The Best Ways to Enjoy Apricots this Season
You see them on our website in June and July (apricot season in the US takes place in late spring through late summer, though they peak earlier) or stacked next to the other stone fruits in the grocery store. But did you ever buy apricots? The size of a plum with fuzzy skin like a peach, apricots taste a bit like a cross between those two favorite fruits with a sweet-tart, not-too-juicy flavor that’s all their own. Apricots are a low-calorie (just 17 calories in one 35 g fruit) snack that packs a nutritious punch, especially when you leave the skins on…apricots are a great source of many antioxidants, including beta carotene and vitamins A, C, and E. What’s more, they’re high in a group of polyphenol antioxidants called flavonoids, which have been shown to protect against illnesses, including diabetes and heart disease.
A surprisingly versatile fruit, fresh apricots also lend their distinctive flavor and texture to a variety of dishes. Ever wonder how to enjoy apricots? Here are some of our favorite ways to indulge in these plump, golden little fruits:
How to Enjoy Apricots
1. Fresh out of hand. Well, obviously! This is the easiest way to enjoy apricots…you don’t even have to peel them first thanks to their thin, edible and nutritious skins. If you’re wondering how to prepare apricots, it’s no different than preparing a peach – just rinse and start snacking. If you want to remove the pit first, that’s easy, too…run a sharp paring knife around the seam and separate the two halves and you’re golden!
2. In salads. There’s no better time to enjoy salads than during the spring and summer, when warm weather makes you crave lighter fare and a bounty of produce is readily available. From juicy-sweet fruit salad to leafy greens tossed with sliced apricot, nuts and cheese, adding apricots to your summer salads is a delicious way to nourish your skin with vitamin A.
3. Frozen. This is easy-to-prepare treat is a healthy alternative to sugary popsicles that’s so flavorful, your kids will love them. Blend sliced apricots with orange juice, pour into popsicle molds and freeze. A perfect way to cool off on a hot day!
4. Grilled. Do you love grilling peaches and nectarines? Grilled apricots are just as good, and our list of apricot trips wouldn’t be complete without instructions on how to do it! First, halve the apricots you’re using and remove the pits. Heat your grill to medium-high and brush olive oil onto the grates (you can also use a grill pan). Grill the apricots cut-side down three to five minutes until grill marks form, then enjoy them drizzled with honey, over ice cream, with butter and cinnamon or paired with brie.
5. For breakfast. Blend sliced, pitted apricots with a small amount of milk until smooth for a tasty puree that goes great over waffles, pancakes, oatmeal and French toast. You can also dice the apricot into small pieces to fold into pancake or waffle batter – not only will these add a bright golden color to your brunch, but they also add a heart-healthy boost of lycopene and beta-carotene. Want something a little quicker for workday mornings? Add slices of apricot and other summer fruits to a parfait glass and enjoy.
6. As a side dish. Apricots make a fragrant and colorful addition to rice dishes, and really liven up the flavor, too! Dress up plain rice with pieces of apricot and sliced almonds for tropical flair.
How to Store Apricots
As stated above, apricot season begins around mid-May and ends in August, but you can buy them from us only in June and July. That’s because our expert growers know that the best fruits are to be had at the peak of the season, once the natural sugars have had a chance to rise. Mature trees produce the best and sweetest fruit around this time, while younger trees produce fruit that’s less sweet earlier in the season. As for end-of-season fruit, while it is sweet, the acids have fallen off to the point where it’s almost too sweet, the texture is soft, and the fruit doesn’t last as long.
All this to say that the apricots you receive from us are ready to enjoy when you arrive, so you shouldn’t store them on the counter or they may get overripe. Instead, store them in the refrigerator in the crisper, where they’ll last for up to a week.
Taste the Sunshine with Hale Groves
At Hale Groves, we believe the best gifts come from the land, not a factory. For generations, our fruit has been grown slowly under the Florida sun, picked at its peak, and delivered fresh to your door. From sweet Navel Oranges to rare Honeybells, every gift shares the simple joy of real flavor—perfect for holidays, milestones, or everyday moments worth celebrating.
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