Having worked as a journalist for many years I studied horticulture and now work as a professional gardener. I work as a specialist kitchen gardener, growing a wide range of vegetables, fruit and herbs for chefs in the north of England. I am passionate about gardening and writing, and love growing edibles and trying to inspire others to get outside and grow their own. Favourite fruit: Apples and Raspberries Favourite vegetables: Beetroot, celeriac, parsnip and broad beans
Quince trees are a rare sight in British gardens nowadays. However, they do produce distinctive and aromatic fruits that provide a range of fascinating options in the kitchen. Discover how to harvest and use quinces.
Quinces (Cydonia oblonga) are ancient and unique trees. Their large fragrant fruits make delicious quince jelly and jam. Read on to find out how to harvest and store the fruits before using them as well as some of the best methods for cooking and preserving quinces.
Quince is an odd, knobbly fruit that looks like a cross between an apple and a pear. With its intense floral fragrance and beautiful pink flesh, ripe quince can be a real treat. But knowing when quince is actually ripe enough to eat can be tricky. In this guide I’ll go over everything you need to know about identifying mature ready-to-eat quince fruit.
What Does Ripe Quince Look Like?
The best and easiest way to tell if quince is ripe is by looking at the color. Unripe quince is bright green, sometimes with white fuzz. As it ripens, it turns a solid, golden yellow color and loses the fuzz. According to the sources, other signs that a quince is ripe include:
- Orange or red blushing on some part of the yellow skin
- Easily twisting off the tree branch
- Strong, sweet floral scent
A quince that is mostly green or still has white fuzz is not ripe yet. One that is extremely soft or falling off the tree on its own is overripe. The perfectly ripe quince should be all yellow with a little give when gently squeezed.
When is Quince in Season?
Quince season varies quite a bit depending on your location. In warm climates like California, the earliest quince varieties start ripening in August In cooler areas, you may not see ripe quince until October or even November Most places see peak quince harvest between September and November.
According to the sources, some popular quince varieties and their typical harvest times are:
- Van Deman: September
- Karp’s Sweet: September – October
- Seker Gevrek: October – February
So if you’re eager for ripe quince, choose early-ripening varieties and try growing quince in the warmest microclimate you can. Espaliering against a sunny wall can help too.
How Should You Pick Ripe Quince?
Since quince bruises very easily, harvest ripe fruit with care Use clean pruning shears to snip the stem, lifting the fruit gently Don’t yank or squeeze! Freshly picked ripe quince should be placed in a single layer in a cool, dark place to continue ripening. Turn the fruit daily and check for any soft spots developing.
According to the sources, you can expect an average yield of 30-150 lbs of quince per tree. If you need to pick early due to weather, look for all-yellow fruit that gives slightly when pressed. It can finish ripening off the tree.
Storing and Cooking with Ripe Quince
Ripe quince stores surprisingly well, lasting 2-3 months in a cool, dry spot away from other produce. Wrapping each fruit in paper towels helps contain the strong scent.
Don’t expect ripe quince to be tasty raw – that bitter astringency remains. Cooking transforms quince into something delicious, though. Long, slow cooking turns the hard flesh tender and the bitter notes sweet. According to the sources, popular ways to eat ripe quince include:
- Baked into pies, tarts, and other desserts
- Made into jellies and preserves
- Slow-simmered into a sweet-tart paste called membrillo
- Added to savory Middle Eastern and North African dishes
No matter how you cook it, ripe quince turns a beautiful pinky-red color when heated. Its unique floral aroma also intensifies. Once you get your hands on some ripe, ready-to-eat quince, you’ll be eager to try these tasty preparations.
In Summary
Identifying ripe quince mainly comes down to color. A fully golden yellow quince with a sweet fragrance is ripe and ready to eat. Pay attention to when quince ripens in your climate, as harvest time varies. Pick ripe fruit gently by hand and let it finish ripening in a cool, dark place if needed. Store ripe quince carefully to enjoy its fantastic flavor cooked into both sweet and savory dishes over the next several months. With this guide to spotting mature quince, you’ll be ready to make the most of this special harvest.
You want to know who’s behind Plantura?
Having worked as a journalist for many years I studied horticulture and now work as a professional gardener. I work as a specialist kitchen gardener, growing a wide range of vegetables, fruit and herbs for chefs in the north of England. I am passionate about gardening and writing, and love growing edibles and trying to inspire others to get outside and grow their own. Favourite fruit: Apples and Raspberries Favourite vegetables: Beetroot, celeriac, parsnip and broad beans
Quince trees are a rare sight in British gardens nowadays. However, they do produce distinctive and aromatic fruits that provide a range of fascinating options in the kitchen. Discover how to harvest and use quinces.
