Can You Eat Crab Apples?

If you’ve ever passed a beautiful tree covered with tiny, colorful fruit, you’ve seen crab apples. Can you eat crab apples—or are they purely ornamental?

Prepare to pick a bushel, because the small, tart fruits can be eaten raw or turned into a tasty pie or crumble!

What Are Crab Apples?

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. They’re in the same family as domesticated apples, which are bred to grow larger and taste sweeter.

Crab apples come in different shades. They’re usually red with some yellow and green mixed in.

If you’ve ever bitten into a crab apple, you know they don’t taste like apples from the grocery store. Crab apples have a distinct tart, acidic taste. They may even taste bitter.

Ready to grow your own? Here’s how to grow fruit trees in your backyard.

Is It Safe to Eat Crab Apples?

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. (Isn’t everything?)

Like larger apples, crab apples are rich in fiber for gut health and vitamin C for a healthy immune system. They also contain antioxidants that protect against inflammation and certain chronic health conditions.

Like any food, crab apples should be enjoyed in moderation. The cores and seeds contain a plant compound 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.

Check out different types of heirloom apples and how to use them.

How to Eat Crab Apples

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.

Try turning your crab apple bunch into apple butter, apple pie jam or preserves. Need something even sweeter? Crab apples are delicious in pies, strudels, crisps and crumbles.

Crab apples can be tricky to identify in the wild. Rather than grabbing one off of a tree, look for them at a farmers market or grow your own!