Crab apple trees are common backyard plants. Itâs common to wonder if the tiny apples from these trees are safe to eat.
Crab apples are the small bitter cousins of the apples you find at the grocery store. About the size of a ping pong ball they grow on short, scraggly trees and pack a mouth-puckering punch of tartness.
With their extreme sourness, you may wonder if crab apples are even edible. And can you eat them raw?
I did some digging into these petite powerhouse fruits to find out everything you need to know about eating crab apples, raw or otherwise. Here’s what I discovered:
Are Crab Apples Edible?
Yes, crab apples are 100% edible.
Crab apples belong to the same species as regular apples – Malus domestica. They share the same botanical name.
The only difference is that domestic apple varieties have been bred to be larger and sweeter. Crab apples were left alone, retaining their small size and extreme tartness.
So while crab apples tend to be mouth-curlingly sour, they’re not toxic or poisonous in any way. The sourness comes from high levels of malic acid, the same naturally occurring acid that gives green apples their tart kick.
What Do Crab Apples Taste Like?
Imagine taking a bite of a Granny Smith apple before it’s ripe – while it’s still hard, crunchy and lip-puckeringly tart. THAT’S what a crab apple tastes like.
Some varieties are more sour than others. But in general, they’re too sour and astringent to eat raw.
That said, some intrepid foragers DO eat crab apples straight off the tree. It’s like taking a shot of apple cider vinegar, but in fruit form. Some people enjoy the intense sour flavor.
Others prefer to bake crab apples into pies, tarts and crisps. Cooking concentrates the fruit’s sugar and tames its tartness.
Crab apples also work well in jellies, juices and preserves, where their extreme acidity helps the pectin set.
Nutrition Profile
Despite their petite size, crab apples are packed with nutrients:
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Vitamin C: Crab apples have 2-3 times the vitamin C of regular apples. One raw crab apple provides around 10% of your daily vitamin C needs.
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Fiber: A 1⁄2 cup of crab apples contains 2 grams of fiber, helping control blood sugar and keep you regular.
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Polyphenols: Crab apples contain antioxidant polyphenols like quercetin, catechin, phloridzin and chlorogenic acid. These compounds fight cellular damage from free radicals.
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Pectin: With up to 2% pectin per fruit, crab apples are prized for their natural thickening abilities when making preserves, jams and jellies.
So while they may be tiny, crab apples deliver a hefty nutritional punch.
Can You Eat Crab Apples Raw?
You absolutely can eat raw crab apples. They’re completely edible fresh off the tree.
But whether you’d WANT to eat them raw is another question!
Raw crab apples are extremely tart and sour. Some varieties are so mouth-puckeringly sour that they’re only used for decoration, not eating.
That said, the boldest foragers out there do enjoy fresh crab apples straight off the tree. They say the intense tartness has an almost citrusy flavor.
If you’re up for it, start by tasting just a tiny bite. Focus the tartness on your front teeth. Let your saliva soften the malic acid.
Sweet, juicy varieties like Chestnut and Whitney are best for eating raw. They have a nicer balance of sugar to offset the acid.
For most people, cooking makes crab apples far more palatable. Cooking concentrates sugars and softens the acidity.
No matter which way you eat them – raw or cooked – always remove the core and seeds first. Like regular apples, crab apple seeds contain traces of cyanide. Eating a few won’t hurt you, but best to play it safe and de-seed before eating.
Tips for Eating Crab Apples
Here are some of my favorite ways to temper crab apples’ tartness and enjoy their unique flavor:
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Bake into pies, tarts or crisps. The heat neutralizes the malic acid and brings out the fruit’s sweetness.
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Simmer into homemade applesauce or apple butter. The long cooking time condenses the fruit’s natural sugar.
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Whip into homemade jelly. Crab apples are prized by canners for their high natural pectin content.
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Ferment into cider, wine or vinegar. Fermentation transforms crab apples’ acid into tangy alcohol and acetic acid.
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Candy into sweet preserved slices. Boil crab apple slices in sugar syrup until they become translucent, plump and candied.
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Dehydrate for homemade fruit leather. Blending crab apples with other fruits like strawberries helps balance their intense tartness when dried.
