Are you wondering how to store cut papaya? Well, you’re in the right place! Learn the proper way of storing papaya and unlock essential facts about its shelf life.
If there’s one fruit that’s underrated yet incredibly versatile and delicious, it’s papaya.
Papaya refers to the fruit of the Carica papaya plant native to Central and South America and Southern Mexico.
However, now the papaya tree is cultivated in many parts of the world, especially in tropical areas.
The tropical fruit comes in two main types: Hawaiian and Mexican.
The Hawaiian papaya has a pear shape, and it’s smaller in size.
The skin of the fruit has a yellow-green color with melon-flavored flesh and soft seeds.
Meanwhile, Mexican papayas are larger than Hawaiian, averaging between 15 to 50 centimeters in length with thin, semi-smooth skin and bright yellow, orange, or pale green hues.
Either way, these varieties of papaya are considered edible, whether ripe or raw papaya.
Most people believe that papaya fruit is best when ripe and will only eat ripe papaya.
And in case it’s your first time hearing about this delicious fruit, papaya can also be cooked as vegetables.
Mind-blowing, right?
Green papaya can be enjoyed in salads, stews, soups, or even dessert when chilled.
At the same time, papayas that already ripen are a good addition to fruit salad alongside mango and ripe avocado.
See—you can make a lot with papaya.
Before you buy plenty in the grocery store, ensure that you know how to store the fresh fruit so it can last as long as possible.
Failure to store cut papaya correctly can speed up the ripening process, which eventually makes the fruit overripe then go bad.
The good news is that there are two techniques to store papaya—in the refrigerator and freezer.
Whatever method you choose, the following are all the ways that can keep papaya fresh.
How to store cut papaya in the refrigerator
There’s a high risk of making your papayas over-ripe quickly if you leave them at room temperature.
This concern is the very reason people have started to use a refrigerator for their papaya storage.
When stored correctly, your papaya should last for a couple of days or about a week in the refrigerator.
The process is relatively straightforward; here’s how to do it:
Tools needed:
-
- Papaya
- Spoon
- Vegetable peeler
- Paper towel
- Airtight container
- Refrigerator
Instructions for storing cut papaya in the fridge:
-
- You first need to wash the whole papaya thoroughly under running water to remove debris or dirt.
- Next, pat the papaya dry with a paper towel and use a sharp knife to cut the ends off the fruit.
- Cut fruit lengthwise and scrape away the seeds of the papaya using a spoon. Ensure not to scoop too deeply into the fruit so you won’t lose too much of its flesh.
- Remove the skin of the papaya using a vegetable peeler.
- Cut the papaya into your desired shape and size.
- Transfer the slices to an airtight container.
- Slide the container into the refrigerator.
Pro tip: Don’t throw away the papaya seeds as they are great for tenderizing meat.
How to freeze cut papaya
If you opt for long-term storage, then it’s the best time to use your freezer! Frozen papaya can stay fresh for up to a year.
Just make sure to keep your papaya slices tightly sealed in heavy-duty plastic freezer bags to avoid freezer burn.
Here are the step-by-step instructions on freezing cut papaya:
Tools needed:
-
- Papaya
- Spoon
- Vegetable peeler
- Paper towel
- Freezer-safe bag
- Freezer
Instruction for freezing cut papaya:
-
- Wash the whole papaya thoroughly under running water. Remove debris or dirt.
- Pat dry with a paper towel and use a sharp knife to cut the ends off the fruit.
- Cut fruit lengthwise and scrape away the black seeds of the papaya using a spoon.
- Using a vegetable peeler, remove the skin of the papaya.
- Cut the papaya into your desired shape and size.
- Pack cut papaya inside a freezer-safe bag.
- Store the fruit in the freezer and eat it within a year.
Pro tip: Freezing papayas will alter the texture of the fruit. The thawing and defrosting process can make the fruit a bit watery. This downside is why I prefer to use my frozen papaya in smoothies.
How to store unripe papaya (Bonus)
If you have unripe papaya and want to store it, letting the fruit rest on your countertop should do the trick.
Keep in mind that the fruit should remain at room temperature and be kept in a dry place.
