One of the first things I learned in culinary school was how to use a sharp paring knife to carefully peel a kiwi. The small fruit is really slippery once the fuzzy skin has been removed, so it's not the easiest kitchen prep task. I hadn't thought of kiwi much recently, until it popped up on my social media feed, namely around the topic of kiwi skin.In a post shared by @costcotv and @shopwithtoshie, creator Toshie Lucas saw some ruby red kiwi for sale at Costco. She grabbed a two-pound box, brought it home and gave the fruit a try. The only prep she did? Wash the fruit and cut it in half. In the caption, she wrote, "Is it just me, or does anyone else eat the skin?"Based on my culinary education, I'd assumed that peeling was a necessary step when eating kiwi, but maybe that wasn't the case. Can you eat kiwi skin? I mean, if you ask Lucas, the answer seems to be yes, but I was curious to know more.To do just that, I called up a couple of experts to get an answer to this juicy question. While I was at it, I was able to find out even more about the best way to eat kiwi, with or without skin. Here's what you need to know.Related: 9 Ways Eating Kiwi Benefits the Body, According to Registered Dietitians?? SIGN UP to get delicious recipes, handy kitchen hacks & more in our daily Pop Kitchen newsletter. ??
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A post shared by Toshie Lucas - Costco Finds & Deals (@costcotv)
To get the answer to this (and my other burning kiwi questions), I spoke with Robert Schueller, Director of Public Relations at Melissa’s Produce and Joy Bauer, a registered dietitian and a nutrition/health expert who you might have seen on the Today Show.They both told me that the fuzzy skin that I was trained to discard is not only edible but also incredibly nutritious. “There are three varieties of kiwi; one that has a fuzzy, brown skin with a green interior and two with brown, hairless skin with a golden-yellow or ruby-red flesh," says Schueller. The hairy texture of green kiwi skins can be off-putting for some, so he suggested trying a skin-on golden kiwi first because it has a smoother texture than other kiwi varieties. As with all produce, it's also important to wash the kiwi well before eating it, whether you're eating the skin or not.Bauer adds that consuming kiwi with skin provides more fiber than eating the flesh alone. “Kiwi skin contains vitamin E and C, polyphenols and antioxidants, which can help protect against disease and ease inflammation,” she says. By eating kiwi with the skin, you maximize its nutritional potential and get a natural immune boost at the same time. Plus, not peeling saves you time!Related: There Are Over 400 Types of Berries—These Are the Ones With the Best Health Benefits
How Can You Tell When a Kiwi Is Ripe?
Regardless of variety, there is a universal way of telling when a kiwi is ripe. According to Schueller, the fruit should feel soft when gently squeezed. If it's rock hard, give it a little more time. He adds that kiwis are generally not sold in perfectly ripe condition, so you should leave them on the counter for two to three days to ripen. Ripe kiwis can be stored in the refrigerator to increase their shelf life for up to a week.Related: 25 Types of Apples (and What to Do With Them)
@jessicaygavinMaster the art of kiwi preparation! Here’s how to cut a kiwi ?✂️ #howtocutkiwis #kiwi #kiwifruit #cheftips #kitchenhacks
♬ Happy, summer, ukulele(852618) - Eternal WavesThis all depends on if you're peeling it or not. Either way, start by washing the fruit well. If you're peeling it, use a small, sharp knife to cut off both ends, then peel all the way around the fruit, says Schueller. You can also peel the fruit using a vegetable peeler, if that's easier for you. If you have a very ripe kiwi, you can skip the sharp tools and use a spoon instead. Just cut off the ends, then carefully scoop around the flesh with a spoon. The fruit will pop right out, which can be a pretty satisfying process.If you want to eat the kiwi with skin, just cut off the ends and chop—or chomp—away.Related: All About Daikon Radishes, the Versatile Veggie You Should Be Using More Often
What Are the Best Ways to Eat a Kiwi?
Kiwi is a natural for straight-up snacking or adding to a fruit salad, but the sweet-tart fruit also makes a tasty relish when paired with meats, like grilled pork chops or lamb. It's also a pretty addition to a cheese board, especially if you use a combination of green, yellow and red kiwi.
Bauer is a big kiwi fan and has some favorite uses too. One of them is what she calls a Char-Greenery Board, which is a vegetarian twist on a charcuterie board that features an array of green fruits and vegetables. For a super quick summer drink, she likes to muddle kiwi, cucumber and lime in a glass, then top with sparkling water, ice and some fresh herbs (mint or basil are both great) for a quick and easy take on spa water.
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