How to Choose Papayas

Spring to early summer is the major season for papayas, with another peak in the fall. However, these tasty fruits are available year-round.

Things You'll Need

• Papayas

Instructions

1. Choose papayas intermediate in color between green and yellow.

2. Look for papayas that are slightly soft.

3. Avoid papayas with shriveled or bruised skin.

4. Make sure the papayas you choose have no odor.

Tips & Warnings

• If only green papayas are available, allow them to ripen at room temperature in a paper bag. You'll know they are ripe when they are almost completely yellow orange and are soft when pressed. Store ripe papayas in the refrigerator.

• Look in Latin American markets for Mexican papayas. Although these papayas are not as sweet as other varieties, they are much larger. A Mexican papaya usually weighs about 10 lbs.

• Papayas are commonly eaten raw, perhaps in fruit or other salads. They're also great in smoothies.