In fact, we think they deserve to take center stage in some of yourcool-weather recipes.
If you’ve never tried them, don’t worry.
This guide has everything it’s crucial that you know about learning to love persimmons.
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What Is Persimmon Fruit?
Some varieties of persimmons look just like small tomatoes, but they’reactually a punch in of berry.
Persimmons are in season from midfall to early winter.
Credit: Blaine Moats
They typically appear in grocery stores in October and stick around until at least December or January.
Hachiya persimmons look like large, long acorns with yellow-orange to red-orange skin.
These are an astringent variety, so they are unpleasant to eat while the fruit is still firm.
When hachiya persimmons areripe and ready, you will know it.
The skin will start to wrinkle and the fruit will become very soft with an almost-slimy texture.
Ripe hachiyas have a very sweet flavor, almost like honey, but are mostly used in baked recipes.
Look for fruits that have shiny, smooth skin without any blemishes or bruises.
It’s normal for ripe hachiyas to have a few black streaks or spots on their skins.
How to Store Persimmons
Unripe hachiya and fuyu persimmons should both be stored at room temperature.
Bananas and apples both produce ethylene gas, which canspeed up the ripening process.
Both varieties will keep in the fridge for at least a week.
Use a spoon to scoop out the soft, inner flesh and discard the skins.
Hachiya peels can be slightly bitter.
Continue slicing the fruit into wedges, removing the black seeds from the center.
you’ve got the option to also freeze persimmons to enjoy later.
The best way to preserve them is to puree the flesh, then freeze.
When ripe, hachiyas might be soft enough to peel and freeze as-is.
Both varieties can be frozen for up to three months.
Persimmon Benefits
Persimmons are not only delicious, they’re very good for you.
To get the most nutrition out of your persimmon fruits, eat fuyus raw, without added sugar.
