what is a freestone plum

by Prof. Bertrand Baumbach MD Published 3 years ago Updated 3 years ago

Freestone plums are plums that grow where the flesh of the fruit is not attached to the pit. Stone fruits, also called drupes, are fruits with a single solid seed or pit surrounded by fleshy meat. This family includes peaches, mangoes, cherries, apricots, and plums, among many other species.

Full Answer

What is the difference between clingstone and freestone fruit?

There are clingstone and freestone varieties of each fruit. This is the low down on the difference between them and how to use them. Peaches, nectarines, plums and apricots all come in clingstone and freestone varieties. Clingstone fruits have pits that cling to the flesh of the fruit.

What is a plum?

What is a plum? A plum is a juicy, soft, smaller, sweet fruit that is eaten raw or cooked in desserts. The word “plum” comes from the Latin “malum punicum”, which means “the fruit of a kind of ancient Mediterranean plum”.

Can you freeze plums for later use?

Cut plums into smaller pieces, pit them and transfer them to an airtight container. Plums will stay fresh in the freezer for up to six months. Frozen plums are best for smoothies, baked goods, or jams. The vitamin C in plums can help your body heal, build strong muscles, and form blood vessels. It’s also very nourishing for your eyes.

What is a half freestone peach?

Freestone fruits have a pit that is not attached to the flesh. When you cut a freestone peach in half, it will come away from the flesh easily. What does semi-cling mean?

What are the 2 categories of plums?

The most popular type of plums now are Japanese plums and come in black, red and yellow colors. Black plums have mild to sweet taste and are usually used in tarts to add texture to baked dishes. The red ones have a sweet-tart flavor, and the yellow varieties are smaller, rounder and are also called lemon plums.Dec 23, 2021

What is the best type of plum?

Plum 'Pershore'

'Pershore', also known as the 'Yellow Egg Plum', is one of the best types of plum trees to grow if you're looking for a traditional, old-fashioned cooking variety. The heavy and reliable crops of large fruits have a sweet and delicious flavor.Nov 5, 2021

What type of plum is the sweetest?

Mirabelle plums

Mirabelle plums are the sweetest of all plum varieties. The small fruit with a slight reddish blush is popular for making eau-de-vie in France. Red plum varieties have bright red skin.Jul 28, 2021

What does free stone fruit mean?

A freestone peach has fruit that falls right off the pit. These peaches are perfect for eating, canning, and freezing. You just slice the peach down the middle, and pull it right off the pit.

What is the tastiest plum?

Toka Plum

What is this? The Toka plum is a wonderful variety that might just be the sweetest plum you have ever tasted. In fact, it is sometimes called the Bubblegum plum because it really does taste like bubblegum! These medium-sized plums have warm red skin and bright yellow flesh.Mar 19, 2022

What does hog plum taste like?

Because of the large pit and hard-to-separate spines, hog plums are not commonly eaten straight-from-the-branch. Some do enjoy them, however, and report a taste much like a Granny Smith apple- sweet, sour, and a little bit tangy. Depending on ripeness, the fruit's flavor can vary.

What is Satsuma plum?

A Satsuma Plum is a Japanese variety of trees that produce juicy fruit that you can eat right from the tree. Although the name suggests that this variety of tree is from Japan, it actually originated in China. Japan is included in the name of the Satsuma Plum tree because it was introduced to America by Japan.Feb 9, 2022

Which are sweeter black or red plums?

Black plums are sweet in taste. Red plums are sour and sweet in taste.

What is a Mariposa plum?

Mariposa Plum is a Japanese blood plum with dark red flesh and large fruit if thinned. The flavour is excellent, the skin glossy red and it has a egg shaped fruit. — OR — Prunus 'Mariposa' Blood Plum 7" Pot.

Which is better cling or freestone peaches?

Clingstone peaches are typically smaller but very juicy and sweet, making them a perfect choice for canning and jellies. Freestone alludes to peaches with a flesh that is easily removed from the pit. In many cases, the pit literally falls out of the peach once it's sliced.May 22, 2020

Is a nectarine a cross between a peach and a plum?

Contrary to common belief, a nectarine is not a cross between a peach and a plum, but a fuzzless variety of peach.Oct 7, 2014

Can you eat the almond inside a nectarine?

