An A to Z guide to choosing, storing, preparing, and cooking fresh produce and recipe ingredients.
Blue Jean Images/Getty ImgesApricots
High in vitamin A and C, apricots have been sun-dried in the Middle East for thousands of years. Today most of America’s crop comes from California.
-
How to Choose Apricots
Select plump, fragrant fruits that are uniform in color. A bruise will not affect the flavor unless the skin is broken. -
How to Store Apricots
To ripen, keep apricots at room temperature in a paper bag until soft and fragrant. If you’re not eating them immediately, they’ll keep refrigerated in a paper bag for up to 5 days. Dried apricots can be kept in an airtight container for up to 6 months.
How to Prepare Apricots
To pit an apricot, cut around the seam, then twist the 2 halves. The pit should pop out easily. -
How to Use Apricots
Apricots are delicious in sweet tarts and other desserts, add a fruity touch to savory stuffings, and complement lamb, poultry, and pork especially well.
—Jenny RosenstrachReal Simple Apricot Recipes:
-
How To: Remove Apricot Pits
See how to remove the pit in three easy steps.
Find out what's in season in your area right now, then locate a farmers' market near you.
