How to Store Quince Over Winter
Quince is picked in autumn. Stored well, it keeps for weeks and its aroma develops while it waits. This page explains what to keep, where and how to arrange it, how long to leave it before use, and what to watch for over winter. The main source is listed at the bottom; this is general background for a home garden.
At a glance
- How long it keeps
- The RHS gives different times: 2–3 months on its quince page, use within about a month in its general storing guide.
- Mellowing before use
- RHS quince page: 6–8 weeks to mellow. The general RHS storing guide gives no such period.
- Which fruit
- Only sound, undamaged fruit.
- Where
- A cool, dark place.
- How
- In slatted wooden or cardboard trays; fruits not touching.
- Wrapping
- Do not wrap them.
- When to pick
- When golden and very aromatic, before the first frost.
- What it is used for
- Mainly jam, jelly, pies, baking and quince paste (membrillo); fully ripe fruit of some varieties is also eaten raw.
What to keep for storage
Pick quinces when the colour has turned from pale yellow to golden and the aroma is strong, and pick them before the first frost. Leave them on the tree as long as you can — the flavour is better for it.
For storage choose only sound, undamaged fruit. Damaged fruit rots first and infects its neighbours, so use those right away, for example in jam.
Where and how to arrange them
- Choose a cool, dark place.
- Use slatted wooden or cardboard trays so air can circulate.
- Arrange the fruit so that no two fruits touch.
- Do not wrap them in paper, foil or any other covering — they need air.
- Keep them away from apples and pears — their strong aroma passes to other fruit.
How long to leave them before use
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) quince page advises storing picked fruit for six to eight weeks so that it mellows before use. The general RHS guide to storing fruit gives no such period. The University of Wisconsin adds that superior selections left to ripen on the tree can be enjoyed fresh if thinly sliced; quinces become softer and more palatable the longer they stay on the tree.
On how long they keep, the RHS says different things in the two places: two or three months on its quince page, and use within about a month in its general storing guide. Quinces are also prone to internal browning, which can show at harvest or develop in storage.
What to watch for over winter
- Check the fruit regularly.
- If one starts to rot, remove it at once so it does not infect its neighbours.
- Do not put damaged fruit back in the tray — use it right away.
What quince is used for
Most quinces are hard and astringent, so they are used mainly for jam and jelly, pies and tarts, and for membrillo, a traditional Spanish quince paste. Fully ripe fruit of some varieties is also eaten raw.
Common questions
How long do quinces keep?
The RHS gives different times: two or three months on its quince page and use within about a month in its general storing guide. The quince page advises only sound fruit, in a cool, dark place, in slatted trays, not touching.
Do quinces need to mellow before I use them?
Not all of them. The RHS quince page advises six to eight weeks of storage before use so that the fruit mellows, while the general RHS storing guide gives no such period. The University of Wisconsin adds that superior selections left to ripen on the tree can be enjoyed fresh if thinly sliced; quinces become softer and more palatable the longer they stay on the tree.
Can you eat quince raw?
Most quinces are hard and astringent raw, so they are used mainly for jam, jelly, stewing and baking. Fully ripe fruit of some varieties is eaten raw, though.
Where should I keep quinces over winter?
In a cool, dark place, in slatted wooden or cardboard trays, so the fruits do not touch each other, and away from apples and pears. Do not wrap them.
What should I do with damaged fruit?
Do not put it in storage with the sound fruit: damaged fruit rots first and infects the fruit next to it. Use it right away, for example for jam.
When are quinces picked?
When the fruit turns from pale yellow to golden and is very aromatic, and before the first frost. Leave them on the tree as long as you can for better flavour. More in the quince calendar.
Important: This page is general background for a home garden and does not replace an on-site look or a specialist's advice. It names no spray products: for crop protection, always follow the product label and the rules in force.
Related calendars
More seasonal tips
Sources
This page was checked against the public reference below. It is general background, not a diagnosis of a specific plant.
- RHS — How to grow quince (harvesting and storing)
- RHS — Fruit: storing (quince)
- University of Wisconsin — Uncommon fruits: quince
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