Clingstone Versus Freestone

Refers to whether the flesh of a stone fruit is bonded to (clinging) or loose (free) from the pit. Often dictated by variety or time of season; usually the later the fruit ripens in the season, the more likely it is to be freestone. The benefit of freestones is that after cutting around the circumference of the fruit, you can twist the sides apart easily. Clingstones need to be cut almost as apples because the flesh will never separate cleanly from the pit.