How to cut papaya and eat a papaya , Papaya is a tropical fruit with an orange sweet flesh and edible seeds that taste like pepper. You can often find it used raw or cooked in Asian, Thai, Caribbean and Indian cuisine.
Papaya comes in various shapes and sizes. For example, the Hawaiian variety is smaller and pear-shaped, while the Caribbean and Asian papaya are larger. All varieties are delicious, but also rich in vitamin C, antioxidants and other nutrients.
In addition to being found in a variety of dishes due to their excellent taste, papaya is especially good for people with sensitive stomachs, irritable bowel syndrome, or indigestion. It contains a special digestive enzyme called papain, which is why this fruit is revered as a powerful digestive aid.
Now, you may be wondering how to prepare with all these wonderful aspects. Below we cover everything from selecting the ripest papaya to how to cut it.
Table of Contents
Steps of How to cut papaya and eat a papaya
Picking Ripe Papayas
You can tell if it’s a ripe papaya when the peel changes from green to yellow. When the papaya is ripe, you should press down on the flesh with your thumb. Papayas ripen faster when placed in paper bags with ethylene-producing fruits such as apples and bananas.
Cut papaya in half
Place the papaya on a cutting board. Cut the papaya in half lengthwise with a large, sharp knife.
Open papaya
Open the papaya, cut in half, and divide into two parts.
Scoop out the seeds with a spoon
Use a large spoon to remove the seeds. Do not cut too deep with a spoon. Otherwise, especially overripe fruits may be lost.
Also, there is no need to throw seeds. Although most people throw away papaya seeds, not only are papaya seeds edible, but a small amount of papaya seeds in your diet can also help. But they are not sweet. contrary. They have a strong flavor like a cross of mustard and black pepper.
Pick up the fruit and eat it as is
Enjoy papaya with papaya fruit with a spoon. Or make papaya “melon balls” with a scoop of melon balls or ice cream. There are many ways to cut, gift, and prepare papaya.
Peel and make papaya cubes or wedges
To peel the papaya, hold the fruit vertically and cut it into long pieces along the skin with a knife. Again, don’t cut too deep. Otherwise, you will lose a lot of fruit.
If using a knife is uncomfortable, use a vegetable peeler to remove the skin.
Alternatively, you can cut the papaya into pieces and use a knife to peel the skin from each piece.
Slice the papaya into wedges
Now flip the papaya and cut into slices of the desired thickness or thin. Continue cutting if you want a piece of fruit.
Papaya wedges are a good choice for breakfast. Their vivid, rich orange color looks great with eggs and toast plates.
Sprinkle with lime juice and enjoy papaya
Preparation Tip: Squeeze a little lime juice over the papaya to get rid of unpleasant odors and enhance the flavor of the fruit. Or combine fresh papaya with other fruits in a fresh fruit salad.
Also Read: How to cut dragon fruit | 3 Easy steps you should know
How To Choose A Ripe Papaya Fruit
Since the degree of maturity directly affects the taste, it is very important to choose papaya properly. Before evaluating the fruit by ripeness, be sure to inspect the surface for the presence of dents, cuts, cracks, dry areas of the peel. Any damage to the integrity suggests that eating such fruits is harmful and sometimes dangerous to health.
How To Know About Ripeness And Freshness Of Papaya
The color is even, without dark spots, burgundy stains are acceptable. The amount of green tint on the peel of yellow varieties should not exceed 1/5. Such papaya has a better chance of ripening at home.
The smell is distinct, more pronounced at the stalk. May resemble raspberries, peaches, melons. A sugary-sweet aroma may indicate that the papaya is overripe and cannot be eaten.
The pulp is elastic, springing when pressed. Hard, “stone” surface in immature specimens. The soft fruit, on which marks remain after pressing, is overripe.
Papaya must not be eaten with the following signs of chemical treatment during cultivation or transport:
- sticky peel;
- lack of smell with bright colors;
- pronounced veins on the surface.
How To Eat Papaya Correctly
Acquaintance with an exotic fruit should be started gradually. For the first time, you need to eat raw papaya in small portions, tracking the body’s possible reactions to unfamiliar food. Ripe fruits contain latex juice, which can sometimes cause allergies.
Can Papaya Seeds Be Eaten?
The dark, round grains removed from the fruit during peeling are usually thrown away. But in the homeland of tropical fruits, seeds also have their uses. The grains, similar to black peppercorns, taste like this hot spice. Sauces, first and second courses are prepared with ground seeds.
How To Store Papaya At Home
Traditionally purchased fruits are immediately placed in the refrigerator. But there are some special storage rules for papaya:
The papaya is placed in the refrigerator only as a last resort, for example, to preserve the chopped pulp. After 3 days, the taste begins to weaken.
Whole fruits spoil quickly in plastic bags. Better to use cling film to wrap the papaya tightly.
In the conditions of an ordinary apartment for fruit, they try to find a shaded cool place. Direct sunlight causes fruit to rot.
Fruits try not to lay in layers, otherwise the delicate pulp is easily crushed and spoiled.
How to cut papaya
Conclusion
You can eat papaya at any age, without health restrictions. The only caveat concerns the period of pregnancy and is associated with the unusual nature of the plant for Russian latitudes. The rest of the product is very useful and interesting, and its versatility allows you to try papaya in salty, sweet dishes, drinks and find your own way of using this unusual fruit.
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