Apricot

Like most people, you probably go for the more common fruits – apples, oranges, bananas, etc. However, apricots are a fantastic mixture of tartness and sweetness, so they’re versatile and can be used in many dishes. Apricots are total crowd-pleasers! They aren’t just delicious when eaten alone, though. These 30 amazing apricot recipes are proof positive that just about anything tastes better with apricots. If you’re looking for a healthy breakfast-on-the-go, these breakfast cookies are ideal. They take about an hour to make, so you’ll want to bake them the night before you need them. However, if you double the recipe, you can make about 30 cookies, which is more than enough for a whole week of breakfasts. Aside from being tasty, the apricots, bananas, dates, oatmeal, and almonds ensure these breakfast cookies contain plenty of the necessary vitamins and minerals to kick your morning into overdrive. These buttery scones are light, flaky, and full of flavor. The most “exotic” ingredients in them are apricots and almond extract, but while the ingredients may be common, the taste is out of this world. Topped in a warm, creamy glaze, these scones are ones you’ll want for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert. This delicious baked oatmeal is for people whose favorite meal of the day is breakfast. It’s hot, filling, and will warm you up on a cold morning. It’s full of dried apricots, almonds, cinnamon, heavy cream, honey, vanilla, and brown sugar. It’s a dish that’ll make you nos...

Apricots may be small, but they're big on both flavor and nutrition. These yellow-orange fruits are rich in vitamins and minerals, with a flavor ranging from sweet to sweet-tart, depending on the variety. The flesh of apricots is soft and somewhat juicy when ripe, and they have a velvety skin with soft fuzz. Prunus armeniaca originated in China, where it was first cultivated about 4,000 years ago. This delicious stone fruit held high favor with locals, traders, and travelers, so it's no surprise that it began its journey west along the Silk Road. Over time, apricots began growing across Central Asia and the Middle East. Apricots reached the Mediterranean about 2,000 years ago, where they flourished in the warm, sunny climate. Today, Turkey and Iran are the world’s largest producer of apricots. There are many different apricot varieties to enjoy, the most popular being Blenheim, Tilton, and Moorpark . Health Benefits Thanks to their high amount of vitamins, flavonoids, and potassium, apricots have significant health benefits. Flavonoids work to protect and strengthen your blood vessels while reducing signs of inflammation. Potassium, an important mineral for nerve and muscle function, is also crucial for helping nutrients move around the body. Plus, it supports healthy . Here are a few more health benefits of apricots: Skin Protection Antioxidants like Healthy Vision Rich in Better Digestion Apricots offer plenty of good Nutrients per Serving One whole, fresh apricot contai...

• Calories: 17 • Fat: 0.1g • Sodium: 0.4mg • Carbohydrates: 3.9g • Fiber: 0.7g • Sugars: 3.2g • Protein: 0.5g • Potassium: 90.6mg • Vitamin A: 33.6mcg • Phosphorus: 8.1mg Carbs A fresh apricot has nearly 4 grams of carbohydrates, with just under 1 gram of fiber and a little over 3 grams of naturally occurring sugar. Dried apricots offer more naturally occurring sugar per serving, and they may also have Apricots are low in calories and fat, but they can also be higher in sugar—especially if you eat them dried. Fresh apricots are a good source of potassium and phosphorus, as well as vitamin A. Health Benefits The fiber and other nutrients in apricots make them valuable for health and wellness in a variety of ways. While more research is needed, increasing apricot consumption could reduce the burden of certain neurological conditions. Some of the mechanisms by which they can help include genetic modulation (upregulation of beneficial genes and downregulation of harmful genes), reduction of proinflammatory cytokines, and enhanced Ascorbic acid can be purchased as vitamin C tablets, fruit juice dips, powdered forms, or commercial mixes. Apricot nectar and canned apricots can be stored at 40 degrees Fahrenheit for up to four years. At 70 degrees Fahrenheit, these products will last two years. Dried apricots last two years at 40 degrees Fahrenheit and three months at 70 degrees Fahrenheit. • • Viguiliouk E, Jenkins AL, Blanco Mejia S, Sievenpiper JL, Kendall CWC. Nutr Diabetes. 2...

Apricots are small, yellow, tart-tasting fruits with a stone in the middle. Like most fruits, they are full of vitamins and minerals and make a great addition to a healthful diet. This article lists four potential health benefits of apricots, takes a look at their nutritional value, and suggests a few ways in which people can add the fruit to their diet. Share on Pinterest Apricots are a good source of vitamin A. Experts recommend that people eat lots of fruits and vegetables, since they are high in the vitamins and minerals that our bodies need to thrive. Apricots are a good source of: Vitamin A Specifically, vitamin A helps the body make the pigments it needs for the retina to work properly. Without it, people are at risk of developing night blindness. Vitamin A also helps the eyes produce the moisture they need to stay properly lubricated. Other good sources of vitamin A include: • leafy green vegetables • orange vegetables, such as • cantaloupes • Vitamin C Apricots are also a good source of Vitamin C has many functions. For example, it is an antioxidant that helps protect the cells in the body from damaging free radicals. The body also needs it to make collagen to repair wounds. Vitamin C plays an Some other good sources of vitamin C include: • red and green peppers • citrus fruits • • strawberries Fiber Every 35 gram (g) raw apricot contains Fresh fruits and vegetables, including apricots, are excellent sources of fiber. Fiber is vital because it helps the body regul...

How To Cook With Apricot Kernels While you can eat raw apricot kernels, toasting them as you would with nuts or other seeds, can add a nice crunchy, rich flavor. Set your oven to 350 F, place the raw apricot kernels on a silicone mat on a sheet pan, and cook for 5 to 10 minutes. From there, you can also eat the kernels plain as a snack or use them in recipes. If you’re making a noyaux(pronounced ​nwa-yo), in a variety of culinary uses, such as in an apricot jam. • Roasted they have a neutral almond-like taste • Varieties: sweet and bitter • Shelf life: up to 2 years in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. What Do They Taste Like? Much like almonds, apricot kernels have a neutral, slightly nutty taste. They are bland, sometimes a little bitter, and sometimes offer a touch of sweetness. Varieties Apricot kernels come in two varieties: sweet and bitter. Often, one sweet and one bitter kernel will be found in each apricot pit. When purchasing apricot kernels, though, you’ll find them sold as either sweet or bitter. While the sweet kernels are naturally sweeter than the bitter kernels, the taste difference between the two isn’t significant, especially when adding them to recipes.

Native to China, An excellent source of How and When to Pick Apricots Apricot harvest is best accomplished when they are completely ripe on the tree. The ripening period of the fruit may extend over a three week period for some varieties, so picking apricots may span this time frame. You will know when to pick apricots visually once the fruits change from green to yellowish orange in color and feel slightly softened, but still firm to the touch. The exact hue varies according to cultivar but regardless of the variety, all apricots soften extremely quickly, making them vulnerable to bruising and subsequent rotting. Gently pick the ripened fruits from the tree. Apricot Storage The resulting apricot harvest will keep for approximately one to three weeks stored in a cool location and free from damaging factors such as additional weight upon the fruit, which may result in bruises and decay. The fruit is best stored in a single layer to minimize potential damage due to bruising. Due to the high risk for damage to apricot storage, maintain temperature in the 31 to 32 degree F. (-.5 to 0 C.) range for long-term storage with a relative humidity of 90 to 91 percent. Also with apricot storage, do not store them with any other fruit which give off an appreciative amount of For apricot storage once the fruit has been cut into, browning in the midst of preparing for freezing, canning, pie making or what have you, can be avoided if you place the apricots in a solution of 3 grams of ascor...