How to pick plums

3 min read

Wildly different between varieties, so the farm will tell you more than any general rule.

What to look for

1
A powdery bloom on the skin means it has not been handled. Rub it off and it does not come back
2
Give slightly at the tip end while the shoulder stays firm. Soft all over is overripe
3
They should come away with a slight twist and no real force
4
European types for drying and baking are firmer than Japanese types for eating fresh, so do not judge one by the other
5
Plums keep ripening on the counter, so picking a little firm is safer than picking soft