Kiwi fruit, also known as Chinese gooseberry, looks unattractive at first glance. However, its furry exterior holds a delicious hidden treasure within, a beautiful green (or golden) flesh spotted with black seeds with a white center. There are many ways to cut a kiwi fruit, depending on whether you want to peel the skin or not, eat the fruit directly, or use it for decorative purposes. This article explores some techniques for cutting kiwi fruit.
Step
Method 1 of 2: No Peeling
Step 1. Buy or grow kiwi fruit
The fruit should be brownish green and short hairy. Hold the kiwi fruit and press lightly to feel if the fruit is soft. If it's too soft, it's probably already in bad shape. Try to choose a kiwi fruit that is slightly tender because it is best to eat right away.
Step 2. Wash the kiwi fruit
Washing the fruit is done to ensure that all contaminants on the skin, such as bacteria, do not transfer to the fruit itself.
Step 3. Cut the kiwi fruit in half at the widest part
Use a sharp, clean fruit knife and a cutting board. Depending on the ripeness of the fruit, the knife should be able to cut into a perfect split. If the fruit is still a little firm, you may need to use the knife one more time to cut the whole piece.
- At this point, you can eat the kiwi fruit directly by scooping out the flesh as you would a hard-boiled egg.
- Some people prefer to remove the tiny black seeds from the kiwi fruit, but this really depends on taste as the seeds are edible.
Step 4. Slice the kiwi fruit into round pieces, from one end to the other, removing the ends
Then, cut right down the center of each slice to form a small, semicircular kiwifruit.
- These kiwifruit slices make a great addition to fruit salad garnishes and add a splash of tropical color to cakes, Pavlova meringues, and other desserts.
-
The pieces can also be a good snack for children and are a good menu for lunch. If you want to peel the skin off before cutting, follow the method below.
Method 2 of 2: By Peeling the Skin
Step 1. Cut the ends of the kiwi fruit
Place the fruit on a cutting board and carefully cut the edges of the fruit with a small knife. Don't be afraid to throw away the fruit, you will need to peel a large enough amount of the kiwifruit's green flesh for this method to work.
Step 2. Slide the spoon between the skin and flesh of the kiwi fruit
You can use a regular tablespoon to do this. Try tucking the spoon just under the skin as thinly as possible to make the pulp easier to remove.
Step 3. Turn the spoon around under the skin of the kiwi fruit
This can loosen the skin of the fruit flesh. Depending on the size of the spoon, you may need to handle one end of the fruit first, then switch to the other to loosen all the skin.
Step 4. Remove the flesh from the skin
Once all of the skin is loosened, you can easily remove the flesh from the outside. The flesh of this fruit is cylindrical in shape and has a smooth surface.
-
It's possible to peel the kiwi fruit with a knife, but you will lose some of the flesh this way. As a result, you will get a fruit that is oddly shaped.
Image Step 5. Cut the kiwi fruit vertically in half
Then cut each piece once more to form small kiwi blocks, either for a fruit salad or a beautifully arranged fruit plate. Alternatively, you can easily cut the kiwi fruit into cubes of various sizes.
Tips
- Make sure you use a sharp knife. Dull knives are more difficult to cut and can result in messy cuts.
- Every part of the kiwi fruit is edible, even the hairy skin.
- Kiwi fruit can make your mouth a little itchy. It helps if you serve this fruit with a drink, such as water or milk.
- Look for varieties that are golden in color. This variety is generally smaller than the green variety, has a smooth brown skin, yellow flesh, and a sweeter taste.
- Kiwi fruit contains enzymes that can soften the meat. This enzyme also prevents solidification, so don't add kiwifruit to your ice cream, jelly, or jam recipes, which can be difficult to solidify as a result.
- The skin peels off easily if the fruit is dipped in boiling water for about 60 seconds.
Warning
- Wash the fruit before you eat it to remove any harmful bacteria that may have stuck to it. Drying with paper towels will not remove the moisture due to the hair on the fruit's skin.
- Use a sharp knife to cut. Dull blades can easily miss.
