Judging the passion fruit for ripeness can be tricky because it seems old and wrinkled before it’s ripe.
However, if you know what to look for and how to feel it in your palm, you can select the perfect one.
Passion fruit is the fruit of the Passiflora vine, which is also called passion flower (1).
It has a rough outer rind and a luscious, seed-filled core.
There are various sorts that vary in size and color.
Purple and yellow variations are the most common.
Passiflora edulis variety has oval-shaped, purple skin, while Passiflora flavicarpa has yellow skin and is usually larger than the purple variety (2).
Despite its tropical origins, certain varieties can thrive in subtropical regions.
As a result, they’re grown all over the world, in Asia, Europe, Australia, and South and North America.
That’s said when the fruit is mature, it will turn from green to a wrinkled or dimpled appearance.
Recognize Ripeness by Color
When the passion fruit is not ripe, it appears green. The more green it is, the less ripe it is. This applies to all varieties.
Look for fruit that has become purple or yellow. Some will look consistent, while others may be a combination of colors. Sometimes it can ripen without much change in color.
If you’re cultivating your own and come across green passion fruit that has fallen off the tree vine, check it using additional methods before throwing it.
Most of the passion fruit will drop from the vine when fully ripe (3).
Next, determine the ripeness of the fruit by looking at its skin.
A fully ripe passion fruit will usually have wrinkles and dimples on the surface (4).
However, always prefer slightly wrinkled over highly wrinkled passion fruit. Passion fruit that is very wrinkled has passed its prime or spoiled.
Look for minor wounds and patches, which are common. However, passion fruit that is damaged or has cuts through the skin is more susceptible to mold.
You can remove bruised or moldy areas from the rest of the fruit because you are not consuming the skin.
Testing by Weight and Touch
Ripe passion fruit will fall from the tree on its own because of its increased weight. If you are picking fruit from a tree, do not pick it.
Allow gravity to do the work. Unripe passion fruit may fall because of the weather or if the tree is weak or dehydrated. Before consuming, use various methods to double-check its ripeness.
You can, however, weigh the fruit in the palm of your hand. Unripe passion fruit is often very light.
Always go for those that appear to be heavier than their size shows. A ripe passion fruit should have a diameter of 4–8 centimeters and weigh between 35 and 65 grams (5).
Last but not least, lightly squeeze the fruit. When squeezed, the skin should yield slightly but remain firm. If the fruit feels rock hard, it is unripe; if it feels too soft, the fruit has passed its prime.
Ripening and Storing Passion Fruit
If you have fruit that is nearly ripe but not quite there, give it a few days to ripen more. Place your passion fruit at room temperature and inspect it daily so you can have it before it becomes too wrinkled, at which point it spoils.
However, do not eat the skin. To eat passion fruit, cut off the top and eat it with a spoon. Refrigerate or freeze your fruit once you’ve cut it open to keep it from deteriorating.
Refrigerated fruit should last only a week. Seal it in a high-quality freezer bag and freeze it for longer storage.
Conclusion
Passion fruit is the fruit of the Passiflora vine, which is also known as the passion flower.
It features a hard rind on the outside and a sweet, seed-filled center on the inside.
There are various varieties that vary in size and color.
When fully ripe, most passion fruit will fall from the tree.
If the fruit is rock hard, it is unripe; if the fruit is squishy, it has passed its prime.
Once you’ve cut the fruit open, keep it refrigerated or frozen to keep it from spoiling.
Passion fruit is an excellent choice for a healthy and delightful snack, making it an ideal addition to a healthy, balanced diet.
