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Papayas were cultivated in Mexico many centuries ago, and they've become a popular treat worldwide. Papayas are shaped like eggplants and have mottled green skin with bright orange flesh inside. They are an excellent source of fiber, potassium, vitamin A and vitamin C. Learn how to cut a papaya and prepare it three ways: in a salad, in a smoothie, and as a sorbet.
Steps
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Cut the top end off of the papaya with a sharp knife. Papayas are very soft inside, so handle it gently. Use the sharpest knife you have, or a serrated bread knife, to get a clean cut. Start by cutting off the top end of the papaya. -
Slice the papaya in half lengthwise. Make sure the flesh inside looks ripe and fresh. It should have a slightly funny smell.Advertisement
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Scoop out the seeds from both halves of the papaya. Use a spoon to remove the black seeds and the sticky membrane that coats them.
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Slice the papaya halves in half crosswise.
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5Use a sawing motion to slice off the skin. Repeat with all four quarters.
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Slice the papaya into spears or chunks. Eat them fresh and unadorned, or use them to make one of the recipes below.
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Prepare a papaya and other fruit. Wash a ripe papaya, slice it in half lengthwise, discard the seeds and slice off the skin. Cut the papaya into a few large pieces. A papaya smoothie is delicious on its own, but you can also choose to make it with other fruit. Consider these options:
- Fresh or frozen blueberries. Blueberries have a lot of antioxidants and paired with papaya they would make a powerfully healthy smoothie.
- Kiwi and avocado. The kiwi offsets the papaya's sweetness with its bright flavor, and avocado makes for an especially creamy smoothie.
- Spinach or kale. Making a "green" smoothie is a great way to get a serving of vegetables at breakfast. Papaya is so sweet and flavorful that you won't be able to taste the greens.
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Prepare the base. Papayas taste good with both cream and juice bases. Try one of the following bases to thin out your smoothie:
- A cup of yogurt, either flavored or plain.
- A cup of almond or cashew milk.
- A cup of orange juice or apple juice.
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Add some extras. Enhance your smoothie with extra flavors or supplements to make it a complete meal. Consider the following options:
- A scoop of protein powder.
- A few spoonfuls of chia seeds.
- A tablespoon of peanut or almond butter.
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Blend the ingredients. Place the fruit, base, and extras in a blender. Put the lid on the blender and use the "liquify" button to blend the ingredients until they are smooth.
- If you like a thinner smoothie, add more juice, milk or water.
- If you prefer your smoothies on the thicker side, add a few spoonfuls of instant oatmeal. Blend until smooth.
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Serve the smoothie. Pour it into a glass and drink it with a straw, or if you made it extra thick, eat it with a spoon.
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Community Q&A
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QuestionIs papaya good in fruit salad?Community AnswerAbsolutely! It should be the first ingredient. If you notice, when you buy "mixed fruit" in a can, you will see chunks of papaya in it.
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QuestionHow do I store what I don't eat?Community AnswerCut it in small chunks and freeze them. You can use the frozen papaya for smoothies.
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QuestionDo I eat the skin?CaeiiaTop AnswererNo, but you can use it by rubbing the inside juicy part on skin for exfoliation if you don't want to waste it.
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Tips
- If you cut into a papaya while it's still green, it might ooze a white viscous and sticky liquid. It's difficult to remove this substance from countertops, so be careful to use a cutting board when you prepare papaya.Thanks
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Warnings
- Be careful when cutting a papaya with a knife. Since papayas are soft, it's easy for the knife to slip.Thanks
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Things You'll Need
- Knife
- Cutting board
- Spoon
- Ingredients for papaya salad, smoothie or sorbet
About This Article
Article Summary
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To cut a papaya, first cut the papaya in half lengthwise using a sharp chef’s knife. Then, scoop out all of the seeds in each half using a spoon and discard them. Place one of the halves skin-side down on your cutting board, and cut it into thick, evenly spaced slices. Repeat with the other half. Now, use your knife to cut the skin off of each slice. You can leave the slices as they are, or you can make evenly spaced cuts across them for bite-sized papaya pieces. For more tips and a recipe for a tasty papaya smoothie, read on!
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Reader Success Stories
- "I have never actually had a whole one before. I bought one and went online to see how to cut it properly and I have really enjoyed reading more on how you can use it. Love your site." ..." more
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"I have never actually had a whole one before. I bought one and went online to see how to cut it properly and I have really enjoyed reading more on how you can use it. Love your site."
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"This article was extremely helpful. Thank you! I now know how to enjoy a papaya. Very difficult finding the information you need on the computer most of the time, this was perfect."
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"I had never bought a papaya before so had no idea how to prep it. These instructions showed me how in a brief, concise manner."
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"Yes, I bought a papaya, but it's green so I wait until it turns yellow? Anyway, I found this very useful."
"I never knew how to pick out a papaya. I didn't even know how to cut it or scoop out seeds. Now I do!"
