Prunes are dried plums that have been enjoyed around the world for centuries. They have a unique taste and texture that some people love, while others may find them too sweet or chewy. Whether you enjoy prunes often comes down to personal taste preferences. Let’s take a closer look at the flavor profile of prunes and the potential health benefits they offer to help you decide if you think they taste good.
What Do Prunes Taste Like?
Prunes have a very sweet, deep, and concentrated flavor compared to fresh plums. When plums are dried, the moisture is removed, which makes their natural sugars much more prominent. This gives prunes a very rich, almost caramel or molasses-like taste.
In addition to being sweet, prunes also have flavors from the plum itself. You may notice delicate notes of cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and allspice. The skin of the prunes also contributes to flavor, adding subtle overtones of nuts and vanilla.
Prunes are typically very soft and chewy in texture, due to the drying process. Some people find this texture unappealing. However, there are ways to change the texture of prunes by rehydrating them in water or juice before eating.
Potential Health Benefits of Prunes
In addition to their unique taste, prunes offer many potential health benefits:
- High in fiber – Prunes are an excellent source of fiber, with about 7 grams per 1/4 cup. Fiber promotes regularity, gut health, and heart health.
- Source of antioxidants – Prunes contain antioxidants like vitamin A, vitamin K, and polyphenols that can help fight inflammation and oxidative stress.
- Bone health – The nutrients in prunes may help preserve bone density by preventing bone loss.
- Blood sugar regulation – Despite being sweet, prunes have a low glycemic index that helps slow the rise in blood sugar after meals.
- Digestive health – Prunes act as a natural laxative thanks to their fiber, sorbitol sugar alcohol, and phenolic compounds.
While more research is still needed, the unique nutrient profile of prunes suggests they may provide health benefits beyond basic nutrition.
Taste Preferences Are Personal
Whether you find prunes taste good or not ultimately comes down to your personal taste preferences. Here are some factors that can influence your opinion of the taste of prunes:
- Sweetness – If you enjoy sweet flavors, you’ll likely appreciate prunes. But if you generally dislike sweets, the rich sweetness may be unappealing.
- Texture – The soft, chewy texture of prunes is a matter of preference. Some dislike it, while others don’t mind.
- Cooking method – Prunes’ flavor comes through best when eaten raw. Cooking can mute some of the complexity.
- Quality – Higher quality prunes tend to have a more balanced, nuanced flavor.
- Pairings – Prunes paired with spices, nuts, dark chocolate, or cheese may appeal more to some.
At the end of the day, deciding if you find prunes tasty is a subjective matter. The unique prune flavor may grow on some people over time, while others never acquire a taste for it. Cooking with prunes or combining them with other ingredients can make their flavor more enjoyable for prune skeptics.
How to Select and Store Prunes
Looking to try prunes yourself? Here are some tips for selecting and storing prunes:
- Look for plump prunes without many wrinkles, as they will be more flavorful and juicy.
- Avoid prunes that appear dried out, shriveled, or hard.
- Select prunes that are naturally sun-dried rather than treated with chemicals or sulfites.
- Store prunes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 6 months.
- Freeze prunes for longer storage up to 1 year. Thaw before using.
- Soak prunes in hot water or juice for a softer texture if desired.
Popular Ways to Enjoy Prunes
Here are some delicious ways to eat prunes if you want to give them a try:
- Eat them raw for a simple snack
- Make homemade fruit and nut trail mix with prunes
- Blend prunes into smoothies
- Simmer prunes with cinnamon and cloves for compote
- Add prunes to oatmeal or porridge
- Mix prunes into yogurt, cottage cheese, or ricotta
- Bake prunes into muffins, breads, or cakes
- Stuff prunes with almonds or cheese as an appetizer
- Make a chutney by cooking prunes with vinegar, spices, and onions
- Roast prunes drizzled with honey for a sweet and sticky treat
Common Complaints About Prunes
While many people enjoy the taste of prunes, they also have their critics. Here are some of the most common complaints about prunes:
- Too sweet – The concentrated sugar in prunes can be overpowering for some.
- Unpleasant, chewy texture – The soft, gel-like interior of prunes turns some people off.
- Too high in sugar – Prunes are high in natural sugars. People limiting sugar intake may want to eat them in moderation.
- Aftertaste – Prunes have an aftertaste that may linger unpleasantly for some.
- Upsets stomach – Due to their natural laxative effect, large amounts of prunes can cause gas or diarrhea.
- High glycemic index – Despite the fiber, prunes tend to raise blood sugar rapidly.
- Acquired taste – Some dislike prunes the first time they try them but grow to appreciate the flavor over time.
Finding prunes too sweet or chewy is primarily an issue of personal preference. However, complaints about gas, diarrhea, and blood sugar effects can often be managed by eating prunes in moderation as part of a balanced diet.
Do Kids Like Prunes?
Prunes are a healthy snack, but do kids enjoy the flavor? Here is a look at whether or not prunes appeal to children:
- Some kids love prunes, others don’t. It depends on the child’s tastes.
- The sweetness often appeals to kids. However, the texture may put some off.
- Cooking prunes into dishes like muffins, oatmeal, or trail mix can make them more child-friendly.
- Offer prunes early to acclimate children to the flavor.
- Dried fruit with seeds like apricots, dates, and raisins tend to be more popular.
- Prunes’ laxative effect may discourage parents from offering them.
- Kids who enjoy plums, figs, or other dried fruits are more likely to enjoy prunes as well.
- Pairing prunes with something crunchy like nuts or granola can offset the chewiness.
Every child has different tastes when it comes to food. Offer a variety of healthy options and let your child decide if prunes are their cup of tea. Introducing them at an early age when taste preferences develop may increase acceptance.
Conclusion
Prunes have a unique sweet, sticky taste and chewy texture that some people love and others find unappealing. While prunes provide many potential health benefits, enjoying their flavor is a matter of personal preference. Kids may or may not take to prunes depending on their tastes. If you are looking to try prunes, search for high quality, naturally dried options. Incorporate them into various dishes, snack on them raw, or rehydrate them in liquid to alter the texture. Keeping an open mind and experimenting with different preparation methods can make it easier to develop a taste for prunes. But at the end of the day, not everyone has to enjoy eating prunes to receive their nutritional benefits. Focus on finding healthy foods you genuinely look forward to eating on a regular basis.