Don't eat it as-is. It contains cyanide. Bitter almonds are the definitely poisonous thing you've probably heard of; they contain enough cyanide that just a few could kill a small child (according to On Food and Cooking). The poison is released when the kernels are broken, as defensive mechanism.Jul 28, 2012

Plums, Plumcots, Apriums, and Pluots

Plums are related to other drupes such as apricots, peaches, and nectarines. Growers can cross these types of fruits to create new types of deliciously sweet stone fruits. Plumcots, apriums, and pluots are all naturally developed fruits that combine varieties of plums and apricots.

Types of Plums (With Pictures and Common Name)

Let’s look in more detail at the various types of plums that are common in local stores. You will find out about the best plums for eating fresh and about the ones that are tastiest in cooked and baked food.

Moyer Plums

Moyer plums are a common purple plum and one of the most popular varieties. These are extremely sweet plums that have dark burgundy to purple skin and juicy yellow-orange to amber flesh. This plum variety is considered one of the best European plums for its shape and taste. Moyer plums are large plums with a long oval shape and high sugar content.

Damsons

Damsons are a popular dark-skinned European variety of plum that has tart-flavored flesh and skin. Unlike many other varieties of plums, damsons are high in sugar with an astringent taste. The purple-blue skin covers firm yellowish-green flesh that has a sour taste.

Elephant Heart Plum

As its name suggests, the elephant heart plum is a large, heart-shaped stone fruit. Dark red to purple mottled skin covers sweet juicy red flesh that has a firm texture. This plum variety is classified as a Japanese plum variety, and they taste delicious when eaten fresh. The flesh is so soft and juicy that some say it’s almost like drinking juice.

Greengage Plum ( Prunus domestica)

The greengage plum is one of the few green varieties of plums when they are ripe. The plums are small and round and have a delicious honey-sweet taste. The juicy flesh has a firm texture that is common with many European plums. Depending on the greengage plum cultivar, the green skin can have hints of red blushing or yellow on it.

Myrobalan (Cherry Plums)

Myrobalan plums are small round fruits that look like red or yellow cherries. There are several different cherry plum cultivars that produce small plums ranging in taste from sweet to tart. The sweet varieties of Myrobalan plums are delicious when eaten fresh. The tarter cultivars are suitable for using in baking or making jellies.

What are plums?

Plums are drupes or stone fruits belonging to the genus Prunus. The plum fruit’s skin is smooth and naturally waxy, and its pulp is firm, juicy, and mealy.

Different Types of Plums

Although there are at least 40 known plum species, the most commercially significant cultivars belong to the Prunus domestica and Prunus salicina species.

What are the best plums?

The best plum fruits vary from place to place, and quality is dependent on storage practices in your local market or grocery store.

Which are the sweetest plums?

If you are looking to satisfy your sweet tooth with a natural honey-sweet snack, go for greengage plums.

Conclusion

You now have a general idea about the various types of plum varieties.

The difference between clingstone and freestone fruit

Peaches, nectarines, plums and apricots all come in clingstone and freestone varieties. Clingstone fruits have pits that cling to the flesh of the fruit. If you cut a clingstone peach in half, you will find it difficult to pull the two halves apart and separate the flesh from the stone. Freestone fruits have a pit that is not attached to the flesh.

What does semi-cling mean? What does semi-freestone mean?

Semi-cling, semi-clingstone or semi-freestone all mean that the fruit is between clingstone and freestone. They are hybrids of clingstone and freestone fruits, so the pit is attached to the flesh but is slightly easier to remove than a true clingstone fruit.

What are freestone fruits good for?

Freestone fruits are great for eating out of hand or cooking. Since it’s quicker and easier to prepare lots of freestone fruits, many people prefer using them to make recipes such as pies, preserves and poached fruits. They are also easier to cut into even slices for salads and dessert toppings.

What are clingstone fruits good for?

Clingstone fruits are perfect for eating out of hand and also work well in cooked dishes, although they can take a little longer to prepare. Some clingstone fruit varieties are considered more tasty or juicy than their freestone counterparts, so they are sought out for preserving or baking.

How can you tell if a fruit is freestone or clingstone?

Unfortunately, there’s no way to tell if a fruit will be clingstone or freestone by looking at the outside. Other than slicing the fruit open, the easiest way to know is by asking your grocer what they have in stock.

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