How To Ripen Jackfruit: Tips for Ripening and Picking

If you are fortunate enough to have a Jackfruit tree that is beginning to bear Jackfruit, you may want to know how to determine when the fruit is ready for picking. If you are also fortunate enough to have a nearby market that sells fresh Jackfruit, you may want to know how to choose a Jackfruit that is ripe for eating. And finally if you have a picked fresh Jackfruit that is still not quiet ripe for eating, how can you get it to ripen faster. But first, How to Ripen Jackfruit?

Jackfruit can be ripened by placing it into a bag with other fruit that is already ripe, such as bananas, and left for 24 hours. The ethylene gas that the ripe fruits give off will speed up the ripening process of the Jackfruit. When ripe, Jackfruit will give off a strong smell, and when pressed with your fingers will give way a little.

Generally, you shouldn’t open Jackfruit until it gives off a distinct smell, indicating that it is ripe. When the fruit is mature, it will make a dull hollow noise when tapped. The green unripe fruit will have a solid sound whereas the mature fruit will have a hollow sound.

So here is how to tell if a Jackfruit is ripe, weather on a tree or bought from a market.

• Distinct strong smell
• Feel softer and give way a little when pressed
• Dull hollow noise when tapped
• Segements on skin opened up

If your Jackfruit is picked and still needs to be ripened before eating then you can follow the steps below.

How Do You Ripen Jackfruit Fast

The best way to ripen a Jackfruit fast is to place it in a plastic bag with a ripe bananas and seal the bag. The ripe bananas release the gas ethene (formerly called ethylene) causing the Jackfruit to convert starches to sugars and to breakdown the Jackfruits cell walls which promotes softening and ripening. This ripening process only takes 24 to 48 hours.

However, even if you left the unripe Jackfruit to ripen on its own, it usually only takes a week or less for the skin color to change from green to yellowish-brown. As it gets riper, the aroma also becomes stronger, changing to a sweet smell, much like a mix of banana and pineapple. Of course, ripening times depend on how mature the fruit is when picked or bought from a store.

For additional information on When Jackfruit is Ripe please take a look at the article: When Is Jackfruit Ripe. You will learn more tips and tricks on how to determine when your Jackfruit is ripe.

Will Jackfruit Ripen After Picking

Jackfruit will continue to ripen after picking it off the tree. It will generally ripen within 7 days if left on the counter, however it depends on how early it was picked and how mature the fruit is. Once ripe it can be stored in the refrigerator.

It is always best to let the fruit ripen on the tree if you can. The natural ripening process will ensure maximum nutrition along with optmal vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, sweetness and flavour.

In some cases it is not practical to let the fruit ripen on the tree such as protecting it from animals that may be attracted to it before you can pick it, or if the fruit becomes too heavy and naturally falls from the tree. In these cases you would need to ripen it after picking. For the best Jackfruit varieties please check out the article: Best Jackfruit Varieties and Which Jackfruit is Best

Will Jackfruit Ripen in The Refrigerator

Jackfruit will ripen in the refigerator however the ripening process will take longer than if left outside the refrigerator, such as on a counter. Once ripe, Jackfruit can be stored in the refrigerator for upto 7 days and in the freezer for upto 2 months.

If you are storing the Jackfruit in the freezer, then it is best to cut it up into small sections and place into an airtight container before placing it into the freezer. This will ensure maximum lifespan of the fruits flavour and texture.

How To Cut Jackfruit

Jackfruit is not the easiset fruit to cut due to its high latex or sap content along with its size and the fact that the edible bulbs are covered in a outer layer of skin. It is best to wear gloves when cutting a Jackfruit to prevent the oozing sap from covering your hands.

Here are the folowing five steps to cutting a Jackfruit:

1. Pick The Fruit and Leave To Ripen

When to color of the skin on the fruit has turned from a green to a yellowish brown then it is ready to pick. Using a knife, cut the fruit from the tree.

Usually, you will need to leave the fruit a few more days to fully ripen once it is cut from the tree. It should emit a pleasent strong sweet aroma and be tender to the touch.

2. Apply Oil Onto The Knife and Hands

The inside of the Jackfruit contains a great deal of latex or sticky sap. Place some oil, such as coconut oil or olive oil onto your hands and knife to help the knife slip through this latex.

Alternatively, to oiling your hands you could put on some gloves.

3. Cut The Jackfruit By Spirals

Working from the top down, cut the Jackfruit in a spiral direction as indicated in the video below.

4. Expose The Fruit Pods

Pull the spiral sections away from the fruit bulbs and discard the waste.

5. Extract The Fruit Pods and Remove the Seeds

Once the skin and outer layers have been removed you can pull apart the fruit bulbs one by one seperating the seeds, which can also be eaten after boiling. Once the seeds have been boiled you can remove the seeds skin and they can be eaten like any other seed. They have appearance like Brazil nuts with a nutty flavour.

Did you know that you can grow Jackfruit in many parts of the United States. To find out which areas and how to go about growing your own Jackfruit tree please take a look at: Growing Jackfruit in Texas and Can Jackfruit Grow in California

What To Do With Unripe Jackfruit

Unripe Jackfruit has a white flesh with very little aroma and a nuetral flavour, making it ideal as a meat alternative in cooking. Its texture is much like pulled pork and will easily absorb the different herbs and spices that maybe used in a dish while cooking.

If you have never tried jackfruit then you are in for a treat, Give it a go, it is best tree ripened, but alternatively you can try the unripe Jackfruit in soups and dishes as a healthy meat alternative. You can buy the canned unripe jackfruit, and even the prepackaged which is prepared and ready to put straight into your favourite meatless dishes.