Apricot vs. Plum — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on November 3, 2023
An apricot is a small, golden-orange fruit, while a plum is larger and varies in color from purple to red or yellow.
Difference Between Apricot and Plum
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
Apricots are small stone fruits with a velvety skin and a sweet, slightly tart flavor. They are typically golden-orange in color. Plums, on the other hand, are usually larger than apricots and can come in a variety of colors, including purple, red, and yellow, with a juicy sweet taste that can sometimes be tart.
The apricot, scientific name Prunus armeniaca, is a member of the Rosaceae family and is believed to have originated in China. Plums belong to the genus Prunus as well, which includes cherries and almonds, but are part of the subgenus Prunus, indicating a different species within the same family.
Apricots are known for their soft, tangy flesh when ripe and are often used in jams, jellies, and dried fruit snacks. They have a relatively smooth stone inside. Plums, with their juicier and sweeter flesh, are popular fresh, in preserves, and are also dried to create prunes, which have their own distinctive flavor and are known for their digestive benefits.
In terms of nutritional content, apricots are rich in vitamins A and C and are known for their high fiber content. Plums are also nutritious, offering a good source of vitamin C, potassium, and dietary fiber, particularly when dried into prunes.
Both fruits have their own unique set of culinary applications. Apricots are often used in desserts, such as tarts and cakes, or eaten on their own. Plums are versatile in the kitchen, too, being used in both sweet and savory dishes, like plum wine, sauces, and compotes.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Size
Smaller
Larger
Color
Golden-orange
Varies (purple, red, yellow)
Taste
Sweet with a hint of tartness
Sweet to tart, juicier
Origin
Likely China
Diverse origins, including Asia, Europe
Culinary Uses
Jams, jellies, dried
Fresh, preserves, prunes, wine
Compare with Definitions
Apricot
Sweet and slightly tart
He enjoyed the sweet yet tart flavor of the apricot jam.
Plum
Sweet and juicy
The plum burst with flavor in his mouth.
Apricot
Soft, velvety skin
The apricot's velvety skin was perfect for the tart.
Plum
Used for prunes when dried
Prunes are just dried plums, after all.
Apricot
Golden-orange color
The apricots ripened to a rich golden-orange hue.
Plum
Versatile in cooking
She made a savory sauce with plums for the duck.
Apricot
High in vitamins A and C
Apricots are not only tasty but also loaded with vitamins A and C.
Plum
A plum is a fruit of some species in Prunus subg. Prunus.
Apricot
An apricot (US: (listen), UK: (listen)) is a fruit, or the tree that bears the fruit, of several species in the genus Prunus (stone fruits). Usually, an apricot is from the species P. armeniaca, but the fruits of the other species in Prunus sect.
Plum
Any of several shrubs or small trees of the genus Prunus of the rose family, especially the cultivated species P. domestica and P. salicina, bearing smooth-skinned, fleshy, edible fruit with a single stone.
Apricot
A deciduous tree (Prunus armeniaca) native to Asia, having alternate leaves and clusters of usually white flowers.
Plum
The fruit of any of these trees.
Apricot
The edible orange-yellow fruit of this tree.
Plum
Any of several trees bearing plumlike fruit.
Apricot
A moderate, light, or strong orange to strong orange-yellow.
Plum
The fruit of such a tree.
Apricot
A round sweet and juicy stone fruit, resembling peach or plum in taste, with a yellow-orange flesh, lightly fuzzy skin and a large seed inside.
Pickled apricots
Plum
A raisin, when added to a pudding or cake.
Apricot
The apricot tree, Prunus armeniaca
Plum
A sugarplum.
Apricot
(color) A pale yellow-orange colour, like that of an apricot fruit.
Plum
A dark purple to deep reddish purple.
Apricot
A dog with an orange-coloured coat.
Plum
An especially desirable position, assignment, or reward
An ambassadorship granted as a political plum.
Apricot
The junction of the brain and brain stem on a target, used as an aiming point to ensure a one-shot kill.
Plum
Variant of plumb.
Apricot
A testicle.
Plum
Variant of plumb.
Apricot
Of a pale yellowish-orange colour, like that of an apricot.
Plum
The fruit and its tree.
