Using a sharp knife, slice in half lengthwise down the fruit starting from the top down to the tougher stem. Use a spoon to scoop out the flesh from each half. Or, cut the half into quarters and use your fingers to peel back the skin from the flesh. Cut the flesh into slices or cubes depending on preference.
Dragon fruit is easy to cut.
Slice the dragon fruit in half lengthwise. Use a large spoon to scoop out the flesh into two large halves. Discard the “shell.” (Although, I like to reserve it and use the scooped-out halves as bowls to serve the dragon fruit or a fruit salad). Cut the flesh as desired, and eat!
When ripe, dragon fruit have a bright pink color and smooth skin. The skin should have few brown spots. Squeeze it slightly; if it's firm and hard, it's not yet ripe. If it is softer (but not too soft) and the flesh gives slightly when squeezed, it's a good sign that it's perfectly ripe.
When ripe, dragon fruit has a mildly sweet flavor often described as a blend of pear and kiwi, and a soft texture similar to a ripe kiwi. Under-ripe dragon fruit, on the other hand, is basically flavorless. Native to Mexico, Central and South America, the dragon fruit plant is a cactus.
Thin slices: Turn the dragon fruit cut side down, then cut thin slices crosswise from the top to the bottom. Wedges: Turn the dragon fruit cut side down, then cut wide slices around the curvature of the dragon fruit in the opposite direction as the top and bottom of the fruit.
Unlike other types of fruit, the skin of a dragon fruit isn't edible. One of the best things about dragon fruit is its versatility. Some people scoop out the flesh and eat the fruit by itself. Another option is tossing dragon fruit in a bowl with pineapple, kiwi, blueberries, or strawberries for a summer salad.
Storage. As with other fruits, you can keep these out at room temperature for several days as long as they're uncut. Once cut, eat your dragon fruit immediately or store it in the fridge for a day or so until it begins to brown.
Dragon fruit is high in vitamin C and other antioxidants, which are good for your immune system. It can boost your iron levels. Iron is important for moving oxygen through your body and giving you energy, and dragon fruit has iron. And the vitamin C in dragon fruit helps your body take in and use the iron.
It is an established fact that deep red fruits and vegetables contain more antioxidants. That's why red dragon fruit has a higher amount of antioxidants than white ones. This makes it a great food for healthy eyes, blood, and skin. The red variety is also used to make delicious wine.
So how can you tell the difference? Scales are often closer together compared to the white variant. In addition, the scales are also more present on the fruit itself. Often the dragon fruits with red flesh are more dark deep red on the outside compared to those with a white inside.
Like its red counterpart, the yellow dragon fruit is a natural laxative, offering almost 5 grams of fiber for every six-ounce serving. Most of the fiber in dragon fruit is soluble fiber, which dissolves in water, softening stools and acting like a sponge to carry cholesterol out of the body.
Dragon fruit has a lightly sweet taste and benefits from blending up with sweeter fruits. Bananas, mango, strawberries, blueberries and pineapple all add great flavor to dragon fruit smoothies.
This cactus fruit tastes sweet and has a mild flavor when perfectly ripe. If your fruit lacks that sweet flavor or is overly sugary, you probably cut it open too soon or too late.
For the most part, dragon fruit is safe to eat and offers many health benefits due to its vitamin C and antioxidant properties. The fruit is low in calories, making it a perfect everyday snack.
Yellow dragonfruit (hylocereus megalanthus) also known as the yellow pitahaya, is the sweetest dragon fruit of all. It is part of the cactus family – and is by far the most popular cactus among the world. The yellow pitahaya is smaller than the red-skinned species, but sweeter and juicier. Try it yourself!
For around the same number of calories, and with less carbs, dragon fruit offers comparable benefits to the blueberry. And if you are specifically seeking magnesium, pitaya is a superior choice.
It is a good source of dietary fiber, protein, and higher amounts of calcium than the red-skinned dragon fruit. Yellow Dragon fruit provides iron, vitamins A and C, and niacin. Beneficial antioxidants including Vitamins C and A. It contains minerals like iron, potassium, niacin, and magnesium.
This fruit contains high levels of vitamin C that boosts immunity and helps you stay healthy. More Vitamin C means that your body is capable of fighting deadly infections that you might be prone to. All you need to do is to consume 1 cup (200 grams) of this fruit every day and stay healthy.
Yes, dragon fruit is good for weight loss. The fruit is low in calories and fat, and it is a good source of fiber. In addition, dragon fruit can help to boost your metabolism and burn more calories. So, if you are looking to lose weight, eating dragon fruit every day can be a helpful addition to your diet.
According to the USDA, 100 grams of dragon fruit contains 9.75 grams of total sugar. One whole dragon fruit contains 7.31 g of sugar, and one cup has the highest, about 17.6 g. Nonetheless, dragon fruit has a low GI. Therefore, its sugar does not significantly impact blood sugar when you eat dragon fruit in moderation.
When is the best time to have it? While morning is considered to be the best time to consume fruits as the digestive system breaks down the fruit sugar quickly and provides it with all the nutrients, the dragon fruit can be had as a mid meal or in the night, too.
In general, the fruit is ripe after a minimum of 27 to 33 days has passed from the time the plant was in bloom. Before picking you will have to remove the thorns from the fruit with pliers.
Dragon fruit is expensive because it is a tropical fruit that is not grown in many parts of the world. The majority of dragon fruit comes from Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, and Mexico. Since it takes a long time for dragon fruit trees to mature and produce fruit, the overall yield is low.