Are Crab Apples Safe to Eat?
Crab apples are 100% edible and safe to eat. But there are two precautions to keep in mind when harvesting and eating them:
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Avoid roadside trees. Crab apples readily absorb toxins and heavy metals from soil and water. Only harvest from trees in clean locations away from roadsides.
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Remove seeds and core. Apple seeds contain a small amount of cyanide. Make sure to core and deseed crab apples before eating them raw. Discarding the core and seeds also removes much of the fruit’s natural bitterness.
With these two precautions in mind, crab apples are perfectly safe to enjoy.
This petite wild fruit packs a mouth-puckering punch of tart, appley flavor. Hardy foragers love eating them straight off the tree. But cooking, preserving or juicing crab apples helps temper their extreme sourness.
Small but mighty, crab apples add tart summer flavor to all kinds of baked goods, preserves, drinks and more. Don’t be afraid to harvest and play with these wild fruits. Just take proper precautions to enjoy crab apples safely.
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. As a whole, crab apple trees are attractive and valuable for the environment.
They belong to the genus Malus, like other apple trees. They do, however, grow small, sour fruits that are very different from the Honeycrisp or Macintosh apples you see at the store.
How do crab apples look? Because they’re so small, they can almost look like cherries coming out of the tree. These little fruits come in many colors, including red, yellow, and green. The telltale sign of a crab apple is its mini size.
If you want to know if a crab apple is ready, cut it open and look at the seeds. If theyâre brown instead of white or green, it means the crab apple is ready to eat. It should also feel squishy when you press it with your hand. A ripe crab appleâs taste will be sour but not overwhelmingly so.
What makes a crab apple different from an apple? A crab apple must have a fruit that is no bigger than two inches across. Anything more than that is an ordinary apple. Beyond the size, crab apples and apples have very different flavors.
Are Crab Apples Edible?
Yes, you can eat crab apples, but you may not want to eat them straight off the tree. These tiny fruits pack a bitter punch if you eat them raw. But their apple-like taste shines through in baked goods or other homemade recipes. â.
Will crab apples make you healthy? Yes, they do. Crab apples have a lot of vitamin C and a few other nutrients as well. One cup of raw crab apples has 83. 6 calories and contains low levels of iron, calcium, phosphorus, manganese, and magnesium.
These fruits also have high antioxidant activity, which may help your body get rid of harmful free radicals.
Are crab apples poisonous? A crab appleâs 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 donât worry â these apples are safe as long as you avoid the seeds and core.
Can you eat crab apples raw?
FAQ
Can you eat crabapples right off the tree?
Why can’t i eat crab apples?
Can you eat too many crab apples?
Are crab apples good for you?
Can you eat crab apples?
Yes, you can definitely eat crab apples. Although crab apples are not poisonous and can be safely eaten raw, many people often prefer to cook them. On their own, crab apples tend to have a very sour flavor that isn’t for everyone. Crab apples are commonly turned into a jam or preserves, similar to apple jam or apple butter.
Is it safe to eat the skin of Apple?
For most people it is both safe and advisable to eat the skin of an apple. The skin adds additional fiber, vitamins, potassium, and other minerals. Individuals with a birch pollen allergy may react to fresh apple with or without the skin. Some people believe that pesticides and other agricultural chemicals live only on the hard skin of an apple and that washing will remove them. However, these chemicals migrate into the apple and the only way to significantly reduce intake of these chemicals is to purchase organically grown, or grow your own apples. Those concerned with ingesting pesticides and herbicides should consider consuming organically grown apples as much as possible. Apples tend to be high in pesticide residues according to the Environmental Working Group(EWG). EWG provides an annual guide to pesticides in produce that is based on test results by the Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration of more than 46,000 samples of produce that has been thoroughly washed.
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.
Are crab apples healthy?
Crab apples contain many of the same great nutrients as their larger counterparts — just on a smaller scale. These include fiber, vitamin C, and various powerful plant compounds. If you’re unsure about what’s hanging off the tree, consult a botanist or wild edibles expert. Never eat fruit from the wild that you can’t identify with confidence.