How to Select Passion Fruit
Passion fruit is native to South America, but is becoming more widely grown due to a recent increase in demand. Despite that somewhat erotic moniker, missionaries are actually the ones who named this fruit, because the arrangement of the flowers reminded them of various religious symbols. Passion fruit is not very common in U.S. supermarkets, but is increasing in popularity. This guide will help consumers know what to look for in a fresh passion fruit. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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How to select a fresh passion fruit
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The passion fruit has a thick rind that, when ripe, is a very dark purple color. Pale fruits are not ripe, but can ripen after they have been purchased. Passion fruits are generally harvested from the ground, so fruits harvested from the vine may not be ripe.
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Choose fruits that have a dimpled appearance. Fruits that are too dimpled, however, have lost a lot of their moisture and should be avoided. Smooth fruits are not yet fully ripe.
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Because passion fruits differ in size, there is no specific weight range to look for. But choose fruits that seem heavy for their size, the way a golf ball would feel as opposed to a ping-pong ball. This is an indication of the moisture content.
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Tips & Warnings
Passion fruits are generally only available from February to July, so take advantage of them when you see them during these months.
To eat the fruit, slice it in half and dig out the pulp. The fruit is full of seeds, but those seeds are edible and a great source of fiber.
The skin of the passion fruit is mildly poisonous, so do not eat it.
- Photo Credit J. Gabriel
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Comments
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I don't agree with the assertion that wrinkled fruit are necessarily more ready than smooth ones. I run a fruit supply business and some of the sweetest passion fruit I've ever eaten were dark purple with smooth flawless skin, and others that were kept to the point of wrinkling never became particularly sweet. I think the time when they are harvested makes much more difference to the flavour than whether they are ripened after harvesting.
