All About Papaya
Papaya is a tropical fruit with a peppery flavor and orange-colored, sweet flesh. It’s frequently used raw or cooked in Thai, Asian, Indian, and Caribbean cuisines.
Papayas come in a variety of colors, sizes, and shapes. Hawaiian papayas, for example, are more pear-shaped and smaller. On the other hand, Asian and Caribbean papayas are comparatively larger in size. Nevertheless, all types are delicious and packed with vitamin C, antioxidants, and other minerals. In addition, it contains papain enzyme (a specific digestive enzyme), so it is a great source for people facing digestive issues.
Fact: Antioxident rich diets can reduce the risk of heart disease.
However, as they say, that presentation supersedes every food, and no matter how delicious a dish may be, the compromised presentation might put it at the risk of being liked by others. Therefore, in this article, we will be sharing a step-by-step guide on how to cut papaya.
How to Cut a Papaya?
Here are the steps to perfectly enjoy and cut papaya.
Step 1: Pick a Ripe Papaya
When the papaya’s skin becomes yellow, it’s ready to eat. If the papaya is ripe, you should be able to press your thumb into it. Papayas develop quicker when put in a paper bag with ethylene-producing fruits like apples or bananas.
Step 2: Wash
Before cutting it, it’s usually a good idea to rinse it with cool water. This procedure aids with the removal of any debris or pollution from the surface, preventing it from spreading to the flesh.
Step 3: Peel the Skin
You can wait to peel the skin after cutting the papaya into half or slices, however, it is advisable to peel the skin before cutting. Although papaya’s skin can be consumed, we would advise you not to because Latex is produced by the papaya plant and might linger on the surface after harvesting, which may cause gastric discomfort.
Step 4: Half-Cut the Papaya
On a chopping board, place the papaya. Then, using a broad, sharp knife, cut the papaya in half lengthwise. Divide the papaya into two parts once it has been halved.
Step 5: Remove the Seeds by Scooping Them Out
The lustrous edible black seeds in the middle of the papaya are visible when cut open. Scoop them out and remove them away with a spoon. Make sure to scoop off the seeds gently as you might lose a lot of the fruit scoop it too deeply, especially if it’s overripe.
Papaya's seeds are edible, slightly spicy in taste. In addition, they contain high-fiber content. However, please consider consuming these seeds in limited quantity.
Step 6. Cut into Cubes, Wedges, or Slices
Flip the papaya over and cut it into thick or thin wedges as desired. You can also chop them into cubes.
Papaya wedges go great with breakfast toast and egg. To serve papaya with breakfast, cut each peeled half into thin, 1/4-inch-thick slices. Then crosswise cut across the shortest section to make rainbow-like shapes. This method works well with smaller papayas and displays a lovely fruit dish.
Make Your Papaya More Delightful – Suggested Combos!
A bonus for preparation: To eradicate any unwanted odors and improve the flavor of the papaya, squeeze a little lime juice over it. Here are a few dishes to utilize different cuts of papaya effectively;
- For a tropical fruit salad, cut the fruit into cubes
- Blend the components in a smoothie
- To make a fruit popsicle, cut tiny pieces of fruit
- Make a fruit salsa with it by chopping it up
- Serve over acai bowls, oats, or yogurt