Shop for plums with good colour and a full, smooth, relatively heavy feel. They should yield to gentle pressure, especially at the end opposite the stem. Good quality ripe plums should have a distinctively plumy sweet fragrance.

Reject shrivelled skin, bruises or brown spots, and fruit that feels hard (but not firm); also avoid excessively soft fruit or any sign of leakage or decay.

Ripen plums at room temperature out of direct sunlight or in a loosely closed brown paper bag. Ripe plums should be refrigerated and eaten as soon as possible.