Anyone know what to do with Quinces?

beetrootjuicer · 24 September 2006 at 1:23PM

Can you eat them raw or stew them like apples? I've heard of quince jam and jelly and was told you can add them to apple pie. Would appreciate your thoughts and any recipes. I'm also wondering if they'll keep through the winter, like apples; you know, store on a rack in a frostproof place.

thriftlady_2 · 24 September 2006 at 1:52PM

I am the proud owner of a quince tree

Are they proper quinces - big goldeny pear shaped fruit covered in a downy fluff, or are they small fruit a bit like apples from a bush ? If the latter they are japonicas and can be made into a nice jelly.

True quinces and japonicas must be cooked before eating as they are very hard and sour.

I've been stewing mine as they fall off the tree. Peel and core them (this is quite hard work), put them in a pan with a liberal amount of sugar - about 1 tbsp per large quince, plus a splash of water and simmer gently until soft. They turn a beautiful rose colour when cooked.

They can be made into jelly, conserves, membrillo (Spanish quince preserve), baked with sugar and eaten with cream, stewed and pureed and frozen, added to yogurt or cream to make a fool, set with gelatine,made into a pie/crumble added to Morrocan style lamb and pork tagines, or grated into a large jar with some sugar and covered with vodka/gin and left for at least 2 months, strained and bottled. Just one quince added to an apple pie or crumble will transform it.

They do keep reasonably well like apples but keep and eye on them as once one goes off the others follow. A single quince in a bowl will scent a room beautifully, I believe they were put in cupboards to scent clothes in Elizabethan times.

Try this, looks good
http://www.foodlovers.co.nz/features/quince.php

thriftlady_2 · 24 September 2006 at 2:46PM

More useful links
http://www.historicfood.com/Quinces%20Recipe.htm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/database/quincemarmalade_6897.shtml

http://www.vegparadise.com/highestperch51.html

beetrootjuicer · 24 September 2006 at 3:01PM

Thanks, thriftlady. They're actually the true quinces that look like pears. I had no idea you could do so much with them. Looks like we're going to be busy as it's a bumper harvest this year.

thriftlady_2 · 24 September 2006 at 3:06PM

My tree is laoded too

, I usually make quince jelly but I've still got 3 jars left from last year's harvest (not to mention the crab apple jelly, blackberry jam and damson chutney:D ). I find the best thing to do, is stew them with sugar, puree them and freeze in small quantities. That way there's always something delicious to add to an apple pie, or stir into yogurt, or make a posh pud with cream, or just have on it's own.