What to Harvest and Cook in October UK: Apples, Pears and Quince

October is when the fruit bowl properly earns its keep. Summer berries are long gone, but they have been replaced by a proper haul of apples, pears and quince, most of it either from the garden, a local orchard, or sitting in a box at the greengrocer for next to nothing.

What is actually in season this month

Apples are at their absolute best through October, with dozens of UK varieties at their peak, from sharp cookers to sweet eaters. Pears follow close behind, softening nicely for a few weeks after picking. Quince, less common but worth seeking out, needs cooking before eating but turns a beautiful deep pink and makes an excellent addition to any apple dish. Plums are on their way out by now, and the first of the root vegetables, parsnips, swede and early leeks, are just getting started.

If you have a garden or an allotment, this is also the month to think about storage, wrapping individual apples in newspaper and keeping them somewhere cool and dark can see a good crop last well into the new year.

What to actually make with it

Once the fruit bowl is overflowing, the easiest win is apple crisps, thin sliced apple, a little cinnamon, cooked until just crisp at the edges. It takes minutes to prep and turns a glut of apples into a snack the whole family will actually eat.

This is exactly the kind of job our new Air Fryer Liners were made for. Line the basket, lay your apple slices flat, cook as normal, then lift the whole liner straight out once done. No scrubbing at sticky, caramelised sugar stuck to the basket afterwards, which is normally the one thing that puts people off making this more than once.

For something more substantial, a simple pear and apple crumble uses up a mixed bag in one go, and if you managed to get hold of quince, adding a couple of peeled, cooked pieces to any apple bake brings a flavour that is genuinely worth the extra faff of preparing it.

FAQ

What fruit is in season in October in the UK?

October is peak season for UK apples and pears, with quince also available. Plums are coming to the end of their season, while early root vegetables like parsnips and swede are just starting.

Do air fryer liners work for cooking fruit like apple slices?

Yes, a good air fryer liner sits flat in the basket and copes well with fruit, catching any juice or sugar that would otherwise stick to the basket, and lifts straight out for easy cleanup afterwards.

How do I store apples so they last longer?

Wrapping individual apples in newspaper and storing them somewhere cool, dark and slightly humid, such as a shed or garage, can help a home grown crop last for several months.

Grab our new Air Fryer Liners and turn this month's fruit glut into an actual snack, not a compost bin problem.