How to Tell When a Guava Is Spoiled

eHow may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Learn more about our affiliate and product review process here.

Things You'll Need

  • Knife

  • Cutting board

Tell if your guava is ripe with a few basic tips.

Guava fruit comes from guava plants, tropical shrubs native to Mexico, Central America and northern regions of South America. There are nearly 100 different varieties of guava plants that produce fruit in various shapes, shades, sizes and flavors. Today, guava fruits are cultivated and bought in all parts of the world. Their flavors range from very sweet to sour, depending on ripeness. As they ripen, the fruits of the guava plant will change from a bright green to a red, yellow or darker green. The fruits are at their most flavorful when fully ripened, but they can become spoiled and rotten shortly after. Use a little background knowledge and your powers of perception to determine whether a guava fruit has spoiled.

Advertisement

Step 1

Grab guava fruit in your hand, and squeeze it lightly. If the skin of the fruit tears, easily collapses or has rotted away, chances are the guava has spoiled.

Video of the Day

Step 2

Inspect the guava fruit with your eyes. If there are ulcers, rotted areas or moldy spots, the guava has spoiled.

Step 3

Sniff the guava fruit. It should give off a sweet, lemony scent. If it smells rotten or aversive, it is most likely spoiled.

Step 4

Cut the guava fruit on a cutting board with a knife. If the inside appears brown or black, the fruit has spoiled.

Tip

Store guavas in your refrigerator. If left at room temperature for more than a few days, they will likely spoil.

Advertisement

Video of the Day

references