Papayas are best eaten when they are picked straight from the tree. However, most people don't have that opportunity. Learn how to pick a ripe papaya for a taste of this tropical fruit. If you have only green papaya, you can ripen it at home for a few days.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Picking Ripe Papayas
Step 1. Check the color
Ripe papaya skin is yellow to reddish orange. Papayas that have some green spots can also be chosen because they will ripen quickly at home.
Step 2. Press the peel
Gently press the papaya with your fingertips. When the papaya is ripe, the fruit will feel a little soft, like a ripe avocado. If the papaya feels hard, it means that the papaya is not ripe. Meanwhile, if some parts of the papaya feel mushy or wrinkled, then the papaya is too ripe.
Avoid papaya whose flesh near the tip of the stem is soft
Step 3. Check whether the center is moldy or not
Look at the center of the papaya (where the stem attaches). If there are mushrooms, don't buy the papaya.
Step 4. Smell the center of the papaya
Look for papayas that have a soft sweet aroma near the stems. Avoid unscented papaya as it indicates that the papaya is not ripe. Also avoid papayas that smell bad or that smell too strong because they may be old or fermented.
Part 2 of 2: Saving Papaya
Step 1. Store ripe papaya in the refrigerator
Store ripe papaya in the refrigerator to slow it down. Although they last up to a week, papayas are best eaten within one to two days.
Step 2. Store unripe papaya at room temperature
If the papaya is still green, you can ripen it by keeping it at room temperature for a few days. Here are two ways to speed up the ripening process without creating soft spots:
- Store papaya on a flat surface. Give each fruit some distance. Keep the papaya out of the sun and turn the fruit occasionally.
- Store papaya in a paper bag in a cool and dark place. You can also add bananas, apples, or avocados to them to speed up their ripening.
Step 3. Make papayas that are still completely green to ripe
A green papaya indicates that it may not be ripe on the tree. However, if you have no other choice, you can try to make it ripe. Using a sharp knife, cut three lines running from end to end. Make sure the knife cuts only the skin of the fruit and a bit of the flesh underneath. Store the papaya at room temperature for a few days until the papaya is ripe.
You can also use unripe papaya for recipes like green papaya salad
Step 4. Freeze the papaya
If you have too much papaya, freeze the remaining papaya that has not been used. Follow these methods exactly to minimize the risk of the fruit getting mushy and losing flavor:
- Peel the skin of a ripe papaya. Cut the papaya fruit and remove the end of the stem.
- Cut the papaya in half and clean the seeds.
- Slice the papaya and store the pieces in the pan. Freeze the papaya for one to two hours.
- Transfer the frozen papaya slices to a sealed container and re-freeze the papaya in the freezer.
- You can also puree (make the food smooth) papaya and freeze the liquid on an ice tray. Then, transfer the papaya to a larger container.
