A fruit that stands out from the others in terms of taste and health is the dragon fruit. It’s also one of the few fruits with a face like a dragon, and picking it with your hands or a tool is equally simple.
Do you have questions about how to store dragon fruit? This website will teach you how to properly store dragon fruit so that it keeps for as long as possible—even up to several weeks!
Before you go out to buy dragon fruit, you should know how to store it properly. Dragon fruit should be kept in a cool, dry place. Avoid exposing it to the sunlight, and keep it in a refrigerator. If you want to preserve it for a longer time, you can keep it in the freezer instead.
What is Dragon Fruit?
A tropical fruit called dragon fruit resembles a pineapple but tastes like a banana. It does indeed resemble a dragon. When young, this fruit, which belongs to the cashew family, has a vivid pink or purple color. It resembles a tiny apricot in many ways. Later it becomes a mature ruby red or purple color.
The uncommon and unusual dragon fruit has recently gained popularity after being farmed for barely over a century. The uncommon fruit, dragon fruit, is present in most zoos and botanical gardens.
It is incredibly sweet, with tantalizing pineapple undertones and a flavor reminiscent of bananas, giving each bite not just one but two different fruity flavors. You won’t ever view the color purple the same way again after giving it a try.
Due to its high antioxidant activity, this fruit has recently become more well-known in Western nations. It functions best when included in a diet rich in vibrant greens.
How to Store Dragon Fruit?
Avoid peeling or cutting the fruits before long-term storage since this will reduce the time they will remain fresh.
Putting them into a clean bowl on your countertop is acceptable if you intend to consume them quickly. Keep them away from heaters and direct sunshine to prevent the fruit from becoming overripe too early.
They won’t need to be covered because doing so might cause them to mold. The thick skin on the fruit protects the hard fruit inside dragon fruits.
Keep your dragon fruits separate from other fruits like apples or bananas if you plan to store them in the refrigerator. These create ethylene, which causes the fruits to ripen too quickly.
If you chop them up before refrigerating, put them in an airtight container or a resealable plastic bag. It’s usually best to place them, whole or split up, into a resealable container.
Even if you store cut dragon fruits in the refrigerator, they will rapidly go bad.
Can Dragon Fruit Be Freeze?
Dragon fruit can be frozen, but there are a few considerations. It’s better to avoid freezing fruit whole unless you plan to utilize it within a few months. Instead, chop it off the rind before putting it in a freezer-safe, airtight container.
If the fruit is not sufficiently protected, frequent opening and closing of the freezer may result in freezer burn.
It would be best if you flashed freeze them to preserve most of their texture.
You won’t be able to eat the whole dragon fruit raw like freshly plucked fruit after removing it from the freezer and letting it defrost. Fruit’s linkages will unavoidably be broken down during freezing, making the fruit rather mushy after thawing.
It works best when used to make purees, dessert toppings, or smoothies, which are all excellent!
Freezing Dragon Fruit
- Wash it thoroughly with water to remove dirt or chemicals from the fruit’s skin.
- Apply a sharp knife to the fruit and cut it in half.
- Peel off the skin or carefully spoon out the contents.
- On a cutting board, separate the fruit’s flesh into equal-sized pieces. You can choose between large, medium, or little pieces.
- Spread a piece of baking parchment over the fruit cubes on a fresh tray. Make sure that no piece touches another.
- Your fruit should be frozen on the tray for around an hour (the length of time will ultimately depend on your freezer).
- Verify that the fruit is frozen before removing it from the tray and placing it right away into a freezer bag or other container that can be sealed. Before sealing, let out as much air as possible.
- The name of the fruit and the date it was frozen should be marked on your bag or container. Never keep it for longer than a year; after thawing, ensure it still looks and smells nice. Put it in the garbage if not.
How should Dragon Fruit be Stored in the Fridge?
Make sure your dragon fruit is ripe before putting it in the Fridge because putting it in a cold environment when it isn’t will keep it unripe. Fruits that are not ripe are almost completely bland and disappointing.
The sweetest dragon fruit varieties are those with yellow flesh, followed by those with pink or red flesh.
Although dicing your dragon fruit before chilling is convenient, it will dramatically reduce its shelf life. They last longer when they are stored intact.
Fruit should be washed, dried, and put into a ziplock bag or clean, airtight container. Only remove it when you are prepared to utilize it in the next two to three weeks.
Throw it away rather than eating it if you detect any mushiness or odor.
Fruit, especially cut fruit, can absorb the flavors of other items in your refrigerator and develop a disagreeable taste if it is not stored in an airtight container. Always check that the bag, tub, or jar is tightly closed.
Make sure to remove as much extra air from the bag before you close it when storing chopped-up dragon fruit in a bag in the refrigerator. When it comes to preservation, oxygen is NOT your friend.
