Looking for new ways to enjoy kiwi fruit? This tangy and sweet treat makes a tasty addition to many recipes but can easily be turned into food art too.ย
What is Kiwi Fruit
Also known as the Chinese gooseberry, kiwi is packed with fiber, folate, and antioxidants, making it very nutrient-dense. The fruit itself is about the size of an egg, has green or yellow flesh, and is a sweet-tart treat and is locally available in the U.S. from October to May. California is the sole producer of commercial kiwi. Most American-grown kiwifruit comes from California, which is responsible for about 98% of the production.
How to Peel Kiwi
Below are three ways to peel kiwifruit. That said, save the peels for later use. I beg of you!
America tosses out 40% of the food produced in this country. Here is a great video breaking down U.S. food waste. So consuming edible items usually tossed in the bin is a great way to combat unnecessary waste.
Paring Knife Method
Probably the most common and obvious method. Take a paring knife and trim off the ends. Then stand the fruit on its end, and slice down the sides lengthwise to remove all of the peel.
You can also use a vegetable peeler but I find that you end up wasting more fruit this way. Kiwis are tender when ripe, and it does not take much pressure to cut through them. A vegetable peeler is less precise than a knife.
Glass Method
You still need the knife for this method. Cut the fruit in half, then use a small glass to remove the peel by sliding the fruit down the side of it, wedging the glass between the skin and the fruitโs flesh.
Spoon Method
This isnโt the kind of spooning you are thinking of. Or maybe it is? You still need a knife, though. Slice off the ends, insert the spoon between the flesh and skin, and rotate the fruit, removing the peel.
The key here is to keep the spoon against the peel while rotating without breaking through the skin. It takes a bit of practice.
Can You Eat Kiwi Skin?
The skin also holds many antioxidants. In fact, there is a higher concentration of antioxidants in the skin than in the flesh of the fruit itself. The skin is a particularly good source of two major antioxidants: vitamin C and vitamin E.
Eating the fruitโs skin can increase its fiber content by 50%, boost folate by 32%, and raise vitamin E concentration by 34%, compared to eating just the flesh alone.
How to Eat Kiwi Skin
Straight up, just eat it like an apple. If you can get past the tougher skin and fuzz, you donโt even have to bother peeling it. And we all know that peeling kiwi can be a bit of a hassle.
The peel can then be blended into smoothies, a simple and quick way to get all the health benefits without feeling like youโre chomping on balls. Use ’em up immediately or freeze them for later use. Either way, more nutrients in your diet, less food waste, and againโฆno balls. #facts
How to Cut Kiwi Fruit
From smoothie toppings to food art, the kiwi fruit is as delicious as it is versatile. Here are a few different ways to prepare the fruit.
Slices
This is great for topping yogurt or a fancy tart. It is also a nice addition to the smoothie bowl and how kiwi is typically prepared.
- Trim off the ends.
- Peel the kiwi.
- Cut the fruit widthwise into ยผ-inch slices.
Half Slices
This is just one more cut from the slice. You can use this for a cocktail garnish or also for smoothies and yogurt. Great in fruit salads too.
- Trim off the ends.
- Peel the kiwi.
- Cut the fruit in half lengthwise.
- Lay each half cut-side down.
- Cut the halves into ยผ-inch slices.
Wedges
Kiwi wedges are another great cut for salads but really shine as a cocktail or smoothie garnish.
- Trim the ends.
- Peel the kiwi.
- Cut the fruit in half lengthwise.
- Lay each half cut-side down.
- Cut the halves in half lengthwise.
- Do the same for each new half.
- You should end up with 8 wedges.
Chunks
You can chop those wedges down even further. This is a great way to use kiwi for a fruit salsa or as a garnish.
- Trim the ends.
- Peel the kiwi.
- Cut the fruit in half lengthwise.
- Lay each half cut-side down.
- Cut the halves in half lengthwise.
- Do the same for each new half.
- Youโll have 4 wedges from each half.
- Cut the halves width-wise into chunks.
Kiwi Flower (Zig Zag Cut)
This cut is a bit of a showoff. Like, we get it, you fancy and shit. This makes a great garnish. You can fully peel kiwi flowers, but they typically are left on.
- Trim the ends.
- Insert a paring knife halfway through the fruitโs midsection.
- Repeat, creating V’s around the fruit, like a zig-zag.
- You can make smaller or larger V-shaped cuts.
- Gently separate the fruit into 2 pieces.
Kiwi Lotus Flower
If you wanna go even fancier, you can slice the peel partially away and roll it down, making it look like flower petals.
- Trim the ends.
- Insert a paring knife halfway through the fruitโs midsection.
- Repeat, creating V’s around the fruit.
- You can make smaller or larger V-shaped cuts.
- Gently separate the fruit into 2 pieces.
- Carefully cut away the peel from the top.
- Stop when you reach the bottom, leaving it attached.
- Repeat for each point on your flower.
- Pull the peels down, creating a lotus-like flower.
How to Buy Kiwi
Before cutting it (or eating it whole), you want to start off with the best kiwi fruit you can buy. Using your palm and the pad of your thumb, apply light pressure to the fruit. Do not use your fingertips! Feel for soft squishy spots. The fruit should be firm and bounce back to pressure. The skin should also be taut and not wrinkled.
How to Store Kiwi
Kiwi fruit prefers to be cold and like humidity. It is also highly sensitive to ethylene gas. This means store them away from apples, avocados, and tomatoes, to name a few. Store them in an airtight container for optimal freshness, but a sealed bag is fine.
Unripe kiwis can last for a month or even longer in the fridge once they are ripe, just a few weeks. Well, longer, actually, but the sweetness will fade a lot before they spoil. Cut kiwi will only last about 3 days.