{"id":11695,"date":"2022-06-09T11:32:58","date_gmt":"2022-06-09T11:32:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/?p=11695"},"modified":"2023-05-25T07:22:43","modified_gmt":"2023-05-25T07:22:43","slug":"how-to-use-medlar-fruit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/how-to-use-medlar-fruit\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Use Medlar Fruit {Explained!}"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you\u2019ve never heard of a medlar, you certainly aren\u2019t alone! The medlar is not new but a rather ancient fruit cultivated since before Roman times and enjoyed throughout the Middle Ages and the Renaissance period in Europe. This unusual fruit<\/a> is enjoying a comeback, as it provides delicious wintertime sweetness and can be used in a variety of tasty dishes. Here you\u2019ll discover exactly how to use medlar fruit for yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Does Medlar Fruit Taste Like?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"What<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Everyone who samples a medlar fruit has their own idea about what it tastes like. Some say it is like a cross between a plum and an apple, others think it\u2019s like toffee apples, while a few suggest over-ripe dates. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Certainly, the flavor is sugary and complex, which in part is because you don\u2019t eat a medlar until it has partially rotted. Yes, you did read that right! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you picked a medlar straight off the tree, you\u2019d find it hard, bitter, and quite unpleasant due to the high amount of tannins. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A little like Persimmons<\/a>, the medlar needs to ferment in its skin for a while to turn it into a soft, sweet pleasure to eat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This process of controlled rotting, which turns something that is frankly pretty inedible into a syrupy delight, is known as \u201cbletting\u201d<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You need to \u201cblet\u201d<\/em> the fruits by storing them for a few weeks until you see them turn a deep russet brown. You may also notice sweet, sticky juices leaking from the tops. The skin will become a little more wrinkled and they will be soft and squishy to the touch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can You Eat The Fruit From A Medlar Tree?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Yes, medlar fruits are edible, despite not being on the list of fruits with GRAS status (G<\/strong>enerally R<\/strong>ecognized A<\/strong>s S<\/strong>afe). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is due to their seeds, which contain prussic acid, also commonly known as cyanide. Keep in mind that other much better-known fruits also have seeds, stones, or pits that also contain this, including plums and apples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cyanide is toxic, but you\u2019re not meant to eat the seeds of a medlar, so it shouldn\u2019t cause you any real issues. There are also medlar varieties that are seedless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Closely related to pears, quinces, roses, and hawthorn, the medlar\u2019s fruits are a rounded shape with a flat top that has five leaflets protruding from around the edge. This is called a calyx.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When on the tree, the fruits start off a green color and turn an orange or reddy brown in the late autumn. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Early winter frosts, rather than being detrimental to the fruit, actually help to ripen them, as it initiates the sugar buildup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once bletted, you can eat the fruits raw, remembering to discard the seeds. Do this by squeezing the pulp out through the top of the fruit’s skin, or by cutting it in half and scooping out the edible pulp. Discard the seeds and skin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Do You Eat Medlar Fruit?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As we\u2019ve already discovered, you can eat medlar fruit raw once it has been bletted, providing you don\u2019t consume the seeds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other ways of eating medlars are to turn them into medlar jam, jelly, or something called Medlar Cheese, which is kind of like jam but with egg yolks added rather like Lemon Curd. Medlars are good for this due to their naturally high pectin level. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When turning into jam or cheese, the whole fruit is placed into a pan and cooked in water, then mashed down to form a pulp which is then strained. For jelly, which is clearer, the fruit is not mashed up, but the juice is strained off to make the jelly. You can read more about how to make jams and jellies here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many people like to add medlar fruit to their apple pies as it gives them an extra caramel quality. They are also lovely when baked, then pureed, and used as a topping for ice cream, yogurt, or panna cotta.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Medlar wine is another traditional way of using up the fruits. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this video, you can see a simple way to prepare and eat your medlar fruits:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=d9nkQAHfZS8<\/a>