Quinces are fuzzy and look like Bartlett pears, but they are their own unique treat.
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Quince is not a common fruit.
), but most of us dont encounter them very often, if at all.
Simply Recipes / Lori Rice
And if we do, we might be hesitant to bring them home.
Theyre fuzzy and odd-looking, and how can you tell if one is ripe?
How do you store and prep and cook these things?
Simply Recipes / Lori Rice
What is Quince?
Theyre green-yellow and shaped like pears, but wonky with more pronounced bumps.
Some have a coat of pale fuzz.
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Think of them as distant cousins.
The Mesopotamians cultivated quince 5,000 years ago, and humans did good work to distribute it far and wide.
When and Where to Find a Quince
Quince are fall fruits.
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You might not even find them at your normal farmers market.
Or maybe you know someone with a tree in their yard.
These are not widely grown.
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The only state that grows quince on a commercial scale is, unsurprisingly, California.
How to Choose a Good Quince
Youll know a good quince when you smell it.
When ripe, their floral, slightly musky and mysteriously tropical perfume is impossible to miss.
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Avoid any that feel spongy when squeezed; they should be hard as rocks.
As for visual cues: Youre looking for yellow.
You always want to look for fruits without punctures, bruises, or soft spots.
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It rubs off with a tiny bit of effort.
After that, the two most important quince prep rules I know come from Nostradamus.
How to Cook Quince
Quincesmustbe cooked.
Any liquid used in cooking will change color, too.
How to Store
Dont store quince in plastic or keep them in anything sealed.
Quince keep best in cool, dry, airy places.
If theyre puncture-free and not bruised, theyll keep for several weeks.
Store quinces away from other fruits.
If anyone tries this, yo report back.
Cut and core your quinces, poach, and let them cool completely.
Drizzle it on yogurt or baked treats.
(An olive oil cake soaked in quince syrup?
Make your call and do what you have to do before transferring your processed quince to a freezer-safe bag.
Remove as much air as possible, and freeze.
Itll keep for up to a year.
In ancient Greece and Rome, whole quinces were preserved in honey.
Attempting something along these lines is, to me, a very good idea.
Imagine the aroma every time you initiate the jar.
