VANILLAGOODS / FRESH MARKET BUYING GUIDE

Plums: Buying, Storage & Baking Guide

Learn how to choose, store, and bake with plums, with quality checks and U.S. season guidance.

Stone fruit
Plums: Purple plums with one halved

Look for

Developed background color; no extensive green patches on peaches

Feel & texture

Gentle give around the shoulders for eat-now fruit

Aroma

A characteristic fruity scent can help; not conclusive

What to avoid

Fermented odor, deep bruises or leaking

How to store

Ripen suitable climacteric fruit at room temperature, then refrigerate

Typical U.S. season

Typical U.S. months: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Growing regions and availability

High-level growing suitability depends on variety, climate and local conditions.

Seasons and growing conditions vary by location and variety. Imported or stored ingredients may be available outside typical growing windows.

Visual buying guide

Plums, where it grows: Plums hanging on a plum tree branch

Where it grows

Plums, pick this one: Firm, plump plums with a dusty bloom

Pick this one

Developed background color; no extensive green patches on peaches

Plums, skip this one: Split, wrinkled plums

Skip this one

Fermented odor, deep bruises or leaking

What can you bake with Plums?

Cobblers, pies, tarts and compotes

Explore plum recipes →

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