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.
Come autumn, wild crab apple trees decorate landscapes with beautiful blossoms and tiny ripe fruit. Their bright red color may tempt you to pluck a few to snack on during a hike. But are crab apples safe to eat? And can eating too many crab apples make you sick? Here’s what you need to know about safely enjoying this foraged fall fruit.
What are Crab Apples?
Crab apples are small, sour apples that grow wild across North America They are essentially the wild ancestors of our modern, cultivated apple varieties There are over 800 varieties of crab apples in a range of shapes, sizes, and flavors. On average, crab apples measure 1 to 2 inches wide.
Compared to store-bought apples, crab apples tend to be:
- Much smaller in size
- Extremely tart, sour, and astringent
- Bitter, with little sweetness
- Very hard flesh and skin
They thrive untouched in woodlands, fence rows, and forests. Crab apple trees produce profuse blossoms in spring, followed by abundant fruit in fall.
Are Crab Apples Edible?
Yes, crab apples are completely edible! In fact, they share close genetic ties to domesticated apples. The key differences simply come down to selective breeding for desirable traits over centuries.
When eaten raw, crab apples tend to be lip-puckeringly tart. But their flesh can be cooked and sweetened into jams, jellies, sauces, vinegar, cider, and more.
However, you should avoid consuming the seeds and core of raw crab apples.
Can Crab Apples Make You Sick?
Crab apples themselves are not poisonous or toxic. The fruit flesh is totally safe and edible. However, underripe apples and apple seeds do contain trace amounts of compounds that can cause illness if you consume enough of them.
Cyanide in Seeds
All apple seeds contain amygdalin, which breaks down into hydrogen cyanide when ingested. Commercial apples contain relatively low levels thanks to breeding. But crab apple seeds haven’t been selectively bred, so they contain higher natural concentrations.
Consuming a few crab apple seeds will likely cause no issues. But if you chew and swallow enough seeds, you may experience:
- Nausea, stomach cramps, vomiting
- Dizziness, headache
- Difficulty breathing
So spit out the seeds when eating raw crab apples just to be safe. When cooking crab apples, remove the cores and seeds first.
Malic Acid in Underripe Fruit
Malic acid naturally occurs in all apples, giving them tartness. It’s harmless at normal levels. But underripe crab apples are especially high in malic acid. Eating too many underripe crab apples could lead to digestive upset like:
- Nausea, diarrhea, vomiting
- Stomach cramps
- Excessive thirst
Wait until fruits are fully ripe and red/orange in color. Ripe fruits will be softer with a strong fruity aroma.
How to Safely Eat Crab Apples
With a few precautions, you can safely enjoy foraged crab apples:
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Avoid Roadside Trees: Only pick where you know pesticides/herbicides are not used. Stick to woodlands and forests.
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Watch for Bitter Almonds Scent: This indicates presence of cyanide compounds, so avoid those fruits.
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Wait Until Fully Ripe: Underripe apples are extra tart and hard. Ripe crab apples will be softer with a fruity aroma. Red/orange color indicates ripeness.
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Remove Seeds and Core: Slice out the center seed cavity and stems before eating raw. For cooked dishes, core apples first.
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Eat in Moderation: Don’t overindulge, especially if eating raw. Take small bites and monitor for reactions.
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Cook Them: Cooking dilutes acidity and allows adding sweetener. Excellent for jellies, butter, jam, sauce, vinegar, chutneys.
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Sweeten: Balance tartness by adding sugar or honey when cooking or serving raw crab apple slices. Start with 1 Tbsp per chopped apple.
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Pair with Strong Flavors: Raw crab apples go great with cheese, nuts, cured meats. Complement the tartness.
Enjoy these wild treats of the forest with caution. Select only ripe fruits, remove cores, watch portions, and cook when possible. With a few simple precautions, crab apples make a unique and delicious foraged snack.
Are crab apples nutritious?
Crab apples are small, sour fruits that look like cherries and come in different colors, such as red, yellow, and green.
Crab apples are rich in vitamin C and contain trace quantities of other minerals. One cup of raw crab apples provides 83. 6 calories and contains a small amount of iron, calcium, phosphorus, manganese, and magnesium.
You can tell whether a crab apple is ripe by cutting it open and examining the seeds. If the seeds are brown rather than white or green, the crab apple is ready to eat. The apple should also have a spongy texture and not taste too sour.
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.
Everything You Need to Know About Crabapples! | DAFT
FAQ
Do crab apples give you a stomach ache?
Is it safe to eat crab apples off the tree?
Can you eat too many crab apples?
Do crab apples cause diarrhea?
Are crab apples bad for You?
Like any food, crab apples should be enjoyed in moderation. The cores and seeds contain a plant compound that is turned into a toxic substance called cyanide as our bodies digest them. Fortunately, crab apples only contain a tiny amount of this compound, and you’d have to eat a huge quantity before you start feeling sick.
Can apples cause health problems?
In case of suffering from gastritis or ulcer, it is not recommended to consume more than one green apple a day. In this case, it is better to enjoy this fruit one hour after eating well and not fasting. Also, sour apples can damage tooth enamel. Therefore, after consuming them, rinse your mouth with water.
Are crab apple seeds toxic?
Crab apple cores, like those of bigger apples, contain seeds that have small amounts of cyanogenic glycoside. When this naturally occurring plant compound is metabolized, it’s converted into cyanide. Cyanide is a toxic substance. However, the amounts of cyanogenic glycoside in crab apple seeds is minimal.
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.