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LATE SPRING/SUMMER FRUIT
Description:
Nectarines are round, medium-sized stone fruit (similar to
peaches)
with no fuzz on the exterior skin. They range in color from almost white to orange with juicy flesh that can vary from sweet to slightly spicy.
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Selecting:
When selecting, choose fruit with smooth, unblemished skin. They should look plump, have a nice yellow background color over the entire fruit and should feel slightly soft at the seam, giving to gentle pressure from your finger.
Avoid fruit that is hard, look dull colored or has bruised, cracked or punctured skin or shows any other signs of decay.
Storing and Handling:
When storing fruit that is slightly underripe, place in a cool place, unrefrigerated until they are ripe, checking them often. Ripening this way will usually take a couple of days depending on the fruit.
You can also speed up the ripening process by placing the fruit in a paper bag and loosely store at room temperature until ripe. Check them frequently and when the fruit smells fragrant and the flesh gives slightly to gentle pressure, it is ripe.
Ripe nectarines should be stored in the refrigerator and will keep for approximately 3 to 5 days. For the best flavor and texture, ripe fruit should be eaten immediately.
Preparing:
Just before eating, wash thoroughly under cool running water. With a knife, carefully slice around the seam of the fruit and twist to open. Cut or lift out the pit.
Quick Tip: Squeeze lemon or lime juice over
cut up fruit to prevent any discoloration before serving.
Raw: wash and eat as is or cut as desired.
Grilled: cut washed fruit in half, remove pit, brush with a little melted butter and grill over indirect heat for approximately 8-10 minutes, watching closely so they do not burn.
Baked: place whole unpeeled nectarines in a pan with a little water and bake in a 350°F oven until soft.
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Serving Suggestions:
Fruit Salad: this fruit is a great addition to fruit and even vegetable salads.
Fruit Pies: a great filling for fruit pies.
Fruit Smoothies: Like
peaches,
this fruit also makes flavorful fruit smoothies.
Other Recipes: Try using this sweet, juicy fruit in any of these types of recipes.
Cakes - Cobblers - Fruit Crisps - Jams - Fruit Sorbets
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Seasonings and Foods to use: apricots, cream, honey, maple syrup, peaches, plums, pork, poultry, sour cream, sugar, vanilla, yogurt
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Quick Salad – Nectarine Recipes:
Fruit Salad with Lemony Avocado Cream
Return from Nectarines to Spring Produce Guide
