September is the transition between summer and fall fruits and vegetables. Most summer fruit is still available this month, but not for long as the produce season turns to fall. So get cooking with the September recipe collection.
September fruit
The last of summer's berries might stick around this month, so get them before they are gone. Meanwhile, apples and pears are in their prime season right now.
Last year I cooked through over 100 lbs of apples and took a lot of notes and tested a lot of recipes. I found the best (and worst) apples for pie, took notes on all of the different apple's flavors, and detailed the best ways to make apple sauce and apple butter.
Guide: Cooking with seasonal fruit - September Edition
Get more details on any of the produce by clicking the pictures below for more tips and recipes.
I also want to share some highlights about the best fruit available in September. When fruit is in season and at its peak, it tastes much better.
Apples
September and October usher in the quintessential apple baking season. Early and mid-season apples are at their peak this month. While they are often available at grocery stores outside of their season, they won't be as good as they are in August, September, and October.
Before you jump into apple baking season, know that not all apples are created equally for each recipe. I wrote a guide to help you decide which apples to buy based on what you're cooking.
Every apple recipe on my site also includes notes on the best varieties to use.
Pears
Pear season is ramping up in September and starting to hit their peak this month, and over the next couple of months.
Unlike most other fruit, pears taste better when picked when mature but before they are fully ripe. When left to fully ripen on the tree, they turn mealy and woody. I've grown my own pears and can verify this!
Winter pear varieties (like Anjou, Bosc, and Comice) even require a few weeks of cold-storage to ripen perfectly. When these pears are sold at the grocery store, they've already gone through this process.
When buying pears at the farmers market, ask if they are ready to eat.
Figs
I treat September as prime fig season. You should be able to find both green and brown types of figs this month. They are grown commercially in more Mediterranean climates, so you might not find them locally if you live in a different area.
If you can't find them at the farmers market or your regular grocery store, look at Trader Joe's and Whole Foods. Really ripe figs are syrupy and delicious, but only last a couple of days in the fridge. Be ready to eat them!
Grapes
August and September and peak grape season. Every state in the US grows grapes, so you might have luck finding them at the farmers market.
Grapes shipped to grocery stores are picked slightly early because they ship and store better. Farmers at markets might wait a bit longer to harvest, and if they do, they will be much sweeter.
If you haven't tried Concord grapes, keep your eye out this month. They taste just like grape juice! They do have seeds, so be ready for that, or try making your own grape jelly and discarding the seeds.
Muscat grapes are another favorite of mine. They are greenish-rose colored with a floral, dessert wine flavor. US grown muscat grapes are available this month, sometimes at Whole Foods. However, I usually don't end up finding them until March or April when they are imported from the southern hemisphere.
A bunch of fun, whimsically named varieties are gaining popularity as well. Cotton Candy grapes do actually resemble their namesake's flavor, along with 12% more natural sugar than standard grape varieties. They are also much less tart, which makes the grapes taste even sweeter.
Pawpaws - bonus fruit in September
The pawpaw fruit is native to the warmer Midwest region and ripen in late August and September in most states. They are not sold commercially because they are very fragile, perishable, and take some work to remove the flesh from the lima-bean sized seeds.
The flavor is worth it. They have a custard-like texture, similar perhaps to a ripe avocado. They taste like a cross between a banana and mango with bright yellow flesh.
You might find them at a farmers market, but even that is pretty rare. Most people either grow them, know someone who grows them, or seeks them out at local festival.
I happen to be lucky enough to know several people who grow them. Last year I received a couple of crates so I was able to test out some recipes.
September vegetables
Summer vegetables are still strong this month but start to taper off quickly, like tomatoes, corn, and bell peppers. As those fade out this month, fall vegetables are just getting started.
Throughout September, I like to mix and match summer and fall produce. Try pairing blackberries with sweet potatoes or making a mulled blackberry cider, mix peppers with winter squash, and add summer fruit to salads made with shredded brussels sprouts.
I try to use as much of the summer produce as I can before it's gone for the winter. And while I'm always excited this time of year to dig into my stash of winter squash recipes, I try to hold out until next month for those. They'll be around for the next 6 months, so I don't want to get bored of them too early!
For a full list of other months and all of the detailed produce guides, go to the in-season page.
Recipes
For recipes that feature fruit this month, check out the September edition of cooking with fruit in-season. Over 50 recipes like strawberry glazed donuts, seasonal chicken wings, and cranberry baked cheese.
More seasonal produce guides
October gets into the heart of fall with consistently cooler weather and autumn colored leaves. Comforting soups, stews, spice cakes and mulled ciders are warming and welcomed. Make the most of rest of the year with other seasonal produce guides.
