Dragon fruit looks intimidating but is simple to cut and eat once you know the trick. You want the soft inner flesh, not the leathery pink or yellow skin, which is peeled or scooped away.
What you'll need
- Ripe dragon fruit
- Knife
- Cutting board
- Spoon
Step by step
- Check that it is ripeA ripe dragon fruit gives slightly when pressed, like a ripe avocado or kiwi. If it feels rock hard, leave it on the counter for a day or two.
- Halve it lengthwiseSet the fruit on the board and slice straight down through the middle from top to bottom, so you have two long halves showing the speckled flesh.
- Scoop out the fleshRun a spoon around the inside edge between the flesh and the skin, then lift the whole half out in one piece, just as you would with an avocado.
- Slice or cubePlace the scooped flesh cut-side down and slice it into cubes or wedges. Alternatively, score a grid into an unscooped half and press from underneath to pop the cubes out.
- Serve or storeEat right away, chill it, or add it to fruit salad, smoothies, or yogurt. Refrigerate any leftovers in a sealed container.
Handy tips
- The tiny black seeds are edible and add a mild crunch, similar to a kiwi.
- Dragon fruit has a mild, lightly sweet flavor, so a squeeze of lime brightens it up.
- Chilling it before serving makes the texture more refreshing.
Heads up
- Red-fleshed dragon fruit can temporarily tint urine or stool pink or red; this is harmless and passes on its own.
FAQ
Do you eat the skin of a dragon fruit?
No. The outer skin is tough and not meant to be eaten. You eat only the soft inner flesh, which you peel or scoop away from the skin.
How can I tell if it is ripe?
Press gently near the middle. Ripe fruit yields a little, like a ripe avocado. Very firm fruit needs a couple more days to soften.
What does dragon fruit taste like?
It has a mild, subtly sweet flavor somewhere between a kiwi and a pear, with a texture that is soft with small crunchy seeds.