Lemon juice sprinkled over chopped dragon fruit can extend its shelf life.
Benefits of Dragon Fruit Consumption
A tasty fruit with numerous health advantages is dragon fruit.
As a result of its high nutritional content and bioactive ingredients, which include potent natural antioxidants, dragon fruit, also known as pitaya, is an exotic tropical plant that offers numerous advantages to human health. A variety of practical biological actions against harmful microbes, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses, as well as disorders including diabetes, obesity, hyperlipidemia, and cancer, are possessed by extracts from the stems, blossoms, peels, and pulp of dragon fruit.
1. Iron is abundant in dragon fruit.
Iron is crucial for producing red blood cells, which transport oxygen throughout the body.
The red blood cell manufacturing process is aided by the iron found in the dragon fruit. It helps to strengthen skin, hair, and nails while promoting healthy brain and nerve function, especially for people with anemia.
2. The vitamin C content of dragon fruit is high.
The high vitamin C content of dragon fruit is beneficial to your health. Vitamin C lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease and aids the body’s ability to fight off infections.
Additionally, a lower incidence of cancers has been associated with dragon fruit’s high vitamin C content.
3. Dragon fruit promotes cardiovascular health
Consuming dragon fruit can lower harmful cholesterol levels and minimize the chance of developing heart disease. Additionally, it’s a great source of unsaturated fat, which is good for your heart.
4. Dragon fruit keeps blood sugar levels stable.
You may continue to lose weight and have a healthy lifestyle since the dragon fruit supplies all the natural sugars your body needs.
People on a diet should eat dragon fruit instead of other meals containing more sugar because it typically contains more than four grams of natural sugar.
5. Dragon fruit can help you avoid acne
One of the few all-natural skin treatments is dragon fruit. This fruit is said to have anti-inflammatory, collagen-producing, and detoxifying effects.
It also promises to help shield against wrinkles, aging, and acne. Because of its abundant beta-carotene and polysaccharides, it has these properties (or dietary fiber).
Additionally, it contains lots of beneficial antioxidants for skiing.
6. Dragon fruit is gastrointestinally healthy
A wonderful source of vitamins and nutrients, dragon fruit, is also an excellent source of energy for the body and is beneficial for digestion.
If you have acid reflux disease or other stomach issues, including ulcers and indigestion, it can help you rebuild your stomach. Dragon fruit also has a lot of fiber, which supports regular digestion.
7. Dragon fruit boosts the body’s defense mechanisms
The common flu, the common cold, and even cancer are fought off with the aid of dragon fruit. You are more likely to be able to fend off any disease attacking your body if your immune system is stronger.
Dragon fruit is healthy for the body to eat. Increasing the cell’s immunity is a great idea. The fruit also boosts energy levels and aids the body in the fight against free radicals.
8. Dragon fruit keeps cholesterol levels stable.
By reducing the amount of cholesterol your body produces, dragon fruit can help keep your heart healthy.
According to scientific studies, this fruit is full of antioxidants, which will help maintain normal cholesterol levels.
How to Spot Spoiled Dragon Fruit?
Despite having a strong external rind, dragon fruit has a relatively soft interior. Always handle the fruit gently to avoid accidentally breaking or bruising the skin, which will hasten to ripen.
Only select perfect-looking dragon fruits if you intend to store them for any time. Use the fruit immediately if it has any flat spots, dents, or apparent bruising; chop out the damaged areas, and freeze the fruit.
Don’t stack your dragon fruit on top of one another, even if you’re keeping them in a fruit basket or another container; doing so could destroy them. They don’t keep for very long because they are highly liquid-heavy.
You can search for a few telltale indications to see if your fruits have spoiled. These consist of the following:
- The skin becomes wrinkly, sags, or darkens.
- The fruits’ leaflets have turned brown.
- The skin is torn apart. It may spoil if left unattended for longer than a few hours.
- The flesh is visible through the skin.
- Skin that is blotchy and discolored. The color should be uniform throughout.
- There is a foul odor.
- To the touch, it turns squishy.
Conclusion
Dragon fruit is a healthy and nutritious snack that is easy to peel and store. Once peeled, the fruit can be diced or used in recipes. The flesh is similar to avocado, and the texture is similar to kiwifruit. Before storing, rinse and dry dragon fruit, removing any stickers. Next, slice dragon fruit in half lengthwise. The fruit is easier to peel when both ends are sliced off. Peel the fruit carefully by gently pulling on the skin to remove the flesh. Dice the fruit to fit into your preferred portion.
Dragon fruits can be stored for several days at room temperature or in the refrigerator. During this time, they will keep their fresh flavor. After that, you can place them in a plastic bag until you are ready to cut them. Store them away from heat and direct sunlight, as they will ripen quickly if left out.
