Summer Ingredient Essentials: Apricots

Signaling summer with their bright orange-gold hue, apricots are juicy fruits that may be small, but burst with nutrition and sweet summer flavor! Full of beta-carotene, due to their rich color, apricots help protect your heart and your eyes while keeping you satisfied with delicious fiber-filled flesh. They are also high in vitamin A, which supports vision, and vitamin C, which protects cells from free radicals, helps support the immune system and helps the body create collagen. Apricots are the tiny summer fruit that packs a punch!

How do I pick the best apricots?

It’s all about color, color, color. Ripe apricots should have a bright, orange skin that is velvety to the touch. They should be firm and plump, but soften with a gentle squeeze. Steer clear of fruits that are a dull yellow or orange, and those that feel too hard. Both of these indicate the apricot was picked before it had ripened naturally on the tree. Though apricots can ripen after picking, they taste the best if ripened beforehand so choose your fruit wisely!

Keep away from fruits that are too soft or those with shriveled skin, indicating they are overripe. Skip over those that have cuts or bruises as well. You want to take your time and pick the gems that look just right. Once you have a bunch of perfectly ripe, bright orange apricot gems you’ll be glad you did.

What can I make with apricots?

This delicate fruit complements both sweet and savory dishes. Think cakes, muffins, pies, cobblers and breads to sauces, compotes, jellies and sorbets. Apricots pair wonderfully with chicken and pork dishes, for instance apricot-habanero glazed ribs sound finger-licking good! And, of course, apricots can be enjoyed raw, with a bit of soft cheese or on their own. With a thin, slightly tart skin, apricots are a great on-the-go snack. To remove the pit of a ripe apricot, hold each side of the fruit and twist. The fruit will break in half, making it easier (and less messy) to remove the pit and enjoy it one bite at a time.

Storage? Apricots will keep fresh in the fridge for up to 5 days if properly stored in an air-tight container. On the counter they will stay fresh for up to 3 days or until they have ripened. To ripen apricots, place them in a paper bag, fold over and keep bag at room temperature until they have softened. The process can take a few days, but the result is well worth it. Apricots also hold up well in the freezer. Prepare apricots by washing, halving and pitting. Place in a freezer safe bag, with as little air as possible, and freeze. Frozen apricots can last up to a year, making them available whenever your apricot cravings strikes!

Recipes to try include: Ingrid Hoffmann’s Pork-Apricot Fried Rice, Warm Brussels Sprouts and Spinach Salad, and Chiles en Nogada.