If you've ever passed a beautiful tree covered with tiny, colorful fruit, you've seen crab apples. Can you eat crab apples\u2014or are they purely ornamental?<\/p>\r\n
Prepare to pick a bushel, because the small, tart fruits can be eaten raw or turned into a tasty pie or crumble!<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Crab apples grow in North America, Europe and Asia. This fruit looks like an apple but can be as small as a cherry. Crab apples are a wild type of apple<\/a>. They're in the same family<\/a> as domesticated apples, which are bred to grow larger and taste sweeter.<\/p>\r\n
Ready to grow your own? Here's how to grow fruit trees<\/a> in your backyard.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Yes, it's safe to eat crab apples! They are not poisonous and can be eaten raw. However, they're much tastier when baked into a flaky crust<\/a>. (Isn't everything?)<\/p>\r\n
Like larger apples, crab apples are rich in fiber for gut health<\/a> and vitamin C for a healthy immune system<\/a>. They also contain antioxidants that protect against inflammation and certain chronic health conditions<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n
Like any food, crab apples should be enjoyed in moderation. The cores and seeds contain a plant compound<\/a> that is turned into a toxic substance called cyanide as our bodies digest them. Fortunately, crab apples only contain a tiny amount of this compound, and you'd have to eat a huge quantity before you start feeling sick.<\/p>\r\n
Check out different types of heirloom apples<\/a> and how to use them.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Crab apples have an acidic, bitter taste that makes them perfect for baking. They're also rich in pectin which gives jellies and jams their thicker texture.<\/p>\r\n
Try turning your crab apple bunch into apple butter<\/a>, apple pie jam<\/a> or preserves. Need something even sweeter? Crab apples are delicious in pies<\/a>, strudels<\/a>, crisps<\/a> and crumbles.<\/p>\r\n