How to Cut a Papaya

Co-authored by Jennifer Levasseur

Papayas were cultivated in Mexico many centuries ago, and they've become a popular treat worldwide. Papayas are shaped like eggplants and have mottled green skin with bright orange flesh inside. They are an excellent source of fiber, potassium, vitamin A and vitamin C. Learn how to cut a papaya and prepare it three ways: in a salad, in a smoothie, and as a sorbet.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Cutting the Papaya

1
Pick a ripe papaya. Papayas are ripe when their green skin has started turning yellow and looks bruised. When you press the papaya, you should be able to make a slight indentation, but the papaya should not be completely soft.
- If a papaya mushy or smells overly sweet, it's too ripe to eat. If it's green and quite firm, it needs to ripen for a few days. Set it on your counter and allow it to turn a little yellow.
- Both the large, long Caribbean papaya variety and the smaller Hawaiian variety can be tested for ripeness in this way.
- Papayas bruise extremely easily, so handle it with care on the way home from the market. You can easily cut around the blemishes to avoid them.
2
Wash the papaya. The green skin of the papaya is not edible, but it's still important to wash the fruit to prevent contaminating the inside when you cut into it.

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3
Lay the papaya on a flat surface. Use a cutting board or a countertop. Papayas are quite juicy and can make a bit of a mess, so you may want to have a dishtowel handy for cleanup.
4
Cut the papaya. Papayas are very soft inside, so handle it gently. Use the sharpest knife you have, or a serrated bread knife, to get a clean cut. Start by cutting off the top end of the papaya.
5
Slice the papaya in half lengthwise. Make sure the flesh inside looks ripe and fresh. It should have a slightly funny smell.
6
Scoop out the seeds from both halves of the papaya. Use a spoon to remove the black seeds and the sticky membrane that coats them.
7
Slice the papaya halves in half crosswise.
8
Use a sawing motion to slice off the skin. Repeat with all four quarters.
9
Slice the papaya into spears or chunks. Eat them fresh and unadorned, or use them to make one of the recipes below.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Making a Papaya Smoothie

1
Prepare a papaya and other fruit. Wash a ripe papaya, slice it in half lengthwise, discard the seeds and slice off the skin. Cut the papaya into a few large pieces. A papaya smoothie is delicious on its own, but you can also choose to make it with other fruit. Consider these options:
- Fresh or frozen blueberries. Blueberries have a lot of antioxidants and paired with papaya they would make a powerfully healthy smoothie.
- Kiwi and avocado. The kiwi offsets the papaya's sweetness with its bright flavor, and avocado makes for an especially creamy smoothie.
- Spinach or kale. Making a "green" smoothie is a great way to get a serving of vegetables at breakfast. Papaya is so sweet and flavorful that you won't be able to taste the greens.
2
Prepare the base. Papayas taste good with both cream and juice bases. Try one of the following bases to thin out your smoothie:
- A cup of yogurt, either flavored or plain.
- A cup of almond or cashew milk.
- A cup of orange juice or apple juice.
3
Add some extras. Enhance your smoothie with extra flavors or supplements to make it a complete meal. Consider the following options:
- A scoop of protein powder.
- A few spoonfuls of chia seeds.
- A tablespoon of peanut or almond butter.
4
Blend the ingredients. Place the fruit, base, and extras in a blender. Put the lid on the blender and use the "liquify" button to blend the ingredients until they are smooth.
- If you like a thinner smoothie, add more juice, milk or water.
- If you prefer your smoothies on the thicker side, add a few spoonfuls of instant oatmeal. Blend until smooth.
5
Serve the smoothie. Pour it into a glass and drink it with a straw, or if you made it extra thick, eat it with a spoon.

Community Q&A

Question

Is papaya good in fruit salad?

Community Answer

Absolutely! It should be the first ingredient. If you notice, when you buy "mixed fruit" in a can, you will see chunks of papaya in it.
Question

How do I store what I don't eat?

Community Answer

Cut it in small chunks and freeze them. You can use the frozen papaya for smoothies.
Question

Do I eat the skin?

Caeiia

Top Answerer

No, but you can use it by rubbing the inside juicy part on skin for exfoliation if you don't want to waste it.