Plums are one of the most delicious fruits you can grow in your garden or find at the grocery store. Their sweet, juicy flesh and variety of colors make them a treat to eat fresh or bake into tasty treats While all plums have the potential to be sweet, there are some tricks to picking the absolute sweetest plums every time Follow these simple tips and you’ll be rewarded with mouthwatering plums bursting with flavor.
Check the Color
The color of the plum is the first indicator of ripeness and sweetness. Plums come in shades of red, purple, yellow, green, or a combination. Look for plums with deep, even coloration. Green patches mean the plum was picked too early. Avoid plums with pale or uneven coloring. The richest color signifies peak ripeness and sweetness.
Feel the Firmness
Give plums a gentle squeeze to check their firmness. Ripe plums should have a slight give when pressed but still feel plump. They shouldn’t be hard or mushy. Some firmness is okay if you plan to ripen them at home. But for the sweetest plums, choose those that are softly yielding to pressure. Overly firm plums will never reach their full sweet potential.
Check for Blemishes
Inspect plums closely for bruises, wrinkles or breaks in the skin. Damage indicates rotting flesh underneath. The skin should be smooth and taut for the juiciest plum. Minor surface blemishes are okay if the rest of the plum feels firm. But major indents or wounds let flavor-diminishing moisture escape.
Smell the Aroma
A ripe, sweet plum will smell fresh and fruity, especially near the stem. Sniff plums at the store or orchard to identify the most fragrant. Little to no scent means an underripe plum without much sugar developed. The sweeter the aroma, the tastier the plum will be.
Feel the Weight
Heft plums in your hand to gauge their ripeness. Sweet, juicy plums will feel heavier than their size suggests. Lightweight plums have lost moisture and won’t taste as sweet or plump. Heavy plums still full of water content signal peak ripeness.
Test the Stem Ease
Ripe plums should separate cleanly from branches with minimal effort. If you have to yank or struggle to pick the plum, it isn’t ready. The stem may stick on underripe plums. Easy removal equals ripe and sweet. Gently twist ripe plums to avoid cracking them.
Select Early-Season Varieties
Certain plum varieties ripen earlier in summer and tend to be sweeter than later season plums. Popular early sweet varieties include Santa Rosa, Elephant Heart, and Red Beaut. They require less time on the tree to develop sugar compared to slower-ripening autumn varieties.
Sample Plums Before Buying
When picking plums from an orchard or farm stand, taste samples first. That’s the best way to identify the sweetest plums. If sampling isn’t possible, ask the grower for sweet plum recommendations. Describe your preferences and they can steer you right.
Let Tree-Ripened Plums Linger
The longest time on the tree equals the most sugar for plums. Let plums ripen until just shy of falling off the branch. Tree-ripened plums have richer sweetness than plums picked prematurely. Wait as long as possible before harvesting for superior flavor.
Ripen at Room Temperature
If plums were picked early, they’ll continue ripening off the tree to increase sweetness. Keep plums at room temperature out of direct sunlight. Ripening takes 1-3 days. Check daily and refrigerate when ripe. Don’t let them get overripe or they’ll be too soft.
Avoid the Fridge
Refrigerating plums slows the ripening process that develops sugar. Store plums on the counter until ready to eat. Chilling them suppresses flavor. Only refrigerate ripe plums to extend their shelf life by a few days. Cold dulls their sweetness.
Buy from Local Orchards
The shortest time between tree and table means plums reach you at peak ripeness. Visit orchards and farmers markets in plum season and pick same-day harvested plums. Local plums shipped directly from the farm will be the freshest and sweetest.
Select Plums Grown Without Climate Control
Plums grown naturally outdoors have stronger sweetness than greenhouse plums. Extended sunlight and temperature shifts outdoors boosts sugar content. Hothouse plums lack those flavor-elevating conditions. Taste the difference in sun-kissed, old fashioned plums.
Enjoy Heirloom and Heritage Varieties
Try heirloom plums like Green Gage and heritage varieties like Damson for intense sweet-tart flavor. Their genetics predate modern breeding, capturing rich tastes. Sample endangered plum diversity for a flavor burst. The incredible sweetness is worth seeking them out.
With these tips for choosing only the best plums, you’ll be rewarded with delightful sweetness and juicy satisfaction. Always inspect plums carefully, select ripe varieties, and handle them with care. Then relish the sugar-packed taste of this summer treat. Your desserts will shine and snacking will be a pleasure with nature’s candy – sweet, delicious plums!
Where to Buy Plums
Your local farmers market is going to have the largest selection of plum varieties. The varieties you find will depend on your region, your farmers, and your market, but all will be grown nearby and picked shortly before they’re put on stands for you to buy. Make friends with the farmers and learn about the plums you have to choose from.
When they’re in season, plums from California and Michigan can be found in grocery stores. Some stores sell locally grown plums, and if you’ve got a store like that near you, take advantage.
Yes, there are plums in grocery stores year-round, but there are very few varieties to choose from when they’re out of season, and they’re flown in from very far away. Stick to the season of you want poem-worthy plums.
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How To Store Plums
If you have some plums that need to ripen, put them in a loosely closed paper bag for a day or two. When they’re fully ripe, it’s up to you: do you want to eat cold plums or room temperatire plums? Act accordingly. But if you’re leaving a bunch of ripe plums at room temp, make sure to finish them before they go bad.
If you have plums that have gotten too soft, freeze them to use in a smoothie, or perhaps this plum sorbet.
Cooking Tips : How to Pick Plums
FAQ
Which plums are sweeter, red or black?
Generally, black plums are sweeter than red plums. Black plums typically have a sweeter, juicier flesh with a mild tartness, while red plums are known for their sweet-tart flavor profile.
How do you know when sugar plums are ripe?
You can tell they are ripe when they are soft to the touch. Mature Moyer plum trees grow ten to twelve feet tall.Aug 17, 2022
When to harvest plum trees?
Plum trees are a fertile fruit that can yield from two to three bushels per year, so it is important to know when to harvest plum trees. The hands-down surest way to ensure the time is right for picking plum fruit is by its firmness and flavor. The plums will be becoming soft to the touch and the taste will be sweet and juicy.
Are plums sweet?
If you’ve experienced a freshly picked plum, you know its unmatched sweet, juicy appeal as it melts away from the stone. Plums are among the sweetest-tasting fruits, especially when fresh off the stem or from your own tree.
Should you pick plums early?
Picking plums early works well once the ripening process is underway. Picking before fully ripe allows more time before fresh eating. They’ll last longer as they take time to soften. This staggers the need to eat lots of the stone fruits all at once.
When are European plums ready for harvest?
European plums are ready for harvest just as the fruit begins to soften and the skin color changes to a background hue of yellow. Early maturing varieties of plum will need to be harvested over a period of weeks, as the fruit is not ripe on the tree at the same time.
When is a plum ripe?
Prune plum varieties are most commonly ripe in August. Plums don’t improve (much) after picking from the tree, so you’ll want to pick your tree several times during the 2 week season. You’ll enjoy the best fruit, and this will also reduce the potential mess of fruit falling on your landscape or sidewalk. How can I tell whether a plum is ripe?
Do plums ripen after picking?
Plums continue to ripen after they’re picked. They won’t increase in sweetness, though, only softness. Picking plums early works well once the ripening process is underway. Picking before fully ripe allows more time before fresh eating. They’ll last longer as they take time to soften.