Crab apples are a mysterious fruit that often grow wild in backyards across North America. These tiny sour apples have perplexed homeowners for decades. Their diminutive size and extreme tartness leave many wondering – what color are crab apples? Are they red, yellow or green? And what can you do with these mouth-puckering miniature fruits? This complete guide will unravel the mysteries around crab apples and their colors.
What Exactly Are Crab Apples?
Before diving into the specifics on color, let’s first understand what defines a crab apple. Crab apples belong to the same genus as regular apples – Malus. But they have their own species name of Malus sylvestris, distinguishing them from grocery store varieties.
The technical definition of a crab apple is any apple under 2 inches in diameter when fully mature. These wild apples grow on short flowering crab apple trees rather than the tall orchard trees producing full-sized apples.
Crab apples tend to be very hard and sour, with an intense, tart apple flavor. Their astringency and bitterness makes them better for cooking than eating fresh. Their high natural pectin content also makes them perfect for turning into jellies and jams.
What Colors Do Crab Apples Come In?
Crab apples display a wide spectrum of colors, ranging from pale yellow to deep burgundy red. But two colors tend to be the most common:
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Green – Most crab apples emerge green with yellow undertones when they first form. As they ripen, they tend to retain this greenish-yellow color rather than turning red. These green and yellow crab apples are usually more sour than red varieties.
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Red – Some crab apples do become a brilliant red hue that can closely resemble cherries. These red crab apples tend to be slightly sweeter and milder than green varieties. But they still pack a tangy, tart punch.
Are Green Crab Apples Unripe Versions of Red Ones?
This is a common misconception about crab apples. Green and red crab apples come from different tree varieties – they are not different ripeness levels of the same fruit.
For example, a yellowish ‘Chestnut’ crab apple will never suddenly turn red. And a deep red ‘Red Baron’ crab apple starts off red from the beginning, not green. The specific cultivar dictates the mature fruit color. Some stay sour green, while others ripen into red.
What Trees Produce Green Crab Apples?
Gardeners typically seek out specific crab apple cultivars that produce their desired fruit color. But if you have an unidentified backyard tree producing green crab apples, here are some possible varieties it could be:
- Chestnut Crabapple – Pale yellow fruit with bronzed leaves
- Dorothea Crabapple – Bright yellow-green fruits on a dwarf tree
- Evergreen Crabapple – Crab apples that retain some greenness when ripe
- Profusion Crabapple – Prolific white blossoms followed by yellow-green fruit
- Sargent Crabapple – A wider tree sporting speckled yellow-green crab apples
Consult with a local nursery to positively identify your mystery tree.
Can You Eat Green Crab Apples?
While red crab apples tend to be sweeter you can certainly eat green crab apples too. Just keep in mind that they will be extremely tart! The green ones especially have a piercing sourness.
Make sure to fully cook green crab apples rather than eating them raw to help mellow their intense flavor. Then complement the cooked fruit with sugar or spices to balance the acidity. Jams, jellies, baked goods, and sauces are great ways to enjoy green crab apples.
How to Use Green Crab Apples
Don’t let the extreme tartness of green crab apples limit your culinary fun! Here are some tasty ways to put them to use:
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Jelly – Crab apple jelly highlights the fruits’ natural flavors. It only requires crab apples, sugar, and lemon juice.
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Jam – For chunkier preserved crab apples, make a cinnamon and clove spiced version.
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Pie Filling – Mix cooked and sweetened crab apples into your favorite double crust pie recipe.
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Cider – Press crab apples into juice for a tangy hard cider, or add some to apple cider.
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Sauces – Puree crab apples into a glaze for meat or a base for vinaigrettes.
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Baked Goods – Muffins, quick breads, and crumbles love the moistness of crab apples.
With creative recipes, the dynamic flavor of green crab apples transforms from tongue-twisting sour to mouthwatering delight.
