Origin: Native to the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere.
Characteristics: Known for their spectacular spring blossom and small, often tart fruit.
Fun Fact: Crabapple fruits are excellent for making jellies and preserves due to their high pectin content.
Tree Inventory: Crabapple trees make up 13% of the trees on the Capitol Grounds, the second highest variety found in the 2024 Wood Rodgers tree survey!
Crabapples, the small, often tart fruits of the crabapple tree, are not just ornamental but highly valued for making jellies and preserves due to their high pectin content. Pectin is a naturally occurring polysaccharide found in the cell walls of fruits, where it helps to bind cells together. When extracted and used in cooking, pectin acts as a gelling agent, crucial for the thickening process in jellies, jams, and preserves.
The process of making jelly from crabapples starts with harvesting the fruit, which is typically done when they are fully ripe for maximum natural pectin content. The crabapples are then cleaned and boiled in water until soft. The soft fruit is strained through a jelly bag or cheesecloth to extract the juice; crucially, the pulp is not squeezed too hard to avoid clouding the jelly. The clear juice obtained is then heated with sugar. The high pectin content of the crabapple juice interacts with the sugar under heat, triggering the gelling process that is essential for jelly formation.
Pectin is not only useful for its gelling properties but also offers dietary benefits. It is a soluble fiber that can help lower blood cholesterol levels and improve digestion. In the human digestive system, pectin binds to cholesterol in the gastrointestinal tract and slows glucose absorption by trapping carbohydrates. This property helps in the management of blood sugar levels and reduces the absorption of cholesterol, benefiting heart health.
The high pectin content in crabapples makes them particularly good for making jellies and preserves without the need for additional commercial pectin. This makes crabapple jelly a favorite among home cooks and professional chefs alike for its ease of preparation and the clear, firm set that pectin naturally produces, resulting in a preserve that not only tastes delightful but also has a pleasing aesthetic and texture.
Download our Crabapple Jelly recipe, adapted from AllRecipes.com
Comments