All fruits contain some form of organic acid--for example, oranges and other citrus fruits, along with many other types of fruit contain citric acid, and seasonal tree-based fruits such as apples contain malic acid. However, certain types of fruits are more acidic than others. If you're concerned about the acid content of your fruit, stick to low-acid varieties. You can measure acid content via the pH scale; lower numbers mean more acid content.
Most Acidic
Citrus fruits represent the most acidic of all fruits. In fact, lemon juice features the same level of acidity as vinegar--a pH level of between 2 and 3, depending on the variety of the fruit. Oranges, grapefruit, tangerines and nectarines fall just above lemon juice on the pH scale, with pH readings of 3 to 4. People with chronic heartburn, or gastroesophageal reflux disease, often find they need to limit citrus fruits or even avoid them completely.
Mid-Range
Most berries, along with many other fruits, fall in the mid-range of the acidic pH scale. For example, blueberries, raspberries and strawberries usually register at a pH of about 4, although different varieties can be more acidic. Plums and tart apples fall in the same range; apples generally get their distinctive tart flavor from their malic acid content, which is higher in some varieties, such as Granny Smith apples.
Lowest Acid
If you're looking for the lowest-acid fruit possible, you'll find you need to restrict yourself to bananas and melon. Very green bananas have a higher acid content--about a 4.5 on the pH scale--but the acid decreases as the bananas ripen. Melons feature the least acid of all fruits--they feature a pH of about 6, very close to water's neutral pH reading of 7.
Considerations
If you have chronic heartburn or other gastrointestinal problems that require you to carefully control the acid levels in your fruit choices, you still should consume a wide variety of fruits and vegetables to benefit from their vitamin content. If you've eliminated citrus fruits due to their acid content, for example, try to load up on cantaloupe, a lower-acid fruit high in vitamin C. If you can't eat strawberries because they have too much acid, substitute bananas, another high-potassium food.
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