Updated on March 11th, 2023
The dragon fruit has a mild, kiwi-like flavor. It is served in half-rounds and scooped out with a spoon. You can eat the dragon fruit straight or serve it with a lime wedge and ancho chile powder. You can eat the skin of the dragon fruit, or you can use it as a bowl for your favorite fruit salad. You can even substitute it for kiwi in recipes.
Dragon fruit is a popular and delicious exotic fruit, and its unique shape and colors make them a great addition to a tropical-style fruit salad. You can also try eating the skin of the dragon fruit, which adds an extra fun element to your dish! It is delicious, and the skin can be used for many other purposes, too! Read on to learn more about the unique flavor of dragon fruit!
What Is Dragon Fruit?
The dragon fruit is native to Central and South America and Mexico. Many other Asian countries, such as China, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Thailand, grow it. Pitaya, pitahaya, and strawberry pear are other names for it.
The appearance of dragon fruit is distinct. Like its other exotic, non-round fruit cousins, Dragon fruit has peculiar characteristics, such as a bright red rind with ornamental green scales. This is because it comes from the Hylocereus cactus genus. It’s also accurate to state it’s a cactus.
It has unripe green skin and ripe pink skin. The scales are a light green color, and the flesh might be white, pink, or red in color. Because immature dragon fruit cannot ripen off the plant, it is frequently harvested when it is ripe.
What Does A Dragon Fruit Taste Like?
Dragon fruits are sweet, but they can also be dangerous. Because they contain many omega-3 fatty acids, you should never eat the skin of dragon fruit. It is not recommended to consume overripe dragon fruit. Fresh dragon fruit will be toxic, so do your best to avoid them. The skin of dragon fruit is the perfect way to eat it. When it is ripe, it will be sour!
Dragon fruit can be eaten at room temperature or chilled. Its unique flavor wraps the flavors of other fruits into a mild flavor. When ripe, it is best enjoyed in the summer. It can be added to smoothie bowls and smoothies. Its texture makes it an excellent choice for people who don’t like to eat unusual fruits. They are also good for you. You’ll probably find it tasty if you’re in Thailand or China.
The dragon fruit is a delicious exotic fruit with a firm yet mellow texture. Its flesh is sweet, but it can be messy to eat. Its flesh is not entirely juicy, and it can leave a red stain on your lips. However, the more bitter varieties are more pleasant. So, if you want to eat dragon fruit, do not worry!
There are different varieties of dragon fruit. Pink-skinned dragon fruits are white with pink flesh, while red-skinned dragon fruits have red-brown flesh. Yellow dragon apples, which have the most appealing taste, are the sweetest three. The best variety to eat is the Colombian Yellow, the Peruvian Yellow, and the Ecuador Palora.
Varieties Of Dargon Fruit
White Dragon Fruit
This is the most common dragon fruit variety. In the grocery, you’ll see it a lot. The skin is pink, and the flesh is white. When fully ripe, it has a sweet flavor. However, it is the second least sweet of the five types. This popular kind is the most excellent choice if you’re on a diet.
Pink Dragon Fruit
The second type is pink on the outside and pink on the interior. The flesh is more appealing than white-flesh dragon fruit, and pink dragon fruit is also sweeter than red dragon fruit.
Because of its lovely pinkish tint, it’s frequently used in drinks and smoothies. However, even without any added sugar or sweetness, this dragon fruit remains one of Asia’s most popular treats. Simply cut it in half and consume the flesh with a spoon.
Red Dragon Fruit
The flesh color of the red dragon fruit differs somewhat from that of the pink dragon fruit. It comes in various shades of red, from light to dark. When the skin reaches a rich crimson color, it is most delicious. This type, like pink dragon fruit, is commonly used in sweets. It is, however, more challenging to obtain than the white dragon fruit.
Yellow Dragon Fruit
Yellow dragon fruit is the hardest to come by because it is grown primarily in Central America and is not extensively distributed for commercial purposes. It has yellow skin and white flesh, as the name implies. It’s interesting to note that it’s the sweetest variety, but it’s also the tiniest.
Sour Dragon Fruit
Although it is not usually seen, dragon fruit can be sour. This cultivar is primarily farmed and consumed in the United States. It has a similar appearance to white dragon fruit, with pink skin and white meat. On the other hand, Sour dragon fruit is juicier than white dragon fruit.
What Is The Best Way To Eat Dragon Fruit?
Do not chop dragon fruit until just before using or eating it, as it will begin to dry out and discolor. To prepare dragon fruit, cut it in half and scoop out the slightly hard flesh with a spoon to eat right out of the shell, or carefully cut and remove the flesh from the skin with a sharp spoon, then slice or cut it however you wish.
Pureed dragon fruit can be used in sauces, puddings, frozen desserts, and beverages. You should not eat the skin, but you can save it and use it to serve your dragon fruit creation.
Also try Mocktail.net’s mango dragon fruit lemonade for a fun summer drink.
How To Store Dragon Fruit?
Although this dish starts with the letter “D,” it is effortless to preserve. Bananas and avocados can be stored the same way, and they can be kept fresh in practically any storage situation.
Room Temperature
You can store dragon fruits in a dark, fabulous location for up to three days. For a limited time, ripe dragon fruits can be safely stored at room temperature.
You should also preserve unripe dragon fruit at room temperature until it ripens and is ready to eat. Its fragrance and flavor will be changed if placed near other odorous fruits.
In the Refrigerator
Only store ripe dragon fruit in the refrigerator, and low temperatures don’t go well with unripe dragon fruit.
Unpeeled dragon fruit should be kept in the refrigerator, and it can stay there for up to two weeks. Place it in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator in a plastic bag or any other sealed container.
If you’ve already sliced it into sections, place them in an airtight container, press out the air, and store them in the refrigerator. To keep them fresher for longer, squeeze some lemon juice over them. It’s worth noting that peeled dragon fruit has a lower shelf life than unpeeled dragon fruit, and you should eat it as quickly as possible.
When dragon fruit is frozen, it can last for three months. There are additional steps, but they are all effortless. Cut the flesh of the dragon fruit into small, even cubes.
Arrange the cubes on a baking sheet, leaving some space between each one. After that, place the sheet with the dragon fruit cubes in the freezer.
Conclusion
Dragon fruit can be easily cut, and its white or red color depends on the variety. The flesh should be removed from the pink husk, which is inedible. The skin, on the other hand, should not be consumed. Once the fruit has been peeled, you can slice it and serve it as a delicious snack or an addition to a fruit salad. Remember to eat the stem when you’re ready to sample your first bite of the dragon fruit.
The dragon fruit’s flesh is firm but not too juicy, so you can eat it without worrying about it being contaminated. If you’re looking for a snack or a healthy treat, you can enjoy the fruit by itself. But for the most delicious experience, you can cut it into small pieces and enjoy it with your family and friends. It has a tropical flavor that complements many different foods.
