums smell sweet and give little when squeezed
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Can plums continue to ripen after harvest?
The short answer to this question sounds “yes”. Therefore, gardeners recommend harvesting fruit that is not fully ripe and placing it in a paper bag or bowl without a lid. This allows the air to circulate and the fruit stays fresh for longer. You can store unripe plums outside the refrigerator for a few days at a temperature of 19-21 degrees. Direct sunlight is not desirable. This gives them the opportunity to mature. Sweeter plum varieties also contain more ethylene – the enzyme that causes other fruits, such as bananas and apples, to ripen.
Store ripe plums at room temperature in a paper bag or box for 3 to 5 days
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How long do fresh plums keep in the fridge?
Plums that are already ripe enough should not be stored in the fridge for too long, as they quickly become mushy and rotten. So you shouldn’t stay more than 3-4 days.
Harvest unripe plums? Rather not!
Unlike blue plums, plums are low in ethylene, which is why they are more acidic. As a result, however, you cannot continue to ripen after the harvest. If left at room temperature for a few days, they will begin to rot.
Unripe plums will not ripen as well
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When should you stop eating plums?
Plums become soft after a few days and can become moldy if stored for a long time. However, they are no longer fresh when they turn black (in the case of dark purple fruits) or blotchy. It is therefore not advisable to eat moldy plums.
Of course, plums that contain worms or larvae are no longer fresh and should not be eaten. If the skin is wilted, plums are also inedible. Over time, the plums lose their bright color and become rotten. Check the fruit by gently squeezing it. If they feel squishy or spongy, better throw them in the trash.
The fruit doesn’t have mold, doesn’t smell bad or isn’t too soft? Then just cut the plum in half. Fresh plums have a healthy core that is free of cracks and mold. The inside of the plum has delicious, soft flesh.
You can use ripe plums for biscuits and jams or leave them to dry
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