When Is Papaya Ready to Eat?

A halved papaya.

The fruit of the papaya tree is melon-like and a rich yellow. It is originally from southern Mexico but grows naturally in the tropics of the Americas. Smell, color, and feel can help you determine whether the fruit is ripe.

Smell

Pick up a papaya in the market and smell it: It should be slightly musky and sweet in aroma. Be sure to smell it near the base, where the stem was once attached; this will yield the best measure of its smell.

Color

Like bananas, papaya fruit starts off as green and ripens into its gold hue. Most people like to buy papayas that are not quite ripe, which is yellow-gold with some patches of green, and let it ripen at home. Another trick for buying papayas is to look at the base of the fruit. If the ring around where the stem was is yellow, the fruit will ripen well; if it is green, it won't.

Feel

Papaya fruit should be firm but yielding to the touch, like an avocado, when it is ripe or nearly ripe. Don't squeeze it, but prod it to judge its texture. Avoid buying fruit that's too hard or too soft.

References

• Practically Edible: Papaya