How to Cut Dragon Fruit

You must have tasted many delicious fruits, but eating dragon fruit is different. This mild-tasting tropical fruit is found in many parts of the world but is primarily grown in Asia, Central America, South America, Mexico, and Israel. Many people do not usually know that this beautiful-colored fruit belongs to the cactus family. Dragon fruit, also called Strawberry Pear, Pitaya, or Pitahaya, has numerous health benefits. Not only does it look good and have a nutritious value, but it also tastes heavenly.

If you’re a fruit lover, you must be curious to know how to cut dragon fruit to eat, so let’s explore together. This article is a complete guide to help you see how to cut and eat this fruit!

What does Dragon Fruit Look Like?

While the fruit may appear thorny on the outside, it has soft flesh on the inside. When you peel the dragon fruit, it might be white, red, or purple with small black seeds, depending on the species. All these varieties can be used in salads and smoothies, or you can eat them as they are.

The protruding spikey exterior and pretty bright-colored skin of this fruit led to this popular name – “dragon fruit.”

How to Cut Dragon Fruit Properly?

As discussed, cutting a dragon fruit is pretty easy. You can use different methods to cut it in a variety of shapes. Don’t worry! We will discuss them one by one below, so let’s start with the initial step.

Step 1: Cutting it in Halves

Doesn’t matter if you wish to slice the fruit in cubes, slices, or spherical shapes; the first step would be to cut it into halves. Although the exterior looks hard, cutting it into halves is absolutely effortless.

Pro Tip: Start cutting from the bottom as it doesn’t have that thick stem, just like on the top. Moreover, make sure that the knife you’re using is sharp. Last but not least, we suggest you get a cutting board and slice on it.

Step 2: Removing the Upper Layer of Dragon Fruit

Now that you’ve cut the fruit in two halves, peeling the outer surface off will get even easier. Peeling the skin of dragon fruit means you are preparing it for further slices. Compared to many other fruits, there are multiple ways to peel dragon fruit. Depending on your need, you can peel it by one of the many methods. Here’s how you can peel the dragon fruit.

Scooping Method:

One of the simplest methods of peeling dragon fruit is scooping it out of the shell or peeling it lengthwise. Scoop out the pulp using a big spoon or thin-rimmed glass.

Another technique is to take out the pulp after cutting the fruit in half horizontally. This method is preferable if you have to extract round slices of it. Just carefully scoop out the pump to ensure it comes out as a whole.

Peeling Method:

Another way to get the peel out without making a mess is to remove it after cutting it in halves. It is a simple way when you want to serve the fruit to guests or children. Make 4 – 6 vertical cuts in the fruit to get wedge-shaped pieces (like you cut a pizza). Now, take the peels off each individual piece.

Step 3: Cutting the Dragon Fruit

Now that you know how to peel the fruit, it is time to try different methods of cutting dragon fruit. All these methods are simple and do not take a lot of time. Cut it in the shape of your choice and feel the taste in every bit. Let’s tell you how to cut dragon fruit.

Cutting it in Cubes

If you’re confused about how to cut dragon fruit in cubes, know that it is pretty easy! Cubes are the most widely preferred shape of dragon fruit in most salads and serving bowls. This type of cutting comes with a little waste, but you can use it in smoothies or later.

• For this, the big fruit should be cut into a large square or rectangular shape as it will give a huge square or rectangular fruit block.
• Now, make thick, flat slabs out of this block.
• Make thick french-fries-shaped sticks out of the block.
• Cut these fingers into equal pieces, giving you cubes.
• You can serve these cubes on their own or add them to salads.

Cutting it in Spheres

The frozen dragon fruit spheres are widely used in frosty drinks, fruit skewers, and smoothie or chia pudding bowls. Cut the dragon fruit into spheres to make your smoothie bowl look more delicious. It is also the best choice when making fruit skewers or for Instagram-worthy fruit pictures.

• After splitting the fruit into two, use a melon scooper to scoop spheres out.

Cutting it in Half Moons or Slices

Half-moons, also called fruit slices, are also a common and pretty way of presenting the fruit at parties and making it attractive to children. These are a preferred choice in white or red flesh dragon fruits to enhance the look of green-base salads.

• Again, for this, you should have the lengthwise sections of the dragon fruit.
• Now place each piece onto a cutting board and cut half to one-inch pieces of the fruit to serve.

Cutting it in Full Moons or Circles

Many people prefer cutting the fruit in full moons or circles, primarily when serving to children or adding to desserts for beautification. Here’s how you can easily cut dragon fruit into circles.

• After peeling off the upper layer, carefully make a slit on one side.
• Now, cut the fruit into huge circles by making horizontal cuts.
• You may also cut the fruit with the peel and take out the circles using a cookie cutter. If not like this, you can serve the circles with the peel to children for convenient eating using a spoon.

Cutting it in Chunks

Chunks are well-suited for salads, smoothies, and frozen pops. Yet another way to cut the dragon fruit into small pieces is to make chunks. It does not require you to remove the extra part and saves you from waste. You can also add these chunks to salads.