In Summary
Crab apples are shrouded in mystery with their tiny size, extreme tartness, and range of colors. But identifying them gets easier with time. Look for the small fruits on short, flowering trees rather than standard apple orchard growth. And slice open suspect fruits to look for the inner core – no pit means it’s a crab apple.
Once identified, savor their uniqueness. Harness their natural flavors in jams, baked goods, and more for a tasty treat. So embrace the chance to get creative with the crab apples nature provides!
What Do Crab Apples Taste Like?
The name âcrab appleâ is an accurate representation of these fruitsâ mouth-puckering flavor. The deeper red varieties are well-known for being more bitter than those of other colors. Not even the ripest of crab apples resemble the sweet taste of an apple from an orchard.â
Some crab apple types are more palatable than others, but most people prefer not to eat them raw. The best way to enjoy these fruits is in baked goods and other sweetened recipes.
Where and How Are Crab Apples Commonly Used?
If you have a crab apple tree in your backyard and donât want the fruit to go to waste, the right recipe can help you turn their sour bite into a delicious treat.Â
Sugar is a great way to curb the intensity of these little apples, and their sharp flavor can become delightfully tart when combined with a sweetener. Theyâre excellent in desserts such as pies, chips, and tarts.
Crab apple enthusiasts also love making them into jelly or jam. The high levels of pectin in these fruits help to give jelly or jam its jiggly texture.Â
Itâs up to you how you use these little apples. And if you find that the taste isnât for you, you can always enjoy the beauty that blooming crab apple trees bring to the environment.Â
Top 5 Most Popular Crabapple Trees | NatureHills.com
FAQ
Can crab apples be green?
Yes, crab apples can be green. While they are often known for their red or yellow colors when ripe, many crab apple varieties start out green and then ripen to other colors.
Is it okay to eat unripe crab apples?
YES! Crab apples are perfectly safe to eat and though smaller in size, they contain all the healthy nutrients found in domesticated apples. As with other apples, do not eat the core or seeds which contain a toxic compound that can turn into cyanide when eaten.
What do unripe crab apples look like?
Crab apple fruits are very small and normally green, ripening to yellow.
What does a crab apple taste like?
Crab apple fruits are very small and normally green, ripening to yellow. They are less than 3.5cm in diameter and have a long stalk. It is by the fruit that you can best identify a crab apple – in fact, they are almost like cherries in shape and size. They are very sour to the taste. The bark is greyish and rough.
Are crab apples edible?
Crab apples are tiny fruits that grow on trees and resemble bigger apples. You may have encountered them in orchards, as well as in decor that features dried blossoms or fruits on branches in vases or wreaths. Since they look just like apples, you may wonder whether they’re edible. This article reviews whether you can eat crab apples.
What does a crab apple tree look like?
Cultivated varieties are small and yellowy-red to fully red. Crab apples are packed with antioxidants, vitamins and fibre. The crab apple tree grows up to 12m/40ft tall with simple, serrated leaves and red or yellow fruits (around 2–3cm/1in across) with one to two small seeds in the centre. Crab apple trees can live up to 100 years old.
When do crab apples ripen?
They appear in April and May, having 5 petals. Crab apple flowers cannot be self-pollinated (by flowers from the same tree). It is necessary to have another crab apple tree that can provide the pollen. This is carried from tree to tree by bees and other insects. Crab apple fruits are very small and normally green, ripening to yellow.
Are crab apples palatable?
This is because crab apples are not always palatable. In fact, crab apples are usually simply not eaten because they can be extremely sour or spongy in texture. Those that come from the Dalgo and Centennial trees are considered the most edible. Crab apples, like most fruit, have been bred through time for different purposes.
Are crab apples ripe?
Discover the flowers, shrubs and trees that make up a typical British hedgerow and why they are so important for wildlife, in our expert guide. To pick crab apples, twist the stem: if they come away easily, they are ripe. Discover what you can do with crab apples with these easy recipes.