Can peaches, plums and nectarines get sweeter-tasting once theyve been harvested?
Yes, peaches, plums and nectarines can get sweeter-tasting after they’ve been harvested. While the fruit only increases in sugar content while it’s on the tree, the amount of sugar is only one part of what makes fruit taste sweet. As peaches, plums and nectarines ripen, the fruit’s acid level drops. With less acid present, the fruit’s sweetness can then be tasted. At the same time, the fruit’s cells fill with juice as the cell walls become more fragile, making the fruit soft and juicy. The amount of sugar is exactly the same when the fruit is soft and juicy as when the fruit was firm and tart — but with less tartness, the fruit tastes sweeter.
