Apricots are delicious and so versatile. However, when it comes to explaining what they taste like, you may find yourself stumped. In fact, trying to explain what anything tastes like to someone who is not familiar is a real challenge.
Despite this, there are a few things you could compare and combine to accurately describe the flavor of an apricot.
Generally, you can compare the flavor of these delicious stone fruits to a combination of a plum and a peach.
If you want to learn more about apricots, just keep reading. We will cover what you need to know.
What Do Ripe Apricots Taste Like?
A ripe apricot is a true delight. They are a lovely combination of sweet and tart, even when completely ripe (and especially near the stone).
This distinct tartness really sets it apart from other stone fruit, and makes it perfect for a wide variety of dishes.
There is no denying that apricots are sweet – but don’t expect them to follow the same sweetness of other fruit.
You may notice that these fruits are a bit like a cross between a plum and a peach! So, you already know that they are delicious.
The good news is, apricots will continue to ripen once they are harvested. As such, you can get your hands on some unripe fruit, and simply leave them to ripen (unlike cherries).
What Do Unripe Apricots Taste Like?
If you were thinking about grabbing an unripe apricot, you may want to think twice. An unripe apricot is not something you ever want to sink your teeth into. Green apricots are horribly bitter and acidic, with a notable almond taste.
You should always allow your apricots to fully ripen before biting into them. Otherwise, you are in for a very unpleasant experience.
How To Tell If An Apricot Is Ripe
A ripe apricot will have a distinct and divine floral fragrance coming from it. This can make them nice and easy to find in a store if you have a sensitive nose!
In terms of appearance, a ripe apricot will have a nice orange and cold color, maybe even with some red on it.
They look like the perfect fruit and are beautiful even to look at. However, when they are not ripe, their coloring will be much paler, and even green.
Avoid the apricots that are green or pale yellow, as these still have some time to wait until they ripen up.
An unripe apricot will be very firm or hard, while a ripe one will have a little bit of softness to it. However, if the fruit is squishy, then it has already passed its prime. You do not want to be stuck with overripe apricots!
How To Speed Up The Ripening Process
While you can leave your unripe apricots out on the countertop at room temperature for a couple of ways to ripen them, you could also speed up the process.
If you find yourself in a rush, and you need those apricots ripe within a day or two, there might be something you can do to help!
Now, the time for this varies, so don’t rely on this working in one or two days. However, the overall ripening time will be decreased with this method.
To speed up the ripening process, you can leave your apricot in a brown paper bag!
For some added speed, you could even add a ripening banana or apple into the bag, and the apricots will be ripe in no time – all thanks to ethylene!
If you do want to try speeding up the ripening of your apricots, make sure that you check on them every day.
You would be surprised by how quickly they can ripen and then start to rot – and no one wants that. Check daily, and use them as soon as they are ready.
Where Can You Get Apricots?
You should be able to purchase apricots at your local grocery store without a problem. However, the apricots found at these places can often be disappointing when you bite into them, despite their amazing appearance.
If you want to get around this issue, I would always recommend trying to get your apricots (and most other fresh produce) from local farmers’ markets.
These markets always have products of the highest quality, and it’s nice to know that the money you are giving them goes directly back into the farms!
You could always compare your apricots from the grocery store vs the farmer’s market and see which ones you like the most.
In most cases, you can even try a free sample at the farmer’s market, so that already gives you an added benefit!
Fresh Apricots or Dried – Which Option Is Better?
Fresh apricots are fantastic, but so are dried apricots! The former is excellent for all kinds of dishes, while the latter is often enjoyed simply as a snack.
However, you can absolutely find uses for both fresh and dried apricots, especially if you like to try different food.
It is common for fresh apricots to be used in desserts, but also for lots of chicken dishes and jams or preserves. Dried apricots, on the other hand, are also great for desserts and jams.
You could also add apricots to dishes like salads to add some wonderful sweetness!
Final Thoughts
Ripe apricots taste like a mix between a plum and peach, with a wonderful sweetness accompanied by a notable tartness.
They are usually a golden orange color with some redness, and anything paler is a sign of the fruit not being ripe or ready to eat.
These versatile fruits are absolutely delicious and easy to work with – just be careful of the stone in the middle!
The great news is that you can leave apricots out on the counter at room temperature to allow them to ripen, or you can try speeding up the process by putting them in a brown paper bag with a ripening banana!
Hello, my name is Valentina and I am the founder or ‘grower’ as I like to call myself of BonitaFruitTrees.com.
Cultivating my own fruit trees is definitely my passion, and has been for such a long time.
That’s what made me want to make this website. I wanted to create a place where I could share my experiences with others, teach more people how to grow fruit trees, and just help them have a little fun with it.
