Plum

What Is a Plum?

A plum (Prunus domestica and related species) is a juicy, sweet-tart summer fruit in the rose family, with yellow, red, purple, or green skin. A stone fruit with one hard pit, it is eaten fresh and can also be dried or made into jam.

There are many varieties, including early-season green, sour “can eriği” (cherry plums), dark-purple “mürdüm eriği” plums, and yellow-red dessert plums. Ripeness and flavor vary noticeably by variety.

Plum Nutrition Facts

Per 100 g, plums provide about 46 kcal of energy, 11.4 g of carbohydrates, and 1.4 g of fiber; they are a source of vitamin C and potassium. They are low in calories and high in water; dried plums (prunes) are more concentrated in sugar and fiber.

What Are the Benefits of Plums?

With their fiber, vitamin C, and potassium, plums can be included as part of a balanced diet; the fiber in prunes has traditionally been associated with bowel regularity. This is not a definitive medical claim.

This is general information; plums are a food and are not a substitute for medical treatment.

How to Choose Plums

Ripe dessert plums have glossy, plump skin and give slightly when pressed; rock-hard plums are unripe, while very soft ones are past their prime. A fine whitish coating on the surface (bloom) is a sign of freshness.

• The skin should be glossy and plump, with its natural bloom intact.
• The plum should give slightly when pressed; rock-hard ones are unripe.
• Discard cracked, bruised, or leaking fruit.

How to Store Plums

Ripe plums keep for a few days in the refrigerator; unripe plums can be left at room temperature to ripen and then moved to the refrigerator. For longer storage, dry them or make jam.

How to Use Plums in Cooking

Plums are most often eaten fresh; they are also used in jam, fruit preserves, compote, and tarts, while prunes are used in desserts and meat dishes. Green, tart plums are also enjoyed as a salted snack.

How to Make Plum Jam

Let pitted plums sit with sugar until they release their juices, then simmer over low heat until thickened; lemon juice helps maintain the color and consistency.

How to Use Prunes in Cooking

Add prunes to meat dishes and rice for a sweet-tart depth; they are also used as dried fruit in compotes and desserts.

Which Recipes Use Plums?

Plum jam, plum preserves, plum compote, meat dishes with prunes, and plum tarts are among the best-known uses for plums.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the different varieties of plums?

The best-known types include early-season green, sour can eriği (cherry plums), dark-purple mürdüm eriği plums, and yellow-red dessert plums; flavor and ripening time vary by variety.

How do you ripen unripe plums?

Leave them at room temperature, preferably in the same container as a ripe fruit, to help them ripen and sweeten faster through the effect of ethylene gas.

Are plums and prunes the same fruit?

Yes. Prunes are dried versions of certain plum varieties. Because they lose water during drying, their sugar and fiber content becomes more concentrated.

Can you eat a plum pit?

No. The hard pit should not be eaten or swallowed. Only the fleshy part of the fruit is eaten.

Why are plums sometimes sour?

Unripe plums and naturally tart varieties, such as can eriği (cherry plums), are sour because of their high acidity. Sweetness increases as they ripen.