Here is all you need to know to choose a ripe papaya and how to eat papaya. Cutting and eating a papaya is super simple because you can eat the entire tropical fruit including the skin, seeds, and flesh. This makes it an ideal ingredient in smoothies, especially if the papaya is a little on the over-ripe side. Papaya is packed with nutrients and great for digestive health. I found the papaya seeds really tasty, and the seeds added a nice texture, too.
Two Major Papaya Varieties We’ve Tried
There are many varieties of papaya available. Before arriving in Mexico we were most familiar with the smaller Solo variety of papaya grown in Hawaii. We are currently in central Mexico and have had yummy maradol papaya at local restaurants. The street vendors here sell gorgeous fruit cups of papaya, watermelon, jicama and pineapple – YUM!
In Central Mexico, the maradol papaya is popularly grown. Both the Maradol and the Solo varieties are easy to peel and the fruit has a mild sweet flavor. The Maradol papaya can get up to 20 inches long and weigh several pounds. It is generally not as sweet as the Solo, but still has a great taste and, when ripe, has a texture similar to a soft honeydew or cantaloupe. Its mild flavor profile means it’s a great compliment for a variety of foods.
If you can’t find fresh papaya where you live, you can try dried papaya. Dried papaya is easy to find in most big box groceries, or you can check Amazon for current prices on dried papaya.
Papaya Is Packed With Nutrition
Papaya is nutrition-rich. This tropical fruit is high in vitamin C and a great source of vitamin A and folate. You also get plenty of fiber, magnesium, and potassium when you eat a serving of papaya. The digestive health benefits papaya are considerable because of an enzyme called papain that helps with the digestion of proteins. Papain is extracted from papaya and used as a main ingredient in powdered meat tenderizers.
How To Pick A Ripe Papaya
To pick a ripe papaya, look for mostly yellow to orange skin. You want the papaya to give a bit when you press it, but it should still be hard at the stem-end. As with any produce, you do not want a lot of soft or moldy spots.
IF you have a few days to wait for the sweet taste, you can pick a papaya that has just started to turn yellow. Just leave it on your kitchen counter to ripen OR put it in a paper bag with a banana and set it in the fridge.
One more thing, a good papaya can have a slightly musky aroma. Wait! Don’t run away…try it first. One of Buck’s favorite ways to eat raw papaya is with a generous amount of fresh lime juice. If the smell turns you off, that’s one of many ways you can overcome the musky aroma.
How To Eat Papaya
When you’re ready to use your papaya, as with any fruit, wash the skin with soap and water before cutting. Cut off the stem end, then cut it lengthwise. For this type of papaya, the fruit will be a yellow/orange color. Generally folks scoop out and discard the seeds and membrane…but see our related thoughts at the end of this post. The texture will be similar to a ripe cantaloupe or honeydew melon.
Once a papaya is ripe, you want to store it in the fridge and use it within a day or two. Skinned papaya chunks can be frozen for later use. But like any fruit with a high water content, you don’t want to leave it frozen for too long.
Ripe papaya is soft enough that you can easily scoop our spoonfuls and eat it right out of the skin. Or, just squeeze a generous amount of lime juice over it just before you eat it. That simple combination is fantastic! Feeling adventurous but lazy? Add a bit of chipotle chili or cayenne to your papaya/lime mixture. What about some grated ginger, mint and a scoop of yogurt? Raw papaya is especially friendly with citrus and creamy accompaniments.
More Things To Do With Papaya
You can make all kinds of salsas and cold salads with papaya. Just remember one thing when you make any cold dishes: the same enzyme that allows papayas to help you digest proteins, softens other fruits was well. That means that you want to eat your cold papaya creations within a day of mixing.
Use papaya to make a nutrient-packed beverage. Make a papaya smoothie mixing fruit chunks with some coconut milk, honey and a pinch of cinnamon. Try blending in a few seeds and a piece of skin for added nutrition.
What about using papaya in a cake topping? Puree papaya with seeds and mix into lemon curd and use as a topping on a cake. Just pour on the top and drizzle down the sides over a whipped cream frosting.
The possibilities for including ripe papaya in your diet are endless, and your body will appreciate it.
How To Use Green Papaya
Got a totally green, unripe papaya? Don’t despair! Folks purposely choose a TOTALLY green papaya (usually smaller than the ripe one) for some scrumptious meals. Shred it up and make a tart cold salad. A Vietnamese friend has served us a green papaya salad – OMG! Green papaya has a firmer texture than a ripe one, and can be added to hot dishes. Add it to soup, stews, and curries.
Don’t forget, a green papaya has a bit less of the papain enzyme than a ripe one. But still, you want to use it within a couple of days of cutting it.
You Can Eat ALL The Papaya
Yep, you can eat the seeds, central membrane and the skin.
You can eat the black seeds raw with the papaya. The seeds have a peppery and oh-so slightly bitter taste. You can also wash and dry the seeds, then use them as you would peppercorns. Try grinding up a few fresh or dried seeds and add to a salad dressing or a cocktail. Some studies suggest papaya seeds help keep intestinal parasites out the body or as a treatment for heartburn.
See that light-colored membrane under the seeds? That can be the sweetest part of the papaya. In terms of texture, that may not be your thing but, like other fruit membranes, it packs some nutrition.
Eat the skin? Your choice. It doesn’t have much flavor but a little can add some additional fiber to your smoothie. Don’t knock it until you try it!
And that’s about all you need to know to eat and enjoy a papaya. We hope this info has been helpful, and for another tropical fruit treat, check out All You Need To Know About Mango!
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–Chef Buck
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