Here’s how to store unripe papaya at room temperature:
Tools needed:
-
- Unripe papaya
- Kitchen countertop
- Brown paper bag
Instruction for storing unripe papaya at room temperature:
-
- Place your unripe papaya on your kitchen countertop at room temperature.
- Let the unripe fruit sit in a dry place.
- Transfer the whole fruit to a brown paper bag if you’re planning to speed up the ripening process.
- Monitor your papaya, so it doesn’t become overripe.
How to tell if cut papaya has gone bad
Papaya is a common ingredient for making various recipes, ranging from desserts to soups.
You can even eat them raw when ripe.
But like any other fruit, papaya gradually loses its quality over time and develops a bad taste and odor due to bacteria growth—and in some cases, makes you ill.
That’s why it’s essential to know how to tell whether cut papaya has gone bad.
Fortunately, you can look for certain sights to ensure you’re eating papaya that’s safe to consume.
Appearance
Before eating the stored cut papaya, it’s important to look at its appearance first for signs of spoilage.
Bad papaya tends to have molds on it—so in case you spot them, throw the stored papaya away as it can lead to food poisoning.
Smell
If you’re still undecided whether the fruit is bad or not after checking it visually, it’s always a good idea to give it a good sniff.
Fresh papaya should have a sweet and fruity smell. If your papaya smells like a fermented fruit or features a four smell, this is another sign that it has gone bad.
Taste
A telltale sign of bad is a bitter taste.
Fresh papaya fruit should have a mild to fairly sweet flavor with a creamy and butter-like texture.
The flesh of ripe papaya should melt in your mouth (though other varieties have firmer flesh) and taste like cantaloupe melon or tropical mango.
How long will cut papaya last
Your cut papaya lasts depending on its variety, storage condition, and storage method.
But typically, cut papaya stored in the refrigerator should last for about a week while frozen papaya is best eaten within a year.
The table below provides a breakdown of the shelf life of papaya, based on its storage condition and storage method.
In the fridge | In the freezer | At room temperature | |
---|---|---|---|
Cut papaya | about a week | up to a year | about 2 hours (should be refrigerated) |
How long can cut papaya sit out
You shouldn’t let your cut papaya sit out for more than two hours.
Leaving the cut fruit at room temperature or “danger zone” (the 40-140°F temperature range in which bacteria can grow and multiply) can result in illnesses.
Tips and Tricks
Here are some tips and tricks you need to know when storing cut papaya at home:
- Before cutting papaya, ensure to wash the fruit thoroughly to remove dirt.
- When removing the seeds, make sure not to scoop too deeply into the fruit so you won’t lose some of its flesh.
- Don’t throw away the papaya seeds, as they are great for tenderizing meat.
- Freezing papayas will alter the texture of the fruit. So keep that in mind before freezing the fruits.
- The best way to avoid freezing burn is by putting the cut fruit inside heavy-duty freezer bags.
The bottom line
Papayas are one of the most versatile fruits in your kitchen.
They come in different sizes, shapes, and sometimes colors.
Using proper storage methods will ensure that your papaya lasts as long as possible.
Cut papaya can be stored in two ways, such as in the refrigerator and freezer.
When stored in the fridge, the fruit can last for about a week, while frozen cut papaya can be stored within a year.
📙📙 Learn More About Papayas Here!📙📙
How To Store Cut Papaya In The Refrigerator
Storing cut papaya in the refrigerator is possible, but do you know how? Find out how to keep the tropical fruit fresh and explore its shelf life and tips for storage.
Ingredients
- Papaya
- Spoon
- Vegetable peeler
- Paper towel
- Airtight container
- Refrigerator
Instructions
- The first thing you need to do is wash the whole papaya thoroughly under running water to remove debris or dirt.
- Next, pat the fruit dry with a paper towel and use a sharp knife to cut ends off it.
- Cut fruit lengthwise and scrape away the seeds of the papaya using a spoon. Ensure not to scoop too deeply into the fruit so you won't lose some of its flesh.
- Remove the skin of the papaya using a vegetable peeler.
- Cut the papaya into your desired shape and size.
- Transfer the slices to an airtight container.
- Slide the container into the refrigerator.