Jackfruit (Artocarpus herterphyllus, if you like Latin) are fascinating fruit. They are the biggest tree fruit we know of and can reach up to 45 kg in weight!
They’re a tropical fruit and are widely grown in India and other parts of Asia.
What Do Jackfruit Look Like?
Apart from their size, you should be able to easily recognize this strange fruit by its green or greenish-yellow bumpy skin (the skin is inedible).
The flesh is stringy and the strange thing about it is that it has a meaty texture when unripe.
That is why it’s sometimes used as a meat substitute because when it is unripe, it has a neutral taste that can be spiced and used instead of tofu or soy in vegetarian curries and other dishes.
How To Tell If Jackfruit Has Gone Bad?
That leads us to today’s question. If the outside of a Jackfruit stays green or greenish-yellow, how do you know if it’s ripe or even bad?
Start by looking carefully at the skin. It should not have any dark patches and definitely no slime or mold. Next, check the texture. The fruit should be firm with no soft or soggy spots.
Your sense of smell should also alert you to a bad Jackfruit. It develops an unpleasant or even foul odor when bad.
Some people find the smell of ripe Jackfruit unpleasant or even foul when they are ripe but not bad, so smell is a tricky thing to go by.
We suggest buying your Jackfruit from a busy Asian market that does a high turnover. That way, you’re likely to get a fresh one.
Is Jackfruit Good For You?
It is! Jackfruit contains good amounts of fiber to keep your digestive system healthy. It also contains some protein, vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals.
In fact, ancient tribes used this fruit as a medicine, particularly for its antimicrobial and antifungal effects. However, no big studies have yet been done to prove its medicinal benefits.
How To Use Ripe Jackfruit
Ripe fruit can be eaten as you would any other tropical fruit. Remember not to eat the seeds. The flesh is delicious in fruit salads, smoothies, or desserts.
How To Store Jackfruit
You’ll want to know how to store your Jackfruit correctly to stop it from going bad. Before opening, it can be put on the kitchen countertop or pantry shelf for a few days.
Further ripening takes place when the fruit is not refrigerated so use it as soon as you can.
It is important to keep the ripe fruit in a cool environment away from the stove or direct sunlight.
If your Jackfruit isn’t too large, you can store it in the fridge. Alternatively, open the skin, remove the edible parts, and store these in plastic containers in the fridge for up to a week.
If the flesh becomes slimy and smells off, you know it has gone bad. Jackfruit flesh can also be frozen once it has been removed from the skin.
To Conclude
We hope this article encourages you to try this strange fruit at least once. It is fairly easy to detect if a Jackfruit is fresh or bad, so we hope you can find one to enjoy!