We all love grapefruits for the sake of high nutrients and low calorie count. Their bittersweet and sour taste are actually not that bitter if you cut them right.
Getting to that sweet-tart citrus flesh underneath the pith and peel may sound overwhelming. However, once you learn how to cut a grapefruit the right way, you’ll be peeling, pithing, and slicing like a pro. Furthermore, these delectable, highly nutritious goodies will help liven up your fruit trays, breakfasts in bed, and everyday snacks.
How to cut a grapefruit :
- Slice off the ends of the grapefruit from both sides.
- Place the grapefruit such that it stands firmly on the cutting board.
- Use a chef’s knife to cut away the rind and pith of the grapefruit.
- Slice the grapefruit sections divided by their membranes.
- Work around all the sections.
Voila, you have perfectly sliced pieces of grapefruit to devour. Don’t worry if you’re still a tad confused, we will show you how to cut a grapefruit in greater detail later, as well as share some other ways that a grapefruit can be cut. First, let’s look at how to select a grapefruit.
Table of contents
How to select grapefruit
Grapefruits come in a number of colours and sizes, such as yellow, pink, white and orange. No matter which one you choose, here are the things to remember when selecting a grapefruit:
- Select a ripe grapefruit with a slightly deep, uniform colour.
- Pick a grapefruit that feels firm and heavy for its size.
- Lastly, check to see if it’s free from bruises and blemishes.
How to cut a grapefruit
Now that you have perfectly ripe grapefruits at your disposal, let’s get down to some grapefruit cutting. There are a number of ways this can be done. First, here are the tools that you’ll be needing:
Tools needed
- A cutting board
- A sharp knife- preferably chef knife or paring knife
- Grapefruits!
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Tips and tricks
Before we begin, here are some things to keep in mind:
- Wash the citrus goods thoroughly with vinegar and water.
- Place a cloth or paper towel beneath your cutting board to absorb any grapefruit juice spillage.
- Cut off both ends of the grapefruit to allow it to stand firmly on the cutting board.
The orange method
We like to call the first method of cutting and eating a grapefruit the orange method. This is because in this method, we eat the grapefruit just like we eat an orange:
- Use a sharp knife to run it along the peel of the grapefruit.
- Make another cut whilst sparing the flesh of the grapefruit.
- Remove the entire peel this way.
- Remove the white pith, which is the white spongy lining found inside most citrus fruits.
- Break the sections of the fruit flesh and dive in.
The spoon method
It is quite obvious why we call this the spoon method: you devour it with a spoon!
- Use a sharp knife to cut the grapefruit in two halves.
- Run your knife around each section of the grapefruit divided by the membranes.
- Use a spoon to scoop out the grapefruit flesh.
Supreme method: best way to cut a grapefruit
- Slice the grapefruit from the top and bottom in a way that you can see all the sections of the grapefruit in the shape of a wagon.
- Next, place the grapefruit vertically onto the cutting board.
- The next step involves peeling and pithing the grapefruit. Use a chef’s knife or paring knife to cut the rind (outer skin) of the grapefruit. You will have to use curving motions with your knife to cut between the grapefruit flesh and the skin, since the grapefruit is basically round.
- Work around your way until all the rind is separated from the flesh.
- Peel away or trim any pieces of rind that is left. Knife cuts don’t always remove the entire pith, so you have to do the pithing once more.
- Next, use your knife to slice into the fruit from where the membrane divides the grapefruit sections. You can begin from anywhere.
- Similarly, you have to cut at the other end of the grapefruit section divided by the membrane so you can pull out your first grapefruit supreme.
- Now that you have removed a section of the grapefruit, it will be easier to remove the remaining ones. Instead of repeating the cut you made for the previous grapefruit section, now you will insert your knife from the inner edge of the fruit flesh up to the outer edge. Cutting this way will allow you to lose as little flesh as possible.
- Do this for the entire grapefruit.
This is the best method for eating a grapefruit. However, this way the flesh sometimes gets cut with the pith and peel. You can squeeze the juice from the remains to use in salad dressings or even drink it.
The slicing method
- Place your grapefruit onto the cutting board at its side.
- Use a sharp knife to cut the entire grapefruit into slices.
- Next, cut those slices again in halves.
- The next step involves pithing and peeling. For this step, use your knife to cut through the pith and flesh.
- Remove any pith that is left.
You now have cute little slices of grapefruit cut in halves, ready to serve.
Flesh out method
We like to call this method of eating a grapefruit as the “flesh out” method, as we tend to take out the grapefruit flesh right from its membrane coats.
- To begin, follow the method that we described in the “orange method”.
- Use your knife to poke into the membrane of any of the grapefruit sections.
- Insert your finger inside the membrane and tear it away from the grapefruit flesh.
- Remove the membrane coat from the back as well.
- Repeat for all grapefruit sections.
What will grapefruit do to your body?
Grapefruits are highly nutritious fruits that are low in calories, yet heavy with nutrients. They are heavily loaded with vitamin C and vitamin A, fiber as well as antioxidants.
These citrus fruits are known to provide various benefits to those who devour them:
- Vitamin C and vitamin A in grapefruits help boost the immune system.
- 91% of water in these citrus goodies helps keep you hydrated.
- Grapefruits help in managing weight by slowing down your digestion, making you feel full for longer, as well as reduce your chances of overeating.
- Citric acid in grapefruits can help avoid kidney stones by binding with calcium and preventing excess calcium build-up.
- Fiber and potassium help maintain your blood pressure as well as heart health. They also help with conditions such as diabetes, cancer, stroke and even skin diseases.
Grapefruit recipes
We are sure that you, by now, must have grown some liking towards these nutritious goodies. Here are some lip smacking grapefruit recipes that you can try to get the most out of this healthy fruit:
Warm and cozy grapefruit tea
Who doesn’t love a warm cup of tea? We know we do. Try this warm cup of grapefruit tea made from a blend of honey, all spice, cinnamon and grapefruit juice for a new, refreshing taste.
You can follow the recipe here.
Grapefruit yogurt parfait
This grapefruit recipe is a must try if you are a yogurt lover and love a mix of sweet and tart. These delicious sundaes topped with almond slices are sure to brighten up your dreary mornings as well as make perfect snacks.
Follow the recipe link to make perfect grapefruit yogurt parfaits every time.
FAQs about grapefruits
How do you store grapefruits?
You can store your grapefruits at room temperature, or store them in the fridge which helps in preserving it for longer.
How long does peeled grapefruit last?
A peeled grapefruit can last in the fridge for about 5 days up to a week. Also, make sure that the container in which you store the grapefruit is airtight and sealed.
Now that you have learned the many ways of cutting a grapefruit, let’s get down to some grapefruit business. Don’t have the right knife to begin? Check out our knives collection at HDMD and thank us later for those perfectly sliced grapefruit sections each time.
