6 Simple Ways to Tell If Passion Fruit is Ripe

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Plus, learn how to ripen, store, & cut passion fruit

Co-authored by Sporked and Maryana Lucia Vestic, MFA, M.Phil.

Last Updated: August 11, 2025 Fact Checked

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Passion fruit can be a little deceptive when you’re trying to judge its ripeness, since it starts to look old and wrinkled before it’s ready to eat. However, if you know how to look for things like color, shape, weight, and skin texture, you can find the one that’s just right. Read on for 6 simple tips on how to know when passion fruit is ripe (and when it’s not). We’ll also discuss the best ways to ripen, store, and cut passion fruits, no matter how you plan on using them.

How to Tell When Passion Fruit Is Ripe

Color: Varies from rich yellow to yellowish green or deep red/purple.
Skin texture: Has slightly wrinkled or dimpled skin.
Shape: Has a round or oval shape and can sometimes be egg-like.
Weight/Firmness: Feels full and plump, between 35 and 50 grams (1.2 and 1.8 oz).

Section 1 of 3:

How to Know When Passion Fruit is Ripe

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1
Rich, dark color No matter what color a passion fruit is, it will always appear darker when it’s ripe. Ripe passion fruits vary from a yellowish green to an orange or bright yellow. If they’re red or purple, they may appear a dark, deep red, burgundy, or purple color when ripe.
- Passion fruits can come in a variety of colors, including purple, yellow, orange, and red.
If you notice slightly wrinkled or dimpled skin, it means the passion fruit is at its most ripe. When you see wrinkled skin, be sure to use the passion fruit right away, because it will continue to ferment and become overripe very quickly. Passion fruit that is overly wrinkled or shriveled is usually past its prime. ^{[1]
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Round or oval shape A ripe passion fruit typically has a round or oval shape. It may appear slightly egg-shaped when looking at it. Ripe passion fruits are usually slightly smaller than a tennis ball and are between 2 inches (5.1 cm) and 3 inches (7.6 cm) in diameter. ^{[2]
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- The exact shape of a passion fruit can vary depending on the growing conditions used.
4
Full, heavy weight Choose heavy fruit simply by holding it in your hand. Immature or unripe passion fruit feels lightweight because its juicy center hasn’t completely formed yet. When the juicy center of a passionfruit hasn’t formed, the unripe passion fruit will taste overly sour or tart. It’s ok to eat, but it doesn’t taste as pleasant as one that has ripened enough to taste sweet with a touch of sour. ^{[3]
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- A mature passion fruit should be between 4 centimetres (1.6 in) and 8 centimetres (3.1 in) in diameter and weigh between 1.2 and 1.8 ounces (35 and 50 g).
When squeezing a passion fruit, the skin should give a little when pressed, but still feel firm. If it feels rock-hard, consider it unripened. If it feels soft, it has passed its peak. ^{[4]
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6

Tropical scent When a passion fruit is ripe, you’ll know it by the strong tropical aroma that has been described as floral and sweet. The riper the passion fruit, the more likely you are to smell this bold, floral scent. If a passion fruit has no scent at all, it may need more time for the fruit to mature. ^{[5]
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Section 2 of 3:

How to Tell When Passion Fruit is Unripe or Bad

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Green color Avoid green passion fruit. Remember that the greener it is, the less ripened it is. This holds for all varieties and colors of passionfruit. ^{[6]
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- Some fruit may actually ripen without changing color that much. If you’re growing your own and find green fruit that has fallen from the tree, judge it by other methods before discarding it.
2
Smooth skin When passion fruit is devoid of any wrinkles and dimples, it may appear overly smooth or shiny, which means it’s not ripe yet. This passion fruit is more likely to be overly tart instead of sweet. ^{[7]
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- It may also appear excessively wrinkled, which means the passion fruit is past its prime.
3
Damaged exterior Overly bruised or cut passion fruit may not taste very good and indicate damage. Small cuts and spots are normal and generally okay on their own. Bruised fruit is also perfectly edible, just softer. Food tasting experts Sporked note to “check bruised areas for any cuts through the skin,” since the bruised fruit underneath is more at risk of mold. ^{[8]
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- Sporked recommends that “bruised or moldy portions can be trimmed from the rest.” ^{[9]
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- Mold that appears on the outside of intact skin can be washed away since you aren't eating the skin.
- When the passion fruit is damaged, it may also feel very light when held.

Section 3 of 3:

Ripening, Cutting, and Storing Your Passion Fruit

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1
It’s generally best to let passion fruit fall from the tree by itself. If you are growing passion fruit , expect ripe fruit to fall on its own due to its increased weight. Depending on the variety and climate, when the passion fruit’s color has gone from green to purple or yellow, they’re sometimes considered ripe and may be picked straight from the tree in those cases. Gently twist the passion fruit if picking it from the vine. ^{[10]
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- However, unripened fruit may also fall due to weather or if the tree is weak from dehydration. Double-check its ripeness by other methods before eating.
2
Allow passion fruit to ripen at room temperature out of direct sunlight. If you have fruit that is almost but not quite there yet, give it a few days to ripen further. Leave it sitting out at room temperature, out of direct sunlight. Inspect the passion fruit daily so you can enjoy it before it becomes too wrinkly, at which point it starts to dry out inside. ^{[11]
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- Green passion fruit won’t ripen fully off the vine, but ripe fruits will develop a deeper, sweeter flavour if left uneaten for several days.
- After picking passion fruit, store them in boxes or crates where air can circulate. Avoid using a bag, since it can cause the fruit to mold. You can also wash and dry the passion fruit before storing it in the refrigerator (crisper drawer is best) or in mesh bags to keep it longer.
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Use a knife to cut open a ripe passion fruit . To eat passion fruit as is, slice off the top and use a spoon as though you were eating from a bowl. To add it as an ingredient to another dish, slice it in half so you can spoon it out more easily. ^{[12]
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- One easy way to use up ripe passion fruits is to make passion fruit juice .
Once you have cut it open, refrigerate or freeze the passion fruit to keep it from spoiling. Expect refrigerated fruit to last a week at most. For longer storage, seal it in a high-quality freezer bag and freeze it, which will preserve it up to 12 months. ^{[13]
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Can green passion fruit be picked?

Community Answer

Yes, but a green passion fruit is not ripe. Wait until it gets purple and then pick it if you want one that's more tart. If you want a sweeter fruit, wait until it drops. Do not wait too long though or insects will eat it.

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Can children eat seeds inside passion fruit?

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Yes, they are edible and safe for children.

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Can I eat the skin of a passion fruit?

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No. The skin contains compounds that can form cyanide in your body. Do not eat the skin.

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6 Simple Ways to Tell If Passion Fruit is Ripe

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How to Tell When Passion Fruit is Unripe or Bad

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