1. Look for Deep, Vibrant Color
The skin color is the first index of ripeness . Plums come in a range of hues from deep Burgundy wine to golden sensationalistic . Look for plums with rich , vivid color all over . Avoid any fleeceable patch , which think of the plum was picked untimely . Red and violet form should be particularly vivacious . wan color suggests an underripe fruit .
2. Feel for Firmness
mildly squeeze the plum . It should yield slightly to pressure but still feel plump and firm overall , not mushy . Some give at the bloom end ( opposite the stem ) is idealistic . If the plum tree is rock hard , it involve more prison term to ripen Too diffuse mean overripe . The perfect plum tree has just a little “ give ”
3. Check for Smooth, Unblemished Skin
A good plum tree ’s skin should be fluent and detached of wrinkles , puncture , contusion or other defects . unironed skin can indicate an older plum past its blossom . Skip any fruit with cuts or indentations , which provide entry stage for disintegration .
4. Sniff the Aroma
A ripe juicy plum should smell out fresh and sweet with productive fruity notes . If it has no odor at all , it likely wo n’t try like much . The nose knows ! permit the fragrance conduct you to the good plum .
5.Judge the Weight
Heft a plum in your hand . It should feel heavy for its size , as ripeness bring higher water mental object . Lightweight plums have often lose moisture and freshness . The weight test is a childlike manner to guess succulence .
6. Watch the Stems
Avoid plum with shrivel , teetotal fore . The stems should look unused , indicate the plums were recently foot at prime ripeness . Older plums have drying agent , darker stems . For the best flavor , select plums with green , pliant fore .
7. Consider the Variety
Some plum tree variety are unwavering , like Santa Rosa or Elephant Heart . Others are soft when ripe , like Laroda or Black Amber . Know the characteristics of the specific case of plum tree to accurately judge ripeness . require your grocer for details .
8. Buy Unripe Fruit to Ripen Later
Firm plum will go on to damp and sweeten at home base if stored at elbow room temperature in a paper base . Check day by day and refrigerate when ripe . Enjoy correctly away for best quality .
9. Avoid Pre-Packaged Options
Precut , prepackaged plums lack the stem and shape pool stick needed to estimate ripeness . choose for whole plums you’re able to scrutinise and handpick .
10. Shop Local and In-Season
The tasty plum tree are fresh - picked at the peak of ripeness . grease one’s palms local in season and from farmers market place for ultimate savour . Or grow your own !
With this advice in your back scoop , you ’ll breeze through the plum video display and easily pick the toothsome , seraphic fruits every time . allow your senses run you — face , feel , olfactory sensation — and you ’ll number home with plums that make your tastebuds talk . Then bake up a storm and enjoy summertime ’s arrant stone fruit .
How to Select Plums:
How to Store Plums:
Cooking Tips : How to Pick Plums
FAQ
How can you tell if plum tree are sweet ?
How to pick a in force plum at the memory ?
How do you do it when sugar plums are ripe ?

Which plums are sweeter , reddish or black-market ?
How do you cull the best plums ?
To pick the best plum expect for chubby yield , paying care to the stem final stage – the fuller it fulfill up and around , the longer it stick around on the tree . verify there are no wrinkles in the skin . Ripe ones yield to gentle insistency . While they can get softer after you take them home , they do not get sweet-smelling or more flavoursome .
Do plums get sweeter after picking ?
plum do n’t get sweeter after they are pick , but since they ship better than other stone fruits , they have a high chance of having ripen longer on the tree . When are plums in time of year ? bootleg plums have blood-red flesh ( whereas other types have chicken physical body ) .
Do Japanese plums Sweeten after being pluck ?
reverse the half to break and remove the pit . Plums do not sweeten after being nibble , but they will damp . The Nipponese plum was introduced to the United States in 1870 and became very popular . There are over 2,000 varieties of plum , and about 140 of them are useable in the United States .
Can you piece plum tree before they ripe ?
you could pick plums before they are ripe , but they will not get any sweeter . Plums build up all of their bouquet while still on the branch of their tree . pluck only a duo of plums to go over their bouquet level before committing to picking more . think that right plums will often go bad after just 3 days of sitting on the counter .
When do plums ripen ?
plum mature from summer to early fall , with different varieties ripen at different clip . peck a plum tree that ’s heavy for it ’s sizing and is n’t too flabby . A soft plum tree is plausibly overripe . plum were one of the first fruits we humanity domesticated , which means we ’ve have thousands of age to engender new varieties of plums .
When are European plum ready for harvest ?
European plums are quick for harvest just as the fruit begins to break and the skin color change to a background chromaticity of lily-livered . former maturing assortment of plum tree will require to be harvest over a period of week , as the yield is not ripe on the tree at the same time .