False Fruit

Photo: flickr user cliff1066™

About

A fruit in which some or all of the flesh is derived not from the ovary but from some adjacent tissue. Examples include pineapples and cashews. Pomes, such as apples and pears, are also accessory fruits, with the core being the true fruit.

Information

Other names: Spurious Fruit, Pseudocarp, Accessory Fruit

Translations: False Augļi, Neteisingų Vaisiai, Fructe false, Lažna Voće, Sai trái cây, Owoce fałszywe, Valse Fruit, झूठे फल, Falso Frutas, False фрукты, Ψευδές Φρούτα, كاذبة الفاكهة, 거짓 과일, False Ovoce, Buah Salah, Maling Fruit, 假果, Fals Fruites, False Sadje, False Ovocie, False Frutta, שקר פרי, Falska Frukt, Нетачно воћа, 偽果, Faux fruit, Falsk Frugt, Falske Frukt, Falso Frutas, False фрукти, Väärin Hedelmät, Фалшиви плодове

Physical Description

False fruit covers a variety of familiar fruits, including apples, pineapples, strawberries, and cashews. Apples are thin-skinned, with firm, juicy flesh and a seeded core. Alternatively, pineapples have a tough, prickly exterior with dense, sweet yellow flesh and are seedless. Strawberries are small and berry-like, with red exteriors dotted with seeds and a bright, sweet flavor. Unlike the other false fruits, cashews are dry, oily and crunchy, usually a pale beige in color.

Colors: Varied by type of false fruit.

Tasting Notes

Flavors: Sweet, slightly acidic, earthy.

Food complements: Honey, Citrus fruits, Coconut, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Chocolate, Cream.

Wine complements: Sparkling wine, Chardonnay, Ice wines.

Selecting and Buying

Seasonality: january, february, march, april, may, june, july, august, september, opctober, november, december

Peak: january, february, march, april, may, june, july, august, september, opctober, november, december

Choosing: As with all produce, when choosing any variety of false fruit, choose the freshest possible. Look for bright colors free of blemishes or bruising. In the instance of apples and pears, choose specimens that are firm and feel heavy for their size. For pineapples, look for a mostly golden exterior and healthy, green leaves. Strawberries should be bright red in color, with no wrinkling or darkened areas.

Buying: False fruit can be found in every grocery's produce section and are available year-round. Farmers' markets, however, will almost always carry the freshest produce and typically only limits their availability to the peak seasons of each false fruit. Different varieties can be found depending on regional growing abilities.

Preparation and Use

While nearly all false fruits can be eaten raw and are excellent in that form, many are common ingredients in baked desserts as well. Apples, pears, and figs are frequently used in pies, galettes, and turnovers. Strawberries can be sliced and used as toppings for shortcakes, ice cream, and added to berry compotes. Cashews are often added to mixed nuts, but are popular in traditional desserts, such as baklava.

Cleaning: All false fruits, excluding cashews and pineapples, which have an inedible exterior, should be washed thoroughly before preparation and consumption.

Conserving and Storing

Nearly all false fruits benefit from being stored in a cool, dark place. Pears and pineapples should be consumed within four days of their purchase, whereas apples and cashews can be stored for weeks. Strawberries require refrigeration if not consumed within a day or two and should only be stored for up to five days.