Supermarkets now regularly offer papaya fruit, but this fruit is far from commonplace. If you are curious how the orange flesh of the "tree melon" tastes, then get your hands on it. No tips and tricks are necessary for peeling: It's really easy!

Papayas that are not too ripe are easy to peel

Edible both green and ripe

You can peel a papaya at any stage of ripeness. The flesh that appears under the yellow-green skin is always edible. However, there are clear differences in taste and consistency, which in turn affects the usability.

  • unripe papaya pieces are ideal for Asian salads
  • they have many healthy ingredients
  • a ripe papaya is sweeter and more aromatic
  • can also be eaten pure

The best time to enjoy papaya

The papaya is an imported fruit that comes to us from tropical countries. It has a continuous season there and therefore also with us. However, the best quality should be available between October and May. When buying, make sure that the fruit you choose has an intact skin and the required degree of ripeness.

A ripe papaya has a skin that has already partially turned yellow-reddish. The fruit yields slightly under pressure. If you want an unripe papaya, reach for a green-skinned specimen that won't yield to the touch.

Papayas that are still slightly green will ripen a little if they are stored in a paper bag at room temperature. Stay away from fruits that give way under pressure, this is a clear sign of overripeness.

tips

You are welcome to try the peel of an organic papaya. It's edible and maybe to your liking.

Only remove what is absolutely necessary with a vegetable peeler

A paring knife can slide freely along the flat surface of the papaya and evenly remove the thin and not so hard skin. Most of the fruit sold in this country weighs around 500 grams. If it is unwieldy to hold, the papaya can also be placed on a cutting board during the peeling process.

The flesh just below the skin is perceived as slightly bitter. If you want to get rid of that bitter taste, you can peel off the peel a little thicker. This can be done in one go with a sharp, small knife.

Scoop out without peeling

A ripe papaya that is eaten raw and pure does not necessarily have to be peeled. You can cut the papaya in half and remove the seeds with a spoon. The spherical, black seeds of the papaya are edible. However, their taste is not sweet, it has a sharp note and is reminiscent of cress.

The soft flesh can then be easily scraped out with a spoon into bite-sized pieces and enjoyed straight from the bowl.

tips

Roast the papaya kernels at 100 °C for about 10 minutes. You can then grind them finely and add them to smoothies, for example.

Peel half the fruit

Papayas are so large that each individual fruit can be called a family portion. For a single person, the entire fruit can hardly be created at once.

Only peel the part of the papaya that you want to eat or process in the near future. The rest of the fruit keeps better with the skin on. The fridge is the ideal place to store ripe and cut fruit.

Conclusion for fast readers:

  • Suitable Fruits: Immature and ripe papayas are edible; can ripen at room temperature
  • Unripe Papaya: Green, firm skin; very nutritious; ideal for Asian salads
  • Ripe papaya: yellow-red peel; gives slightly under pressure; Sweet; also pure pleasure
  • Peeling tool: Paring knife or small, sharp knife
  • Procedure: Peel off the peel in thin strips; Get rid of the fruit completely
  • Bitter substances: Immediately under the peel; peel thicker if they are not desired
  • Without peeling: cut in half; get cores out; Scoop out the flesh from the shell with a spoon
  • Alternatively: try the peel of organic fruits; she is edible
  • Storage: Leave the unnecessary part of the fruit unpeeled; temporarily store in the refrigerator
  • Tip: kernels are edible; Roast for 10 minutes at 100 °C; grind and add to smoothies

The garden journal freshness ABC

How can fruit and vegetables be stored correctly so that they stay fresh for as long as possible?

The garden journal freshness ABC as a poster:

  • as a free PDF file to print out yourself

Category:

Trees