Cranberries, also known as Vaccinium macrocarpon in North America, and Vaccinium oxycoccos in Europe, belong to the Vaccinium genus.
North America makes up for 98-percent of the world’s cranberry production, so it is more than likely Vaccinium macrocarpon that you are used to seeing.
Cranberries are a staple in holiday dinners in the US, Canada, and the UK, commonly used in Cranberry sauce served with turkey for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day dinner.
They are also popularly dried, used in jam, and found as an ingredient in various dishes.
But, let’s get right to the question: are cranberries considered a stone fruit?
Quick Answer: No, Cranberry is not considered a stone fruit. It is not large and fleshy enough and lacks a central seed or pit that isn’t crunchable and requires removing. Instead, they are a berry that contains multiple small and edible seeds.
Are Cranberry Stones Freestone or Clingstone?
Cranberries are neither freestone nor clingstone; cranberries are berries with tiny little seeds inside. The seeds inside cranberries can be removed, but it isn’t needed unless you are making jam.
Cranberry seeds are barely noticeable when you eat them, and they are extremely beneficial to our health as well.
Similar Stone Fruits
- Cherry is one of the most similar stone fruits to cranberry, in fact, they are often found together in dried mixes (often alongside nuts).
- Plum is another stone fruit that is like cranberries in that they are more often dried (and turned into prunes) than they are eaten raw.
- Apricot are also similar to cranberries in that they are dried more often than eaten fresh.
Hey, I’m Joey. I’ve been cooking since I was a little kid and love everything about it. You can find my writing about food, kitchen appliances (such as blenders) and much more. Thanks for stopping by!
