From fruit growing there is a lot of talk about climacteric fruits and non-climacteric fruits, one of the classifications that exist to refer to cultivated fruits. However, for consumers, it is not easy to make that distinction.
The basis of the classification between climacteric and non-climacteric is the respiratory pattern that the fruits present during their ripening process, since some continue to ripen even after they have been harvested, while others do not.
climacteric fruits
Climacteric fruits are those that after being harvested they continue with their maturation process. This is because regardless of whether they are no longer in the plant, they can increase their respiration rate and enter what is known as a climacteric crisis, a physiological moment in which the internal production of ethylene occurs.
Climacteric fruits: advantages
The greatest advantage of this type of fruit is that can be harvested in a previous state to maturation. In this way, long distances can be transported without worrying about losses due to overripe fruit, that is, on the way to the destination markets they reach the point of commercial maturity required by consumers.
Nevertheless, they also have a disadvantage for consumption, and it is that when a climacteric fruit is in season, and the market has a good sale price, producers usually harvest them early and apply ethylene externally to make them ripen faster. For those who enjoy eating fruits that are as organic as possible, this could be a negative point. However, all the components used in the harvesting process are suitable for consumption.
Climacteric fruits can continue to ripen even after they are harvested.
Climacteric fruits: examples
Within the climacteric fruits there are some that are consumed daily by thousands of people around the world due, in principle, to their properties and health benefits and secondly, to the fact that they last in the refrigerator or in a kitchen basket. cook for a while before being consumed.
The 20 most consumed climacteric fruits are:
- Apple
- Pear
- peaches
- damascus
- Nectarine
- Banana
- Banana
- Mango
- Cantaloupe
- Plum
- Watermelon
- Papaya
- Avocado or avocado
- Kiwi
- Peach
- Apricot
- Custard apple
- Khaki
- Fig
- Quince
What to do with very ripe climacteric fruits
On the other hand, since the ripening process in this type of classification can continue even when the fruit has already been harvested, it is also possible that it will ripen very quickly. In those cases, there is no need to worry about eating them at the moment, since with some recipes they can be saved.
In principle, it is important to know if they are only ripe or rotten. If they are more mature than what is recommended for consumption, you can resort to preparing sweets or compotes. On the other hand, if they are rotten, nothing can be done, but they will serve as fertilizer for the plants.
Both recipes have few ingredients and are ideal to prepare with ripe fruit, since the flavor will be sweeter. The ideal fruits for compotes are pears and apples. For sweets or jams, it is recommended to use figs, peaches, apricots or plums, although you can also make a mix of fruits.
If the fruit is overripe, it can be used to make candies or compotes.
non-climacteric fruits
Non-climacteric fruits are those that do not present a climacteric crisis, that is, they harvesting them at their exact point of maturity is essential for trade and consumption. This is so because once cut from the plant they will only mature a little more, but they can also get worse. Therefore, its consumption is not recommended, much less its sale.
Does the color of non-climacteric fruits matter?
Citrus fruits are typical examples of non-climacteric fruits. Sometimes, it often happens that in the markets you see tangerines or oranges with green colors for sale. This is usually associated with maturity, but the reality is that it does not always have to do with it.
In these cases, ethylene does not regulate ripening, but it is capable of accelerating the degradation of chlorophylls, the pigments responsible for the green colour. In this way, citrus fruits take on a green color even when ripe.
However, for the commercialization of citrus fruits a certain degree of coloration is required and for that reason, ethylene is applied in order to accelerate the fading of these fruits, that is, for aesthetic reasons.
Citrus fruits are examples of non-climacteric fruits.
Non-climacteric fruits: examples
- Cherry
- Lemon
- Orange
- Grape
- Pineapple
- Mandarin
- Strawberry
- Raspberry
- Mandarin
- Grapefruit
- Tamarind
- Cocoa
Many of these fruits are ideal for making recipes such as jams, juices, ice creams and are also suitable for dehydrating fruits that can later be eaten as snacks or included in meals.
What is your favorite fruit? Do you prefer climacterics or non-climacterics?
Sources: Blogagriculture, Wikipedia