How to Cut Dragon Fruit

Between its spiky peel and bright pink hue, the appearance of dragon fruit is quite unforgettable. The tropical fruit also boasts a sweet, mild flavor that compliments other eats like strawberries, kiwi, and mangoes. What’s more, it’s teeming with antioxidant properties, making it an exceptionally nutritious fruit.

All that said, if you’re new to dragon fruit, you might be wondering how to prepare it. The scaly skin, after all, can be a bit intimidating. To help you out, we’ve created a step by step guide explaining how to cut dragon fruit at home.

What Is Dragon Fruit?

Dragon fruit is a tropical fruit that’s native to Central America and Mexico. It’s also called pitaya and strawberry pears, and it’s part of the cactus family.

Where to Buy Dragon Fruit

Depending on where you live, it might not be the most familiar fruit. It thrives in tropical climates, so it only grows in a few states, including Florida and Hawaii. However, dragon fruit is becoming increasingly common in major grocery stores, so you might be lucky enough to find some. Otherwise, you can check Asian markets (such as H Mart) for the delicious fruit.

What to Look for When Buying Dragon Fruit

There are many varieties of dragon fruit, but in the United States, you’ll likely find:

• Pink skin and white flesh
• Red or pink skin and pink flesh
• Yellow skin and white flesh

All three types of dragon fruit contain tiny black seeds. In most grocery stores, you’ll likely find dragon fruit with pink outer skin and white flesh.

When shopping for dragon fruit, look for ripe ones with bright pink or yellow skin. Avoid fruits with soft or dark spots.

Health Benefits of Dragon Fruit

The tropical fruit is rich in beneficial antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. This includes vitamin C, which is essential for healthy immune function. Dragon fruit is also a source of fiber, B vitamins, iron, magnesium, potassium, and even some calcium, according to the Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry.

How to Cut Dragon Fruit

Dragon Fruit Wedges

To cut ripe dragon fruit, place it on a clean cutting board. Slice it in half, lengthwise, with a sharp knife.

This will create two equal halves.

Using a spoon, scoop out the dragon fruit flesh. If it’s ripe, the white portion should easily separate from the dragon fruit skin.

Place the flesh, flat side down, on your cutting board.

Cut the fruit into wedges by slicing lengthwise. The fruit is ready to enjoy.

Dragon Fruit Cubes

If you’d like to cut the fruit into cube form, place one slice on the cutting board, flat side down. Slice it in half, lengthwise.

Cut the slices, widthwise, to create bite-sized pieces. You can also leave the skin intact and use it as a bowl to display the cut-up pieces.

How to Store Freshly Cut Dragon Fruit

Store wedges or cubes of dragon fruit in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Eat it as soon as possible or within 3 days. You can also freeze dragon fruit in a covered container. Frozen dragon fruit is best enjoyed as soon as possible.

How to Use Dragon Fruit

Like many other fruits, this tropical treat can be used in myriad ways. Its subtly sweet flavor makes it an excellent choice for recipes like fruit salad and smoothie bowls.

Alternatively, if you want to brighten up your dessert, consider using pink dragon fruit. The bright color of this variety makes it an ideal topping for dishes like ice cream and yogurt.

How to Cut Dragon Fruit

Ingredients

• 1 Dragon fruit

Instructions

• To cut ripe dragon fruit, place it on a clean cutting board. Slice it in half, lengthwise, with a sharp knife. This will create two halves.
• Using a spoon, scoop out the dragon fruit flesh. If it’s ripe, the white portion should easily separate from the dragon fruit skin.
• Place the flesh, flat side down, on your cutting board.
• Cut the fruit into wedges by slicing lengthwise. If you’d like to cut the fruit into cube form, cut again widthwise.

Notes

• If you leave the skin halves intact, you can use them as bowls to hold the cut-up pieces.
• Store wedges or cubes of dragon fruit in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Eat it as soon as possible or within 3 days.
• You can also freeze dragon fruit in a covered freezer-safe container. Enjoy as soon as possible.