Plum primer: 5 plum varieties and how to cook with them

Perplexed when it comes to choosing plums? Try plums as a perfect substitute in your favourite summertime berry recipes. Here are the top varieties found in local markets across Canada.



Yellow Plums
Round, yellow-skinned, yellow-fleshed plums arrive early and include varieties such as Early Golden and Shiro. Their tart-sweet flavour makes them wonderful for conserves and jams.

• Plum Compote




Red Plums
Best for eating out-of-hand, red plums ripen in late summer (mid- to late-August), with varieties such as Burbank, Ozark Premier and Vanier.









Italian Plums
Their deep flavours and firm flesh make purple, oval plums best suited for cooking. Varieties include Stanley and Italian.

• Plum Custard Tart





Blue Plums
Due to the array of early- and late-blooming varieties, blue plum season is the longest (September to late October). Varieties include Brufre, Victory and Voyageur.

• Plum Crumb Cake






Pluots
These fabulous hybrids are easily identifiable by their speckled skins and curious names, such as Elephant Heart and Dinosaur Eggs. A cross between plums and apricots, pluots make delicious out-of-hand snacks and are great for crumb cakes and pies. Also look for Plumcots and Apriums.





Click here to learn more storage and nutrition tips for summer plums.