Jackfruit is a trendy farmers market find that’s a great healthy snack, dessert ingredient option, or meat alternative, but how do you process it? Learn how to select, cut, store fresh jackfruit right now!
How to Select, Cut, Store Fresh Jackfruit Pictorial
Have you ever tried jackfruit? Not only is this remarkable fruit a great meat alternative and perfect for snacking and desserts, but it’s really good for you too. The health benefits are plenty and you can buy it fresh, in cans, or frozen. Depending on what you’re making with your jackfruit, it’s important that you figure out which variety is right for you and your recipe. If you’re using fresh jackfruit, which is definitely our favorite, you need to learn how to select, cut, and store it first. Here’s everything you need to know!
How to Select a Ripe Jackfruit
When selecting a fresh jackfruit, look for one that gives off a sweet smell, which it will begin to do a few days before it is ripe. Choose jackfruit that gives a little with gentle pressure; if it doesn’t give just a bit, it’s not ripe yet. The fruit inside will be a vibrant golden yellow, and if it’s perfectly ripe, you won’t have to deal with the sticky latex center when your cut it open.
How to Cut a Fresh Jackfruit
Step 1: Oil a sharp, large knife with avocado or coconut oil to protect the knife from any latex present. Lay something down to protect your cutting surface, and wear a rubber glove to keep the latex off of your hands.
Bonus Tip: If your jackfruit is perfectly ripe, like the one shown, the latex will be very minimal or not present at all.
Step 2: Cut the jackfruit in half directly down the center, then cut out the center core (the hard, white substance down the center of the fruit).
Step 3: With your fingers, start pulling the arils (bulbs) from the fibers of the fruit. Once you get the first few out, you can slightly bend the pliable skin on the fruit backwards which lifts the arils up making it simpler to remove them. There are a lot in there, so be patient, this is the fruit and totally worth the work!
Step 4: Remove the seeds from the arils and shed their coating. Don’t toss the seeds because you can roast them like chestnuts or make fabulous curries with them. Remove the remaining fibers from the arils, and your fruit is ready to enjoy.
Recipes Using Fresh Jackfruit
Not sure what to do with your jackfruit now that it’s ready for you to enjoy? You can simply eat it as a healthy snack because it’s amazing all on its own, or you can enjoy it in one of these fabulous recipes:
How to Store Fresh Jackfruit
The jackfruit is an extremely large fruit. The one shown here weighed 52 pounds before being processed and yielded a tremendous amount of fruit; way more than could be consumed in seven days which is how long you can store it in the refrigerator. To preserve your fresh jackfruit, separate it into portion-sized, freezer-safe bags, and store it in the freezer for up to two months. When you’re ready to use it, just take out a bag about an hour before you need it and it will be thawed and ready to use in your recipe in no time.
Bonus Tip: Frozen jackfruit pieces make a delicious, nutrient-dense snack to satisfy your mid-afternoon hunger.
We hope you find this pictorial helpful the next time you buy a fresh jackfruit at your local grocery store or farmers market. For more informational posts like this, be sure to stop by our Healthy Tips section. For daily recipe inspiration, subscribe to our newsletter, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Pinterest. Enjoy!
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