When Eve was visiting a few weeks ago, she said that someone was touring grocery stores in her area teaching people how to eat kiwifruit efficiently. I expressed some scepticism that this was necessary; she assured me it was. For fun I decided to do a photo shoot of how to cut and eat kiwifruit the way I learned as a child in New Zealand (it also gave me an excuse to play around with hosting pictures on Flickr). So here you have the series, enjoy! I do find that kiwifruit from New Zealand taste better, the ones from other countries seem to be less intense and juicy. If they’re not ripe when you get them, put them in a paper bag with an apple to ripen. They keep for some time in the fridge but taste better at room temperature. Once the skin has started to wrinkle, eat without delay as they are on their way to being too soft and squidgy. I have made kiwifruit lemonade for a party which is fun (the green colour is startling to many people) and a good way to use up squidgy kiwifruit.
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Nice pics! Yeah, the weird part was that this needed to be taught, but honestly I have never seen it eaten or served this way in the U.S. (Apparently the rest of the world has already figured this out.) Mostly I’ve seen people here treat it as okra-like slimy produce, which must be messily peeled and sliced with a knife.
The lady doing the tour (she was representing Zespri and runs her own farm) gave out these cool translucent green plastic spoons with a knife on the other end (spifes?) for putting into lunchboxes etc. with your kiwifruit.
The peeling and slicing is fine if you want to put slices of kiwifruit onto a cake or something like that. I usually cut the ripe kiwifruit with the pointy end of a normal teaspoon myself, no need for a special type of spoon, although for these photos I used a knife to get a nice clean cut.
Indeed, if you want to eat it by itself, like a canteloupe, the above procedure seems to make sense, but if you are mixing it with something else, as in a fruit salad or on cereal, you don’t have much choice but peel ‘n slice (‘n dice).
But perhaps only eating it alone is kiwiacceptable?
Y’know, the skin is edible. Call me a barbarian, but I just eat kiwifruit like I eat an apple.
John, the three most common ways of using kiwifruit I saw in New Zealand were on their own, on a pavlova, or in trifle. The latter two uses need to have nice slices of course, particularly if you make your trifle in a glass bowl to show off the layers.
Pat, I will admit I’ve never tried eating the kiwifruit skin. I did go through a phase of eating orange skins though, till I got sick of having to wash them to get the wax and other gunk off. I assume you don’t eat the hard bit that’s usually at one end?
Correct — I leave the little hard bit — that’s the kiwifruit equivalent of the apple core 🙂
Question: Is it common practice in New Zealand to eat Kiwifruit with the skin on?
Eating the skin does add valuable fiber and nutrients to this already high ranking super fruit. I believe the most efficient way to eat the fruit is with the skin on. Give it a quick rub and a rinse then 5 bites and the little emerald fruit is on the inside.
I never noticed anyone in New Zealand or Australia eating kiwifruit with the skin. Mind you, it’s not something I really watched for.
I like kiwi fruit with the skin on too — the best part of the fruit if you ask me — anyway, just give it a little rub first to remove some of that annoying hair first!
Hello Lauren,
Thanks for interesting articles. Can I post some of your articles on my website ?
Hi Robert, I emailed you separately. cheers, Lauren
Hi! I was doing some research online to find this awesome Kiwifruit spoon and came across your website. I had one of those plastic spoon/knife things you talk about that the lady from Zespri gave you.
Do you know how I can get my hands on one? I have lost mine and am very sad about it. The store I got it at doesn’t sell it any more and I am desperately trying to find a replacement. Can you help me out?
Thanks!!!
Jenn
Jenn: it was one of my commentors who talked about the spoon/knife thing. I’m afraid I’ve never seen one and don’t know where to get them. You could try contacting Zespri I guess; they might be able to help you. Good luck in your search!
nice post, thx
wonder if you can eat this furry cover of kiwi fruit.… heard that it is eatable 🙂
chris
Some people do eat the skin, but I don’t.
I enjoyed reading your post and the visuals on how to eat a kiwi. Thank you. And I loved reading the comments from others. The New Zealand season is just about over — but they will return mid May in 2010. I am biased since I work for them but I must say that the passion and knowledge shown by the 2,700 plus growers in New Zealand ensure that you get a wonderful tasting piece of fruit.
In the meantime, until end of November 2009 you can win a trip to NZ by going to http://www.thegreatkiwiadventure.com.
If you are keen on getting a SPIFE you can send a self addressed stamped (#9 or #10) to:
Free ZESPRI Spife
#126 — 1857 West 4th Avenue
Vancouver, BC V6J 1M4
what is the name for the hard bit on the end of the fruit, please.