An A to Z guide to choosing, storing, preparing, and cooking fresh produce and recipe ingredients.
Kevin Hewitt Photography Inc./Getty ImagesPlums
High in vitamin C, plums are packed with disease-fighting antioxidants. They’re sweet and delicious—which is why highly desirable things are called “plum.”
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How to Choose Plums
Look for plump fruits with taut, evenly colored skin, which can range from yellow or green to bright red or blackish purple. Avoid fruits that are too soft or too hard, are cracked or blemished, or have brown discolorations (which indicate sunburn). -
How to Store Plums
Refrigerating plums before they’re ripe results in a mealy texture, so allow firm fruit to ripen at room temperature up to 2 days, until the flesh is soft and the skins develop a silvery, powdery coating. After that, store them in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
How to Prepare Plums
Remove the pit by slicing all the way around the fruit, starting at the stem end. Rotate each half and the pit should come free. -
How to Use Plums
Plums pair well with both sweet and savory foods and make an excellent accompaniment for cheese, chocolate, and dessert wines.
—Melinda PageReal Simple Plum Recipes:
Find out what's in season in your area right now, then locate a farmers' market near you.
