How to Remove Needles From Prickly Pear Apples

The fruit of prickly pears are called apples.

The prickly pear is a cactus that has large, thick leaves in the shape of lobes. In the summer months, the plant produces dark pink or red, oval-shaped fruit, called apples. Both the leaves and the apples are edible, but the first challenge is to harvest and prepare them. Like all other parts of the prickly pear cactus, the apples are covered in large, sharp needles that are painful if touched.

Things You'll Need

• Thick rubber gloves
• Twigs
• Lighter or match
• Stones
• Tongs
• Vegetable peeler or knife
• Sand or dirt
• Water

Instructions

1. Put on thick rubber or leather gloves before handling the prickly pear apples.

2. Build a small fire out of twigs and light with a match or lighter. Surround the fire with a ring of large stones to control the fire -- and do not build it near any structures, such as neighboring houses. Do not leave the area at any time; properly monitor the fire.

3. Pick up the prickly pear apple using a pair of long-handled tongs, such as those used with a barbecue grill.

4. Hold the prickly pear apple over the fire close enough so that the top of the flames touch it, burning off the needles. Keep the cactus there for approximately 10 to 20 seconds, and then rotate the apple so that another side faces downward. Continue rotating the apple until you reach the starting location.

5. Set the prickly pear on a sturdy, clean surface and allow it to cool.

6. Remove remaining needles by scooping underneath them using a vegetable peeler or a knife.

7. Extinguish the fire completely by dumping it with sand or dirt, until no more smoke is seen. Wet the top of the fire location as an added precaution.

References

• Desert USA: Prickly Pear Cactus Sweets and Treats
• Gourmet Sleuth: Nopales