How To Cut A Papaya In 7 Easy Steps - Edible® Blog

Papaya is typically grown in tropical zones, such as Hawaii, California, Texas, and Florida. It is a delicious fruit that features a vibrant orange-red color and taste very similar to a cantaloupe or a cross between a cantaloupe and a mango. Ripe papaya has the texture of butter and melts in your mouth. It features a plethora of dark seeds, and while you can eat them, they’re very bitter and unappetizing.

Papayas contain high levels of antioxidants, including vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E. Additionally, papaya is high in fiber which helps reduce the risk of heart disease. You can add papaya to a tropical fruit salad, toss it in smoothies, include it on a fun and bright fruit tray, or place it on top of a yogurt or smoothie bowl. Read on to learn how to cut a papaya to enjoy its delicious and exotic flavor.

How to Tell if a Papaya is Ripe

If you’re wondering how to tell when your papaya is ripe and ready to devour, the thing to pay attention to is color. Papaya skin slowly turns from green to yellow as it ripens. When it’s ready to eat, the papaya will be almost fully yellow and a little soft to the touch. If you wait past this ideal period of ripeness, the fruit will get overripe and mushy, and the flesh will be bland and mealy.

Instead, choose papayas that are almost completely yellow with only a hint of green. If you end up bringing home an under-ripe papaya, don’t worry. You can set it on your countertop, and it will continue to ripen naturally. Within a few days, it will be ready to eat. You’ll find that papayas in the store often come with styrofoam netting on the outside to protect the soft fruit within. You can temporarily remove this color to double-check the color of the fruit.

For more fresh fruit flavors, consider our Sweet Summer Daisy. It contains a wide variety of summertime fruit, including pineapple, kiwi, mango, watermelon, and blueberries. Or, pick up a box of our Fruit Favorites. This box comes jam-packed with farm-fresh fruit, such as strawberries, apples, bananas, and so much more.

How to Cut a Papaya

Papayas contain a large amount of black, bitter seeds. It’s important to separate the seeds from the fruit to best enjoy the buttery goodness of the papaya. Here’s how to cut a papaya in seven easy steps:

1. First, rinse off the papaya to ensure it’s cleaned off thoroughly. Then, use a sharp knife to trim the ends off of the fruit.

2. Next, cut the fruit in half lengthwise.

3. Use a spoon to scoop out the seeds and pulp from each half. Be sure not to dig too deeply into the fruit, or you’ll lose some of the delicious flesh. You can easily tell the difference between seeds and pulp and the fruit beneath.

4. From here, you can go in several directions. You can use a melon baller to create papaya balls. Or, you can slice the papaya into wedges and enjoy. However, one of the easiest ways to enjoy papaya for a variety of purposes is to create cubes. To do this, you must remove the skin using a vegetable peeler or large knife.

5. Next, cut each half lengthwise into long strips, making one cut about every inch.

6. Cut in the opposite direction to create one-inch cubes.

7. Squeeze a little lime juice over the papaya to enhance the flavor, and enjoy!

How to Store Papaya After It is Cut

Papaya shouldn’t be left out long after it’s been cut. If you’re not eating all of your papaya in one sitting, store it in an airtight container and place it in the refrigerator. Be sure to remove all of the air from your container. Properly sealed papayas will keep in the fridge for up to a week, but it’s a good idea to finish them within two days for the best flavor.

Alternatively, you can freeze them. Place the cubes in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until just frozen. Transfer the cubes into a zip-top bag and try to remove as much air out of the bag as possible. Store it in the freezer for up to six months.

Papayas look intimidating to bring home from the store, especially if you’ve never tackled one. With these tips in hand, you can now grab the next one you see to put your newfound papaya-cutting skills to the test. Whether adding papaya to a fruit tray, smoothie, or just eating it alone, you’re sure to enjoy it’s deliciousness!