Stoning Apricots, Peaches and Nectarines

Stone fruits such as apricots, peaches, nectarines and plums can all be stoned using the simple method shown here. When buying stone fruit, look for firm, but ripe flesh, avoiding hard specimens or those that are obviously over-ripe and squashy. The ease with ivhich the stone can be extracted from stone fruits depends on both the ripeness of the fruit and the variety you use. The latter is particularly true of plums.

1. Cut around the fruit, following the natural indentation in the flesh. Make sure you cut right down to the stone.

   

2. Hold the fruit firmly and twist the two halves in opposite directions to free the flesh from the stone.

   

3. Lift off one half of the fruit and remove 1 stone from the other half.