John Myers
Quinces are bright yellow, healthy fruits and are among the oldest types of fruit. Most of us are probably familiar with them as mush, jam, or compote. But can you eat quinces raw?
Eat quinces raw?
In principle, raw quinces are not dangerous. However, the quince, which is grown in Central Europe, tastes rather bitter and is therefore inedible for us. The hard, woody texture also discourages most from consuming it raw. But you should be careful with the included cores. These contain hydrocyanic acid, which is dangerous for humans. If the cores are damaged, the acid is released and poses a great danger to humans. As little as 1-2 mg per kilogram of body weight can be fatal.
Raw quinces also contain tannins, which can impede the absorption of vitamins and minerals in the intestine. This is of particular concern for children, as they are particularly dependent on these nutrients for their growth.
Which varieties are edible?
Quinces are basically divided into two types: pear quinces and apple quinces. As the name suggests, pear quinces are pear-shaped. Apple quinces, on the other hand, have a more rounded shape. For this purpose, they are divided into several subcategories, which have different flavors.
Shirin quinces, which are mainly grown in Turkey, are safe to eat raw. In contrast to most European varieties, they taste sweet to sour and have a light citrus aroma. You can even eat the peel of this quince variety, but the fluff on the surface should still be removed, as it can affect the taste. Other types of quince that you can eat raw include: raw food, honey quince, and orange.
Do I have to peel quinces?
The yellow skin with the soft down is not edible in most varieties and is often not that easy to remove. For most preparation methods you should peel your quinces and have to dare to peel them. This is the best way to do it:
- Remove skin with a peeler or knife
- Cut off the base of the flowers and the seeds with a knife
If you are making quince jelly, you do not necessarily have to peel the quince. But first, rub off the fluff thoroughly to remove the bitter substances. The shell contains a lot of pectins, which gives your jelly even more binding.
Tip: It’s even easier to remove the core if you quarter the quince and cook for 45 minutes until soft. Then you can pierce around the core with a fork and easily remove it.
Process quinces
Instead of eating quince raw, there are numerous ways in which you can deliciously process the quince. How about quince juice, quince jelly, baked quince, quince chutney, or a quince liqueur?