Apricot
A fruit allied to the plum, of an orange color, oval shape, and delicious taste; also, the tree (Prunus Armeniaca of Linnæus) which bears this fruit. By cultivation it has been introduced throughout the temperate zone.
Plum
An edible, fleshy stone fruit of Prunus domestica (European plum), often of a dark red or purple colour.
Apricot
Asian tree having clusters of usually white blossoms and edible fruit resembling the peach
Plum
A stone-fruit tree which bears this fruit, Prunus domestica.
Apricot
Downy yellow to rosy-colored fruit resembling a small peach
Plum
The edible, fleshy stone fruit of several species resembling the plum, or the tree from which they grow.
Apricot
A shade of pink tinged with yellow
Plum
A dried grape or raisin, as used in a pudding or cake.
Apricot
A small stone fruit
She added fresh apricots to her salad.
Plum
Extended senses.
Plum
One hundred thousand pounds; generally a fortune.
Plum
A desirable or choice thing of its kind; a prize selection; a choice appointment, assignment etc.
The mayor rewarded his cronies with cushy plums, requiring little work for handsome pay.
Plum
A dark bluish-red color/colour, the colour of some plums.
Plum
A testicle.
Plum
A fool, an idiot.
Plum
(comparable) Of a dark bluish-red colour.
Plum
(not comparable) Choice; especially lavish or preferred.
She landed a plum position as an executive for the firm.
Plum
Plumb
Plum
Completely; utterly.
You're going to think I'm plum crazy for this, but I want to adopt all seven kittens.
Plum
(mining) To plumb.
Plum
The edible drupaceous fruit of the Prunus domestica, and of several other species of Prunus; also, the tree itself, usually called plum tree.
The bullace, the damson, and the numerous varieties of plum, of our gardens, although growing into thornless trees, are believed to be varieties of the blackthorn, produced by long cultivation.
Plum
A grape dried in the sun; a raisin.
Plum
A handsome fortune or property; formerly, in cant language, the sum of £100,000 sterling; also, the person possessing it.
Plum
Something likened to a plum in desirableness; a good or choice thing of its kind, as among appointments, positions, parts of a book, etc.; as, the mayor rewarded his cronies with cushy plums, requiring little work for handsome pay
Plum
A color resembling that of a plum; a slightly grayish deep purple, varying somewhat in its red or blue tint.
Plum
Any of several trees producing edible oval smooth-skinned fruit with a single hard stone
Plum
Any of numerous varieties of small to medium-sized round or oval smooth-skinned fruit with a single pit
Plum
Exactly;
Fell plumb in the middle of the puddle
Plum
Completely; used as intensifiers;
Clean forgot the appointment
I'm plumb (or plum) tuckered out
Plum
A medium-sized stone fruit
Plums were abundant at the summer market.
Plum
Varying colors
She picked a deep purple plum from the tree.
Common Curiosities
Is an apricot always orange?
Yes, apricots are typically golden-orange when ripe.
Are apricots good for your health?
Apricots are high in fiber and vitamins, making them a healthy choice.
Are all plums purple?
No, plums can be purple, red, yellow, and other colors.
Can you eat the skin of an apricot?
Yes, the skin of an apricot is edible.
Are apricot pits poisonous?
Apricot kernels contain amygdalin, which can produce cyanide, so they should not be eaten.
Is the plum skin edible?
Yes, plum skin is also edible and nutritious.
Can I substitute apricots for plums in recipes?
Yes, but the flavor profile will change slightly.
Do plums have any health benefits?
Plums are rich in vitamin C and fiber, especially when dried.
Can plums help with digestion?
Yes, particularly when dried into prunes, they are known for aiding digestion.
Can apricots be dried at home?
Yes, you can dry apricots at home using a dehydrator or oven.
How should plums be stored for maximum freshness?
Plums should be kept at room temperature until ripe, then refrigerated.
What’s the best way to store apricots?
Keep ripe apricots in the refrigerator to prolong freshness.
Is there a best season for plums?
Plums are typically in season during the summer months.
Are apricots used in cooking?
Yes, apricots can be used in a variety of sweet and savory dishes.
What dishes are plums used in?
Plums can be used in desserts, sauces, and even fermented to make plum wine.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Simplicity vs. Complexity
Next Comparison
Artistic vs. CreativeAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
