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Learn how to cut papaya and enjoy a delicious and nutritious tropical fruit! Papaya has a creamy flesh with just the perfect amount of sweetness and is great on its own or mixed into a fruit salad. Tackling it may seem intimidating, but once you familiarize yourself with cutting papaya, it’s a breeze. Whether you’re a seasoned home cook or just starting in the kitchen, this guide will provide tips and techniques to help you cut papaya like a pro!
Table of Contents
The good news is that with a bit of practice, it’s actually quite easy to cut papaya properly. From choosing the perfect fruit to removing the skin and seeds, you’ll learn everything you need to know to make the most of this delicious fruit. So grab your knife, and let’s get started!
WHY learn How to cut a papaya
- More economical than pre-cut. Pre-cut fruit, especially tropical fruit, like papaya tends to cost more because the labor is included in the price, but you can get whole papaya and cut it yourself for just a portion of the cost and yield much more.
- Nutritious and delicious. Papaya is high in fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants that taste like a mild blend of mango and cantaloupe with a slight sweetness and buttery texture when ripe.
- Master your knife skills. Learning to cut fruit and vegetables yourself will make it easier and quicker to prepare, whether you plan to eat it fresh, add it to a salad, or use it in a recipe. It’ll also help prevent any accidents in the kitchen when you know the proper cutting techniques when using a sharp knife.
- Makes your dishes more appealing. A well-cut papaya, whether in cubes or slices, can make your dish look more attractive with clean, confident cuts.
HOW TO cut a papaya
With a few simple steps, you can quickly and easily prepare a papaya from deseeding, peeling, and cutting into cubes and slices for eating or adding to recipes.
Cut and Deseed the papaya
- Using a large sharp knife, start to cut the papaya in half lengthwise.
- Continue all the way down the fruit and work with each halve individually.
- Using a spoon, scoop out the black seeds from both halves along with the sticky membrane attached to the seeds.
- To peel the skin, hold the halved papaya vertically, and use your knife to peel off the skin, being careful not to peel away too much of the flesh.
how to Thinly Slice Papaya
- Turn the papaya hollow side down, then cut thin slices around the curvature of the papaya crosswise.
- Continue slicing the papaya until you reach the end.
how to cut papaya into Bite-Sized Cubes
- Turn the papaya hollow side down, then cut wide slices around the curvature of the papaya crosswise.
- Then cut each wedge into bite-sized chunks.
TIPS FOR cutting papaya properly
- Choose a ripe papaya. A ripe papaya should be slightly soft to the touch and have a yellow or orange color. If it’s too hard or green, it won’t be as sweet or flavorful.
- Cut off the ends. To give yourself a sturdy fruit while cutting, cut off the top and bottom of the papaya. You can then stand the flat bottom side on your cutting board, making it easier to cut down through the papaya lengthwise.
- Use a sharp knife. A sharp knife helps to cut through the tough skin and flesh of the papaya. Here’s a quick guide to 5 Types Of Kitchen Knives & Their Uses, but a good chefs knife should do the trick.
- Cut into similar size pieces. Whether cutting papaya for a fruit platter, adding to a salad, or snacking on, this tropical fruit is more appealing with precise cuts.
Recipes to make with papaya
HOW TO STORE cut papaya
Store papaya after cutting in an airtight container in the fridge. To prevent the cut papaya from getting mushy and to help absorb any extra moisture, place a paper towel in the container.
HOW LONG WILL cut papaya LAST IN THE FRIDGE?
Papaya will last in the fridge for up to 3 days.
CAN I FREEZE cut papaya?
Yes, you can freeze papaya for up to 8 months.
To freeze: Spread the papaya pieces in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place the baking sheet in the freezer and freeze until the papaya is firm. Transfer the frozen pieces to a freezer bag and store them.
Frozen papaya is great for smoothies, sorbets, and other frozen desserts.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Yes, it’s best to peel the papaya before cutting it into slices or cubes. The skin is tough and bitter, and it’s difficult to eat. You can use a knife or a vegetable peeler to remove the skin.
The flavor and texture of papaya can vary depending on the variety, ripeness, and growing conditions, but in general, it is a delicious and refreshing tropical fruit often compared to a cross between a mildly sweet melon and mango or peaches.
While the seeds of a papaya are edible, they are generally discarded because of their bitter taste. It’s best to remove the seeds before cutting the papaya into slices or cubes.
The riper a papaya, the stronger the odor may be. This is because papaya has an enzyme called papain that creates an intense scent and flavor when it’s overripe. Aim for a papaya that is soft and has a sweet smell. You can try and counteract the odor of an overripe papaya with fresh citrus juice.
Papaya can be tricky to cut, but once you’ve mastered these techniques, you’ll be able to cut them quickly and easily in no time!
MORE fruit cutting tutorials:
- How to Cut an Apple
- How to Peel Peaches
- How to Cut Dragon Fruit
- How to Cut Grapefruit
- How to Cut a Pomegranate
- How to Cut a Peach
- How to Cut a Kiwi
- How to Cut a Melon
- How to Cut a Pineapple
- How to Cut Mango
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How to Cut Papaya
Ingredients
- 1 ripe papaya
Instructions
- Using a large sharp knife, cut the papaya in half lengthwise.
- Using a spoon, scoop out the black seeds from both halves along with the sticky membrane attached to the seeds.
- To peel the skin, hold the halved papaya vertically, and use your knife to peel off the skin, being careful not to peel away too much of the flesh.
- Discard the skin and slice the flesh into desired shapes.
Cut the Papaya into desired shape
- Thin slices: Turn the papaya hollow side down, then cut thin slices around the curvature of the papaya crosswise.
- Bite Sized Cubes: Turn the papaya hollow side down, then cut wide slices around the curvature of the papaya crosswise. Then cut each wedge into bite-sized chunks.
Equipment
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.
