{"id":21632,"date":"2022-11-29T07:43:29","date_gmt":"2022-11-29T06:43:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.countryfile.com\/?p=130192"},"modified":"2022-11-29T08:13:30","modified_gmt":"2022-11-29T07:13:30","slug":"crab-apple-guide-how-to-identify-when-to-pick-and-crab-apple-recipes","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/rss_feed\/crab-apple-guide-how-to-identify-when-to-pick-and-crab-apple-recipes\/","title":{"rendered":"Crab apple guide: how to identify, when to pick and crab apple recipes"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Rachel Lambert\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 29 November 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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Apples<\/a> have been around\u00a0since prehistoric times and there are now\u00a0over 6,000 cultivated varieties worldwide,\u00a0all originating from wild apples. Crab apples\u00a0are native to Europe and Turkey, but have\u00a0been introduced in north-east Australia and\u00a0southern Argentina.<\/p>\n

Many of us will be familiar with that old Welsh saying,\u00a0\u2018an apple a day keeps the doctor away\u2019; indeed,\u00a0crab apples are packed with antioxidants,\u00a0vitamins and fibre. They\u2019re also one of the best fruits for their wonderful tartness that\u00a0combines beautifully with sugar to make\u00a0complex sweets.<\/p>\n

This guide take a closer look at crab apples (Malus sylvestris<\/em>), revealing information on crab apple trees and the fruits that grow on them, how to identify these fruits, when to forage them and delicious crab apples recipes \u2013 including crab apple jelly<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Looking for more things to forage in late summer and autumn? Check out our guides to blackberries<\/a>, mushrooms<\/a> and bracket fungi<\/a>.<\/p>\n

What are crab apples?<\/h2>\n

The UK\u2019s native, wild\u00a0crab apples are round and yellow when ripe, but\u00a0another common variety here is slightly larger\u00a0(though still small) and more apple-shaped.\u00a0Cultivated varieties are small\u00a0and yellowy-red to fully red.<\/p>\n

Crab apples are packed with antioxidants,\u00a0vitamins and fibre.<\/p>\n

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Crab apples are best foraged in early to late autumn\/Credit: Elliot White<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Crab apple guide<\/h2>\n

Crab apple trees<\/h3>\n

The crab apple tree grows up to 12m\/40ft tall\u00a0with simple, serrated leaves and red or yellow\u00a0fruits (around 2\u20133cm\/1in across) with one to two\u00a0small seeds in the centre.<\/p>\n

Crab apple trees can live up\u00a0to 100 years old. Occasionally you may find a truly\u00a0wild one in a woodland, but many cultivated\u00a0varieties appear in gardens or on tree-lined\u00a0streets, where their tiny apples roll across the\u00a0pavement. These types are equally delicious \u2013\u00a0just not as sharp as the original, wild crab apple.<\/p>\n

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Crab apples are often seen hanging over garden fences or growing in city parks\/Getty<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

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Learn more about apples<\/h4>\n

The British apple season marks the start of autumn as trees heavy with fruit are harvested to be eaten fresh, cooked into crumbles or pies, and mulled to make cider. Discover the best British apple varieties for eating, cooking and drinking in our expert guide.<\/p>\n