There’s more than one way to skin a… mango – so put away your knives and grab that water glass. Here are six techniques to up your fresh fruit game this summer.
Dragonfruit
Ever wonder how those perfect dotted discs of dragonfruit come to be? It’s easier than you think. Though it doesn’t quite look like it, dragonfruit is really easy to peel. Just top and tail, make a cut from end to end and pull back the skin like a banana.
Make something:
Dragon fruit shake
Lychee
Gone are the days of picking pea-sized bits of lychee shell away with your fingernails. By clicking off the stem with your thumb, making a crack and squeezing the (opposite) pointy end of the fruit you can pop out a dent-free piece of fruit in less than half the time.
Put a lychee on it
Lychee, cucumber and chilli salad
Mango
If you’re not in the game of cutting up , a simple trick to getting the peel off a mango cheek is to slide it over the edge of a wide and thin water glass. It doesn’t make a nice smooth edge like a knife does, but for smoothies, sauce or a decent party trick it works a treat.
Put those cheeks to good use
Mango and banana yoghurt gelato
Pineapple
This one’s less of a trick and more of a how-to for getting the most out of your piña. If you slice the skin off thinly and leave the pokey eyelets exposed you can follow the natural pattern all the way round cutting diagonal ridges with a sharp knife. It not only saves extra sweet flesh, but looks quite impressive. The only thing to note here is that the ridges will flow perfectly on the diagonal in only one direction, so follow them with your finger before making the first cut.
You can leave the core in if you like, but it contains the highest concentration of , which is the protein-dissolving enzyme responsible for the post-pineapple binge sore mouth feeling.
Be a pineapple pincher
Pineapple tarte tatin
Pomegranate
Gone are the days of bashing half a pomegranate over a bowl until left with a mess of red juice and half-cut arils. We’re about to teach you about pomegranate anatomy. The thing has natural segments and will open up like a jeweled star-fish. This technique is even easier than it looks (we did it in one take), just make sure to use a small, sharp knife and don’t cut too deep or you’ll end up severing the arils.
Break out the pom poms
Dukkah lamb cutlets with mint and pomegranate salad
Durian
It’s a polarizing fruit, and after picking up the thorny beast you may be attempted to attack back using a knife. What some may not know is that the durian splits open naturally in a line along the highest point of each segment. These bumps are like pods for the sweet and stinky flesh, which you can carefully dig out the fruit with a spoon or your hands. It will ripen from the bottom first, so push down to find a natural split and work your way back toward the stem from there.
Get to know the stinky fruit
Step this way for durian crepe cakes and taro swiss rolls
