How to Make a Summer Fruit Salad

All it takes to make a good fruit salad are a few varied fruits at the peak of ripeness. Just about any fork-friendly fruit will make a good salad ingredient, but there are a few guidelines to keep in mind.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Plastic food containers
• Fresh Fruit
• Colanders
• Cutting Boards
• Apple Peeler
• Chef's Knives

1. Choose the fruit carefully. Select only fruit that is fresh and ripe, but not overripe and soft.
2. Avoid fruits that would overwhelm other ingredients. Grapefruit, for example, will work well in a citrus medley but not with berries or delicate fruits.
3. Steer clear of fruits that might burst and stain the rest, like raspberries and blackberries.
4. Be wary of fruits that will oxidize, like apples. These can be used if they are cut and immediately mixed with an acidic fruit to prevent browning.
5. Strive for similar textures but different colors.
6. Peel and seed all fruit as necessary.
7. Cut the fruit in uniform sizes, as close to serving time as you can. If preparing the fruit ahead of time, store it in a colander over a bowl to allow it to drain so it doesn't become soggy.
8. Dress the salad, if desired, just before serving. Use only enough dressing to lightly coat the fruit (see Tips for dressing ideas).

Tips & Warnings

• Fruit salad is fine as just a collection of cut fruit, berries and grapes, but there are many ways to dress it as well. One common dressing is to mix a few tablespoons of fresh lime juice with chopped fresh mint leaves and the juices that collect from the cut fruit.
• Another dressing option is grenadine syrup mixed with orange juice.