Is it safe to make extracts from stone fruit pits?

So stone fruit pits I've been told taste a lot like almonds. I've been told that you can make an extract, much like almond extract, out of them as well. I've also heard that stone fruit pits contain cyanide. Reading about this a bit more closely it seems that they actually contain something called amygdalin which contains cyanide and can be released into the body when injested. Pub chem lists amygdala as "slightly soluble in alcohol" but I'm not exactly sure what that means. It leads me to believe that making an extract out of stonepit fruits might be dangerous. However I've seen other culinary sources claiming its safe like this one: https://food52.com/blog/10809-how-to-use-stone-fruit-pits. I'm more inclined to play it safe than trust such a thing.

Is there a trustworthy source that says this is safe? Is there a trustworthy source that says this isn't safe?

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Quick Answer about "Is it safe to make extracts from stone fruit pits?"

Pastry chef Shuna Lydon has been using stone pits and kernels for 20 years, and makes sure to allay any lingering safety concerns: "The internal almond-looking kernel inside all stone fruit pits is not poisonous unless you plan on eating one ton of them." She incorporates apricot kernels into her apricot jam -- "They ...

Are stone fruit pits poisonous?

The seeds of stone fruits \u2014 including cherries, plums, peaches, nectarines, and mangoes \u2014 naturally contain cyanide compounds, which are poisonous. If you accidentally swallow a fruit pit, it probably won't cause any harm. However, you should not crush or chew the seeds.

What fruit seed has the most cyanide?

Apple seeds (and the seeds of related plants, such as pears and cherries) contain amygdalin, a cyanogenic glycoside composed of cyanide and sugar. When metabolized in the digestive system, this chemical degrades into highly poisonous hydrogen cyanide (HCN). A lethal dose of HCN can kill within minutes.

Are cherry stones toxic to humans?

Cherry PitsThe hard stone in the center of cherries is full of prussic acid, also known as cyanide, which is poisonous. But there's no need to freak out if you accidentally swallow one -- intact pits just pass through your system and out the other end. Avoid crunching or crushing pits as you nosh on your cherries.

Is it safe to boil peach pits?

Stone-fruit pits do have traces of cyanide, but boiling the pits renders the poison harmless. Even raw, they are safe in any quantity you would be likely to eat, even on an island with nothing but peach and cherry trees. So boil up the pits and enjoy! Make a pretty, flavorful syrup from peach pits or cherry pits.

Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

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