Crab apples are edible. Just make sure they havent been treated with pesticides, and avoid eating the seeds. Crab apple seeds can cause gastrointestinal distress and, in rare cases, cyanide poisoning.
Crab apples are the tiny bitter fruits that grow on flowering crab apple trees. Their extreme tartness makes them seem questionable to eat. Some people wonder – are crab apples actually poisonous? This article will cover crab apple edibility and safety so you can enjoy these miniature apples without worry.
Crab Apple Flesh is Safe
The first thing to know is that crab apples themselves are not poisonous The flesh inside of a crab apple is completely edible and safe for human consumption
Many people mistakenly think crab apples must be toxic since they taste so bitter and sour. In reality, their extreme tartness comes from high levels of malic acid. But this acid is not poisonous or unsafe to eat.
So if you encounter a crab apple, don’t be afraid that taking a bite will harm you. The flesh can be eaten raw or cooked into jams, jellies, sauces and baked goods.
But Avoid the Seeds
Now here is an important safety note. While crab apple flesh is edible, their seeds do contain trace amounts of a compound called amygdalin.
Amygdalin is a naturally occurring substance found in many fruit seeds and pits. As the seeds are digested, amygdalin breaks down into hydrogen cyanide, which is poisonous to humans.
Luckily, the levels found in crab apples are very low. You would need to deliberately eat a large quantity of seeds to be poisoned. But it’s still smart to avoid the seeds as a precaution.
When eating crab apples, cut around the core and don’t swallow any seeds accidentally. As long as you avoid the seeds, crab apples are perfectly safe to eat.
Poisoning Symptoms Are Rare
Out of an abundance of caution, it’s good to recognize potential crab apple poisoning symptoms:
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
- Dizziness, confusion
- Low blood pressure
- Breathing difficulties
- Loss of consciousness
But again, this is very unlikely to occur. There are no documented cases of crab apple poisoning, even among people eating them frequently. Only by deliberately eating cups of seeds could poisoning happen.
So while it’s technically possible, there is minimal real danger of crab apple poisoning under normal circumstances.
Other Apple Seeds Contain Amygdalin Too
It’s not just crab apples that contain amygdalin – all apple seeds do. Yet most people happily eat apples without worrying about poisoning.
Again, the amygdalin levels in commercial apples are very low, so accidentally swallowing a few seeds is not dangerous. But theoretically, someone could be poisoned by eating enough apple seeds.
So this goes to show crab apple seeds pose a similar minimal risk. As with regular apples, just avoid the seeds and core.
Foraging Tips and Precautions
Foragers who collect wild crab apples should take basic precautions:
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Clearly identify the tree as a crab apple before picking any fruit. Certain ornamental trees have toxic “fruits” that resemble crab apples. Be 100% certain of the tree’s identity first.
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Inspect all fruit and discard any with holes or damage, which can allow pesticides or toxins inside.
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Wash fruit thoroughly before eating. Monitor for any signs of contamination.
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Cut out the cores and don’t eat seeds. It’s not worth risking exposure to amygdalin.
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Eat foraged foods in small quantities initially to check for any sensitivities.
Following these tips will allow you to safely forage and enjoy crab apples.
How to Safely Enjoy Crab Apples
Crab apples offer a unique, tart flavor perfect for crafting homemade jellies, sauces, baked goods and more. Here are some ways to eat them safely:
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Raw in salads – Slice crab apples and enjoy their tart crunch in leafy green or fruit salads.
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Infused in vinegar – Steep chopped crab apples in vinegar for 2-3 weeks then strain. Use to make vinaigrettes.
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Simmered into sauce – Cook chopped crab apples with sugar and spices to temper their sourness. Ideal with pork or duck.
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Baked into pies and tarts – Mix crab apples with sugar and bake in a flaky pie crust for a tangy dessert.
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Crafted into jam – Cook crab apples with sugar and pectin to create a spreadable jam.
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Fermented into cider – Press fresh crab apples to yield a very tart, dry hard cider.
