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Nutrition and daily life

Quince — fruit card: a fruit that opens up when cooked

In Azerbaijani cooking quince goes into jam, plov, bozbash and dolma. Raw quince is hard and astringent, but cooked it becomes fragrant and soft. This card explains how to eat quince during treatment.

Last updated: ~1 min read
Golden quinces on a dark board.
Figure 1.Golden quince — Quince — fruit card: a fruit that opens up when cooked

01Short answer

Quince provides pectin, fibre and vitamin C. It is usually eaten cooked, which suits neutropenia too. Cooked quince is soft and some people find it comfortable during diarrhoea. Quince jam is delicious but very sweet; on steroids eat a little, and choose factory or properly cooked jam in a sealed jar. Do not eat the seeds.

02Simple explanation

Quince is eaten cooked.

Cooked quince is soft.

Jam is sugary.

Do not eat the seeds.

03Scientific explanation

Pectin: quince is one of the richest fruits in pectin, which is why its jam sets quickly.

WHO: at least 400 g of fruit and vegetables a day is recommended; during treatment the amount may vary with appetite and your doctor’s advice.

FDA: wash produce under running water before cutting or peeling, because a knife can carry germs from the skin into the flesh.

04What happens in the body?

In dishes

Plov with quince, bozbash and quince dolma: in a hot dish it cooks through fully.

Quince jam in a sealed jar and tea.
Figure 2.Quince jam with tea.

Jam

Use a clean spoon, keep opened jars in the fridge, and throw away the whole jar if you see mould.

Quince slices stewing with meat in a pot.
Figure 3.Quince in a hot dish.

Washing and peeling

Wash your hands, rub the fruit under running water, dry it with a clean towel, then peel or cut it. Soap or bleach solutions are not needed.

Cut fruit

Keep cut fruit in the fridge and eat it within 1 day; do not leave it at room temperature for more than 2 hours.

05Fruit: four steps

Whole fruit, swap bruised, wash and peel, eat cut fruit soon.

Whole fruit — No spots.1Whole fruitNo spots.
Not bruised — Fresh and whole.2Not bruisedFresh and whole.
Wash and peel — Running water.3Wash and peelRunning water.
Eat soon — Fridge, 1 day.4Eat soonFridge, 1 day.
VitaminsA natural source.
FibreFor the gut.
SafetyWashing.

06Key points at a glance

TopicIn brief
In dishesPlov with quince, bozbash and quince dolma: in a hot dish it cooks through fully.
JamUse a clean spoon, keep opened jars in the fridge, and throw away the whole jar if you see mould.
Washing and peelingWash your hands, rub the fruit under running water, dry it with a clean towel, then peel or cut it. Soap or bleach solutions are not needed.
Cut fruitKeep cut fruit in the fridge and eat it within 1 day; do not leave it at room temperature for more than 2 hours.

07Key terms

Pectin
A soluble fibre abundant in quince.
Amygdalin
A toxic compound in some fruit seeds.
Neutropenia
Low neutrophils, raising infection risk.
Potassium
A mineral for the heart and muscles.
Fibre
The part of plants that helps the gut work.

08Key points

  • Quince is a cooking fruit.
  • Watch the sugar in jam.
  • Throw away mouldy jars.
  • Wash under running water.
  • Eat cut fruit soon.

09Frequently asked questions

Can I eat raw quince?

It is hard and astringent; during neutropenia choose cooked.

Is homemade jam allowed?

Well cooked and in a sealed jar, usually yes; not if mouldy.

Does this fruit treat leukemia?

No. It is a pleasant part of eating, not a treatment.

10Questions for your doctor

Take these questions to your appointment. The ones you save are collected on the “My questions” page and stay on this device only.

  1. Can I eat raw quince?

  2. Is homemade jam allowed?

  3. Does this fruit treat leukemia?

My questions

12Sources

  1. Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Diet Guidelines for Immunosuppressed Patients
  2. U.S. FDA. Selecting and Serving Produce Safely
  3. NHS. 5 A Day: what counts?
  4. National Cancer Institute. Eating Hints: Before, During, and After Cancer Treatment
  5. USDA. FoodData Central
  6. World Cancer Research Fund. Cancer Prevention Recommendations
  7. American Cancer Society. Benefits of Good Nutrition During Cancer Treatment
  8. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Eating Well During Your Cancer Treatment
  9. Macmillan Cancer Support. Eating problems and cancer
  10. Clinical Nutrition, 2017. ESPEN guidelines on nutrition in cancer patients
Medical disclaimerThis information is for educational purposes only and does not replace medical advice.
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