When is a papaya ripe?

Harvesting and transportation of papayas

Good quality papayas are only harvested at a time when the skin is already slightly yellow. The papayas can only ripen at their destination when the signs of ripeness have begun. On the other hand, shipping of fully ripe fruits is usually not possible due to the shipping time, as papayas only last a limited time, even when chilled durable and are mostly grown in the following countries:

• Australia
• India
• Africa
• Middle and South America

However, if a papaya is immature with a completely green skin harvested and sold in the supermarket in this country, you'd better keep your hands off it. Completely unripe papayas do not ripen and have a very bitter taste.

The color of papaya

The color of a papaya is a good indicator of its state of ripeness. Fully ripe papayas are either yellow on the outside or have red spots and stripes. A papaya cannot actually be overripe, as it receives its maximum taste when it is fully ripe, which is even more noticeable when consumed fresh with a little lemon juice. Too long

stored papayas but can start to ferment and then develop an unpleasant smell and taste. This state can usually not be recognized from the color, but it can be recognized with a pressure test on the outer skin.

The pressure test at papayas

With a quick pressure test, you can usually see relatively easily when a papaya is suitable for consumption and when it is immature or already spoiled. If you press your fingers lightly against the outer skin of a papaya, it should give way slightly. However, if the fruit can be pushed in too easily, the specimen is already too old and may no longer have a good taste.

Let a papaya ripen

If a papaya is still a little too unripe, you can let it ripen for a few more days at home. To do this, wrap the slightly yellowish fruit in some newspaper and place it in a warm place. You should then check every day to see when it is the ideal time to consume it. If you cannot eat all of the fruit straight away, this is the best option for you storage for a few days in the refrigerator. For a longer period of time, you can cut the pulp of the papaya into cubes or in a pureed form for the preparation of desserts and smoothies freeze.

Tips & Tricks

In this country, the smaller papayas with a weight of about one pound are usually offered in stores. If you can find larger specimens, it is worth buying because of the superior taste of these fruits.

WK