As you can see, with a little creativity, the unique flavor of crab apples can be enjoyed in many ways. As long as you remove the seeds, they are perfectly safe to eat. So don’t be afraid to harvest and incorporate crab apples into your cooking. Just be absolutely certain of your identification before eating any foraged foods.
The Takeaway on Crab Apple Safety
While crab apples have a reputation for being inedibly sour, their flesh is completely edible and safe for people. Only the seeds contain trace amounts of a potentially toxic compound. But poisoning is exceptionally rare and unlikely. You would have to eat cups of pure seeds to face any danger. So as long as you avoid the core and seeds, you can safely enjoy crab apples. Their delightfully tart flavor is wonderful in jellies, baked goods, sauces and more. Just be absolutely certain of your identification before eating any foraged foods. With basic precautions, crab apples are a safe and fun foraged ingredient.
5 potential benefits of crab apples
There are a lot of antioxidants in crab apples. Antioxidants help fight free radicals, which damage cells and speed up the aging process. Crab apples have higher polyphenol content than regular apples and have great potential for health and cosmetic uses.
Red crab apples especially have anticancer properties. Studies show that because crab apples help make new skin cells, they may also help stop the growth and spread of cancer cells.
Bioactive chemicals found in crab apple leaves are also being looked at as possible tumor killers in human cancer cell lines.
Crab apples have pectin, a type of fiber that can help control blood sugar, protect against colon cancer, help good gut bacteria grow, and even lower cholesterol if eaten as part of a healthy diet.
These acids give the fruit its tart, sour flavor. Gout, indigestion, inflammation, constipation, and fever have all been treated using crab apples in Ayurvedic medicine.
During the summer, most crab apple trees produce beautiful pink or white blooms. These attract bees and birds that aid in the pollination of other plants in your garden.
Can crab apples cause cyanide poisoning?
Crab apple seeds contain cyanogenic glycosides, often known as cyanide. However, as long as you do not eat the core or seeds, crab apples are not toxic.
Even if you consume a few seeds by accident, they will most likely pass through your system unnoticed. Cyanide toxicity is a possibility only if you eat more than 100 seeds in one sitting.
Different people show different signs and symptoms of cyanide poisoning depending on how many seeds they ate and whether they swallowed or chewed them. Symptoms of cyanide poisoning may include:
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Confusion
- Vomiting
- Anxiety
- Gastritis
- Increased blood pressure
- Increased heart rate
- Difficulty breathing
- Kidney failure
- Coma
- Convulsions
- Death due to respiratory arrest
However, this is only relevant in severe cases. There’s no need to worry about eating 3–4 seeds because your body can get rid of a small amount of cyanide.
Everything You Need To Know About Crab Apples!
FAQ
Are crab apples poisonous to people?
Can I eat crab apples from my tree?
What happens if you eat too many crab apples?
Are there poisonous crab apple look alikes?
Are crab apples poisonous?
A crab apple’s flesh is perfectly safe for people to eat. But like other apples, the seeds contain a toxic compound that can turn into cyanide when eaten. But don’t worry — these apples are safe as long as you avoid the seeds and core.
Do apple seeds contain poison?
Apple seeds contain cyanide but in small amounts. So if you occasionally accidentally eat a few seeds it’s not something to be scared of. To get cyanide poisoning, you would have to eat a very large amount of apple seeds.
Are crabapples toxic?
Due to their frequently bad taste and the small amounts of cyanide in the seeds, it’s a common misconception that crabapples are toxic. So, is it safe to eat crabapples? Keep reading to learn more about the safety of eating crabapples and what to do with crabapple fruit trees. Are Crabapples Edible? The short answer to this question is: yes.
Are crab apples safe to eat?
Crab apple trees are common backyard plants. It’s common to wonder if the tiny apples from these trees are safe to eat. What Are Crab Apples? Crab apples are miniature apples made by flowering crab apple trees. These trees are excellent pollinators, and their fruit feeds many kinds of wildlife.