• Make vertical slits of the peeled dragon fruit to make slabs out of them.
• Follow the same procedure as cubes to cut them into small chunks.
• Chunks may also be added to salads, or you may serve them in the round or oval peel of the fruit for added beauty.

Cutting it in Wedges

If you are wondering about the most effortless method to cut dragon fruit, here it is! Dragon fruit cut in wedges makes an excellent choice for breakfast platters and serving to children.

• Making wedges out of dragon fruit is the easiest way to cut and eat the fruit. You may peel or not peel the fruit when serving in wedges.
• After cutting the dragon fruit lengthwise, cut each piece into two further pieces similarly.
• Repeat it until you have 8 pieces. Take off the peel or leave it as it is, per your preference.

Tips for Cutting a Drago Fruit

Pick a Ripe Dragon Fruit

Picking dragon fruits is an art you master with time to understand which ones are the best. Choosing a ripe fruit to smoothly cut it in the desired shape and get the most flavor is essential, or you may just have bland fruit flesh.

Use a Sharp Knife

Cutting fruits requires you to use a sharp knife to make sure you do not ruin the beautiful shape of this fruit, especially when dealing with softer fruits. Sharpen your knife before you cut dragon fruit into shapes of your choice.

Start from the Top

It’d get easier for you to start cutting it from the top as the skin there is slightly thinner than the rest of the fruit’s body.

Storing Cut Dragon Fruit

Freezing is the only way to store your peeled and cut dragon fruit for a long time. Or you may keep unwashed, unpeeled dragon fruit in the refrigerator to extend its life. Frozen dragon fruit does not retain its shape when thawed, but these fruits work well for smoothies and other blended drinks.

How to Store Dragon Fruit?

No one would prefer eating an under or over-ripe fruit, so if you have a fresh and ripened dragon fruit at room temperature, it’s better to utilize it within a day or two. If you wish to use it after a few days, it is recommended to place it in the fridge at a lower temperature.

However, a healthy dragon fruit can be kept in the fridge for 5-7 days with a slower ripening process. The best way to store dragon fruit in the refrigerator is in an airtight bag to avoid its fast ripening.

Besides, storing this fruit for 2-3 months requires a proper procedure. Cut them into slices or cubes and refrigerate them for later use. These frozen dragon fruit chunks are best to add to smoothies.

How Healthy is Dragon Fruit?

Like all other fruits, dragon fruit has a number of nutritional benefits. It is best known for vitamins, minerals, fibers, and antioxidants. Specifically speaking, this fruit is rich in Vitamin C and magnesium. Just a half cup of dragon fruit has almost 3 grams of fiber, which is sufficient!

It is observed that eating dragon fruit in good quantity helps a person deal with diabetes, arthritis, inflammatory issues, and scurvy due to Vitamin C deficiency.

Different Ways of Eating Dragon Fruit

Nowadays, there are several dishes discovered having dragon fruit in it. You can serve it fresh with other fruits or make a delicious smoothie. Below are some of the great ideas to make different dishes with dragon fruit:

Salsas: You can combine dragon fruit cubes with jalapenos and mushrooms mixed with onion, lime, and some spices to make a tasty salsa.

Smoothies: Next time you make a smoothie, do not skip to add frozen dragon fruit cubes in it.

Fruit Salads: Another excellent yet easiest way to serve dragon fruit slices is in fruit salads. You can mix this fruit’s wedges with banana, papaya, pineapple, and mango to make a refreshing flavor.

Other Toppings: Last but not least, dragon fruit slices or cubes can be used as garnishes on oatmeal and yogurt bowls.

The Bottom Line

Dragon fruit is a commonly available fruit in many regions in Asia, but now you can find it in many other parts of the world. Dragon fruits are served in various ways to get all the micro and macronutrients from the fruit. Thus, knowing how to cut dragon fruit allows you to choose the right shape for every need. You can cut this fruit into cubes, chunks, wedges, slices, or spheres. Use them immediately or store them in the freezer to make smoothies or other blended drinks.

FAQs

What does dragon fruit taste like?

Dragon fruit is a mix between kiwi and pear and has a mildly sweet flavor. However, pick ripe dragon fruits, as unripe dragon fruit is tasteless.

Can you eat the skin of a dragon fruit?

While it might sound surprising, you can eat the skin of the dragon fruit. You may make infused tea using dragon fruit peel or deep fry it. Deep-fried dragon fruit skin is a famous Indonesian dish.

Is there a particular way to cut dragon fruit?

There are multiple ways to cut dragon fruits. You can cut them into circles, cubes, chunks, wedges, or half-moons. Use a sharp knife to cut the dragon fruit in half and take out the flesh. Cut it into half-moons, wedges, cubes, or any other shape you choose.

Is it OK to eat dragon fruit raw?

Dragon fruit is typically eaten raw, but you can also grill it for a smoky flavor. It is safe to eat dragon fruit raw. You can even eat it directly out of the shell with a spoon without the effort of cutting it and using multiple other utensils.