Learn to cut the dragonfruit, which is also known as pitaya with this step-by-step tutorial. The fruit that is mildly flavored has been gaining popularity recently because of its smoothie bowls. However, it is also enjoyed many different ways to enjoy it as a nutritious treat or a snack.
Dragonfruit cut in slices cubes, balls, and cubes plates.
If you happen to see this exotic fruit in the store Do yourself a favor to grab a few! Dragon fruit can be priced a bit high, however they’re an absolute blast and well worth the price.
WHAT IS DRAGONFRUIT?
The tropical fruit is indigenous to Central America however it can be widely distributed across the globe. Actually, it’s a type of the cactus plant, and is like the pear-shaped fruit.
Dragon fruit (which can also be referred to as pitaya) is available in several various types. Most commonly, you will find having a bright, pink outer and white flesh in the interior. The less common varieties are those with a yellow exterior (shown below) as well as the vivid magenta flesh (not depicted). Bright magenta-colored dragonfruit are becoming quite well-known within the U.S. for their use in smoothie bowls. It is typically located in the frozen aisle of the grocery store, and is that sell it as a base for smoothies.
The dragonfruit that are yellow have “horns” around the outside The pink ones, however, feature a more “thorny” look.
Dragon fruit tastes slightly sweet. It is often compared to a cross between pear and a kiwi. The yellow variety is most delicious of the dragonfruits, having bigger black seeds than others.
How do I cut dragon fruit?
Though the outer appearance is hard with its rough protruding leaves, the inside is easy to cut through. The peel’s skin is thin and smooth as a mango. The underside is thicker smooth, soft and waxy peel, which is easy to separate and from its pulp.
Step 1: Cut in half
Set the fruit down on the cutting board. Make use of a chef’s knife to slice the fruit into two halves lengthwise. It is recommended to start at the top of the fruit, and then moving downwards into the stem that is thicker. The pulp can be eaten directly from the halve with an ice cube.
Step 2: Peel off the skin (2 methods)
With two halves, you’re left with two choices. Utilize a big spoon to scoop the flesh. This is similar to an avocado.
Hands are used to peel the fruit of the dragon off of the skin
You can also employ your fingers to scrape the skin off the fruit. This is easier by cutting the fruit into four pieces.
Method 1: Slices
Depending on how you plan to make use of the dragon fruit you could slice the fruit into thin or thick slices. If you want to make it look fancy I would suggest cutting sections with the skin still on, like oranges.
Method 2: Cubes
Make slices first, the cut in lengthwise then rotate then cut in the reverse direction, to make cubes. I usually freeze the cubes of 3/4 inch in a single layer for use to make a drink with dragon fruits.
Method 3: Spheres
It is easiest for me to make use of a melon baller in order to remove the flesh, when the skin remains in good condition for spheres that are round.
Storing
The whole dragon fruit can be stored at the room temperatures. If it’s still ripe but not yet ready the fruit, keep it in a tightly sealed bag and keep it in the fridge for upto a week. This method keeps it from absorbing scents that are present in other foods.
If the fruit isn’t ripe, put it in a bag along with some bananas or apples. The ethylene gas released by these fruits speeds up the process of the process of ripening. When you cut them into pieces, keep in a container sealed with air for 2-5 days. Throw them away as soon as the flesh becomes soft or brown.
DRAGON FRUIT HEALTH BENEFITS
Dragon fruit has numerous health advantages due to their high levels of antioxidants as well as vitamin C (especially Vitamin C) and fiber.
Particularly, dragon fruit has been proven to improve heart health and reduce insulin resistance, while decreasing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. It can also enhance digestion health.
White, yellow and red dragon fruits on a table
TYPES OF DRAGON FRUIT
- There are three main kinds of dragon fruit. The red-fleshed varieties are generally more sweet than white-fleshed varieties.
- White Dragon Fruit: this variety has bright pink skin, and the flesh is white with small black seeds. It’s the most widely produced and is the type that you will see in the images in this guide.
- Red Dragon Fruit: this version has the same shiny skin, however it has a striking red flesh inside. The type of fruit is often found in frozen pitaya packs from the supermarket. It is a little sweeter than the white-fleshed variety and may quickly stain skin after cutting. Beware of it!
- Yellow Dragon Fruit: this variety has a yellow-colored skin. It has a distinct scale pattern however, it has the same white flesh inside, just like the white dragon fruit.