Harvesting & preserving quinces
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.
Storing and preserving quinces
A ripe quince will initially feel hard when it is time to harvest, however, the fruit will soften during storage. After harvesting quinces, the fruit should be stored for a period of around 6 to 8 weeks. The best method of how to store quinces is to put them in a single layer in a shallow tray, ensuring none of the fruits touch. Ideal conditions for storing quinces are to keep them in a cool and dark place. Make sure to check the quinces regularly and turn the fruits each time. Quickly process bruised fruits and regularly throw away any fruit that show signs of disease. Quinces should not be stored near any other fruit, as its strong aroma is capable of tainting fruits like apples or pears. Once a quince is ripe, it is best to use the fruit immediately. When storing quinces, the fruit can be stored for up to 2 weeks in a refrigerator or up to 3 months at temperatures near to freezing.
Quinces are rarely eaten raw – even when ripe, the quince flavour is very sour and bitter, and the skin is tough. However, there are some varieties that are soft enough to eat from the tree. You might want to peel them before eating though as the skin can still be tough. Some of the most popular quince recipes for preserving quinces are quince juice, jelly, jam and paste. Quince jam has a unique flavour and is highly fragrant. Sealed jars of quince jam keep for up to 1 year and even an open jar would be good for a few months in a refrigerator. Quince jelly and pastes are popular parts of a cheeseboard and many forms of these quince recipes, along with ones for jam, can be found online. Jars of quince jelly can also last for a year stored in a cool and dark place. Other quince recipes include preserving quinces in syrup or making quince marmalade.
If you are unable to decide how to use quinces straight after harvest, the fruits can be dried in an oven or frozen. Placed in a sealed bag in the freezer, quince can keep frozen for 12 months.
How to eat quinces
There are many popular quince recipes for using this unique fruit in the kitchen. Poached quince softened in a saucepan with water until tender is a popular method. The fruits can then be eaten on their own or with some ice cream. Cooking quinces can also make them suitable for adding to cakes or pies, while cooked quince puree is also beloved with ice cream or mixed into yoghurt. Other dessert options include quince tart and quince fool. There are also savoury quince recipes: they are said to be a perfect accompaniment to venison or lamb.
Another unusual fruit that is perfect for being made into delicious jams and jellies are medlars (Mespilus germanica). These quirky fruits are starting to make a comeback, find out more in our dedicated article on the medlar tree.
