Are Crab Apples Edible?
Here's what to know before biting into one.
If you’ve ever seen a backyard plant or hedgerows with what appears to be tiny apples growing from the limbs, your eyes aren’t deceiving you. Those are crab apples, a tiny fruit that resembles a miniature version of regular apples.
Seeing a crabapple and realizing what they are may have some wondering: Are crab apples even edible? Perhaps quickly followed by: Even if they are edible, is it safe to eat crab apples?
The short answer is yes, crab apples are edible and safe to be eaten. Like regular apples, the flesh of a crab apple is perfectly safe to consume, but the seeds inside should be avoided as they contain a compound that is toxic to humans.
Related: 68 Delicious Apple Recipes That Bring All The Fall Flavor
Can You Eat Crab Apples?
Yes, crab apples are edible fruits and resemble regular-sized apples, though they differ in taste. They can be found growing on crab apple trees in temperate climates in North America and Asia.
Meet the Expert
Chelsea Edwards is a Registered Dietician and the owner of Huntsville Nutrition Collective in Huntsville, Alabama,
What Are Crab Apples?
Crab apples, which can also be spelled as crabapples, are part of the genus Malus, which encompasses more than 45 species of small deciduous trees or shrubs in the family Rosaceae. The family Rosaceae includes culinary apples, like the ones you see at a grocery store or farmers' market, such as Honeycrisp, Gala, or Cortland. If apples had a family tree, crab apples and culinary apples would be cousins.
Chelsea Edwards, a Registered Dietician and the owner of Huntsville Nutrition Collective says that crab apples are small, tart fruits. “While related to regular apples, crab apples are tiny in comparison and much more tart than regular apples,” she says. “Crab apples have a diameter of two inches or less.”
Related: 68 Delicious Apple Recipes That Bring All The Fall Flavor
Is It Safe To Eat Crab Apples?
Yes, crab apples can safely be eaten cooked or raw. “They're most commonly used in baked goods or jellies and jams due to their high level of pectin,” explains Edwards. “Most people do not eat them raw because they are so tart, though some varieties are sweeter than others when raw.”
Related: What's The Difference Between Jam, Jelly, And Preserves?
Are Crab Apples Poisonous?
Just like regular apples, the seeds of crab apples contain a compound that can turn to cyanide. “The flesh of a crab apple is edible, but it is best to skip the seeds like you would with a regular apple,” Edwards says, adding that crab apples are a good source of Vitamin C. “Brown seeds, rather than white or green, indicate that the crab apple is ripe enough to eat.”
For more Southern Living news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!
Read the original article on Southern Living.