Quinces (Cydonia oblonga) are ancient and unique trees. Their large fragrant fruits make delicious quince jelly and jam. Read on to find out how to harvest and store the fruits before using them as well as some of the best methods for cooking and preserving quinces.
Harvesting quinces: when and how
You may wonder how to tell when a quince is ripe. The exact time for when to pick the quinces will depend on the variety of the tree and your climate. There are several different varieties of quinces to choose from, with varying fruit shape and flavour characteristics. In the UK, the time for harvesting ripe quinces tends to be October or November. A fully ripe quince will turn from a light greenish yellow to golden when it is the right time for the quince harvest. Another sign is that the fruit becomes very aromatic and gives off a strong and sweet fragrance. A quince will develop the best flavour when allowed to fully mature on the tree as long as possible. The fruit can continue to ripen after being picked, so it is best to pick quinces off the tree if a frost is forecast. If you want to store your quinces for longer periods, you should harvest them when they are not fully ripe, once their skin turns from green to yellow.
Another sign of quince being ripe on a tree is if fruit starts to fall. The fruit snaps off the tree when very mature, so if they are dropping of their own accord, then it is time to harvest the quinces off of the tree. Be very careful when harvesting quinces as despite being hard in texture the fruit can bruise very easily. It is recommended to select the yellowest fruit and snip them from the tree carefully using a sharp pair of secateurs. Try to keep a bit of the stem attached. Fruit can be removed without tools by lifting the fruit and twisting gently to snap the stem. If the fruit has to be pulled to come off the tree that is a sign the fruit is not ready for harvest. Take care to only select the best fruit that is free of blemishes and dispose of those that are damaged or bruised as they will not store well.
Quince harvest advice for optimal ripeness
FAQ
How to know when quince is ready to eat?
You’ll know a quince is ripe once it’s fully yellow and its intoxicating fragrance is already in the air.
Do quinces go soft when ripe?
Quince are an interesting fruit as it feels rock hard even when ripe, but undergoes the most amazing transformation once cooked correctly. It has a furry outer coating which rubs off easily once the fruit is ripened on the tree.
Should quince be hard or soft?
The fruit, often pear-shaped, is rock hard until the last moment of ripening before it rots. This firm flesh makes it good to cook with. While apples melt and pears soften, the quince stays strong, a little gritty, a perfect bite. It is rich in pectin, so good for preserves.
When does a quince ripen?
The ripening times for some widely available quince cultivars: ‘Van Deman,’ hardy in zones 4 though 9, has spicy-sweet, pear-shaped fruit ripening in September. ‘Karp’s Sweet’ grows in zones 5 through 9. Its black-speckled fruit (resembling ‘Golden Delicious’ apples) ripens in September and October.
How do you know if a quince is ripe?
The best indicator of ripeness is the color of the fruit. At maturity, a mature quince turns entirely yellow. Once the fruit is fully ripe, it emits a strong, sweet scent. The fruit also detaches easily from the tree when it is ripe, so if it begins to fall from the tree on its own, it is ripe and may be approaching overripeness.
How do you know when Quince fruit is ready for harvesting?
Here are tips for identifying when quince fruit is ready for harvesting Color change – Look for fruits transitioning from light green to golden yellow. Avoid darker green fruits. Size – Fruits should be full sized, around 5-8 cm wide. Days after flowering – Start checking fruit about 100 days after the tree finished flowering.
How do you ripen a quince tree?
Use a pair of sharp garden shears to cut the fruit from the tree. When gathering quince fruit, choose the largest, blemish-free yellow fruit. Do not select fruit that is damaged, bruised, or soft. Once the quinces have been harvested, they should be ripened in a cool, dry, and dark location in a single layer, with daily rotation.
Should you cut a ripe quince before harvesting?
If you must harvest before full maturity, such as before a major frost, cut the stems to remove the fruit so you don’t damage the tree or the quince. Although a ripe quince may still feel hard at harvest, the fruits begin to soften during storage and they can bruise easily.
How long can you keep quince ripe?
Don’t store the quince with other fruit. Its strong aroma will taint others. Once the fruit is ripe, use it immediately. If you leave it for too long, the fruit becomes mealy. Quince can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks wrapped in paper towels and kept separate from other fruit.