Most people have never heard of quince, but it was once a very symbolic fruit in the Roman empire more than 4000 years ago. It was a sign of love and commitment, treated like a treasure to those who received the fruit.
In the UK, quince never held the same resemblance as it was not a fruit to ever really capture the excitement of the British, not like watermelon or pineapples.
It is still not the most popular fruit in the UK, but it is one of the best fruits to make jams, marmalades, and other preserves with because of its texture and reaction to heat. That being said, quince is slowly gaining popularity as the go-to exotic fruit to have on top of oatmeal or as a quick snack.
Quince can be refrigerated for more than a month after being cut to see you through the fruit’s off-season. But it can be notoriously hard to find even when it is in season from October to December. Unless you have plenty of quinces stored in your fridge, you will most likely need an alternative.
Our 3 Substitutes for Quince
Quince is an interesting fruit as its aroma is entirely different from its taste, making for a complex eating experience.
When quince is cut into, an instant spicy but slightly citrusy aroma is the first thing you will notice. This only gets stronger when the fruit is then cooked.
Raw quince is tart and unpleasantly hard. But cooked quince, while still dense, is much softer, and the bitterness turns sweeter.
Here are our top 3 substitutes for quince fruit:
1) Apple
There are roughly 7,000 apple species that exist worldwide, each with its own level of sweetness. The varieties available in most UK supermarkets will be both sweet with a balancing tartness.
Quince’s flavour is very often compared to the common apple as they are from the same family. Though apples do not need to be cooked to be sweet, making them the ideal substitute for quince if you want to save time in the kitchen.
The type of apple you need to replace quince will depend on the recipe you follow.
If you want to replicate quince’s dense but soft texture, a firmer apple like Granny Smith will be best as they will cook like quince.
For the same flavour Jonagold apples have a great tart and sweet balance. But you may need to use extra in your dish as they are pretty mild.
Add a Citrus Twist
The only thing that apples fail to do when replacing quince is provide that citrusy aroma. Simply add some lemon juice or rind into your recipe to make up the difference in smell and taste.
2) Pear
The other fruit quince is often compared to is pears, though they are not entirely a perfect match. That said, pears become better at replacing quince the riper they are.
Apples and pears are very closely related, but pears do not have the same density as apples. They can be crisp when raw but soften quickly when cooked, more so than quince.
However, their flavour is very close to that of quince. Especially once they have been in your fruit bowl for a few days, as they become sweeter and more floral without being too overpowering.
Like with apples, you will need to use a lemon or lime rind to add the citrus flavour and aroma of quince to pears.
Know Which Pears to Replace Quince With
Not only are there fewer pear varieties in the world than most fruit, but the varieties are also very similar. So long as your pear is not under-ripe, you can use whatever type you have on hand.
3) Fig
Figs are not as hard to find as quince, but they are much better than quince when raw, hence why many prefer figs to quince. Still, they do have their differences.
When raw, figs are so sweet that they are often compared to honey which does not change much once they are cooked. You will need to use lemon juice to balance out this flavour.
Fig’s texture is very different from quince because of the fig’s seeds. The rest of the fig flesh is even softer than cooked quince, making it challenging to incorporate into certain recipes.
Remove the Seeds
Quince fruit does have seeds but not as many seeds as figs. You will need to filter out these seeds to maintain the texture of your recipe.
Other Substitutes for Quince
Since quince is often used as a paste or preserve, it may be easier in some cases to go directly to a pre-prepared preserve rather than making your own from fresh fruit alternatives. For example:
- Apple Sauce – One of the most common fruit condiments, apple sauce captures the sweetness of apples but can be overwhelming if not used in moderation when replacing quince.
- Lemon Marmalade – Though quince is usually turned into jam, lemon marmalade is sweet and bitter enough to replace quince preserve while producing the same texture.
- Fig Jam – When turned into jam, figs are much easier to palate for some people as they become much sweeter, like quince, when cooked. Just remember to use skinless fig jam for a smoother jam.
Summary
Quince fruit is rarely seen in the everyday supermarket but is full of delicious sweetness and tartness when cooked. Not many fruits can replicate the taste and texture of quince, but pome fruit such as apples and pears can come close.