How to Cut a Papaya
Feb 19, 2018
Wondering how the best way to cut a papaya once you've bought it? Cutting into the fruit doesn't have to be a chore you avoid like vacuuming or laundry. While you can always slice a papaya in half, scoop the seeds out, and fill it with yogurt and/or chia pudding for a papaya boat, here's a quick, clean method for dicing the fruit into cubes for fruit salads, an easy snack, and more. Promise it'll only take you five minutes.
1. Pull out a clean cutting board, preferably one that you only use for fruit (so it doesn't taste like garlic or onion). Take out your largest, sharpest chef's knife as well as a vegetable peeler (Kuhn Rikon is my fave, and it's only $5). Rinse the papaya, scrubbing off any dirt.
2. Cut each end of the papaya.
3. Slice the papaya lengthwise down the middle. Use a bear claw grip to keep your fingers protected.
Take a look at all those seeds! Fun fact: Papaya seeds are edible. They apparently taste like a cross between black pepper and mustard.
4. Scoop out seeds using a metal spoon.
5. Once all the seeds are removed, use the peeler to scrape off all the fruit skin.
The papaya is now ready to be diced!
6. Cut the papaya lengthwise into one-inch sticks.
7. Turn the sticks 90 degrees, and cut the papaya perpendicularly into one-inch cubes.
Eat the papaya immediately or store it in an airtight container in the fridge for about a week.
Include this chopped papaya along with diced mango in a tropical fruit salad.
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(Photos via Brittany Griffin / Brit + Co)
