Fresh papaya is a fruit relished almost throughout the year
. The fruit is also imported in countries which dont grow papaya. The fruit has many nutritional values; however papaya should not be consumed during pregnancy. You can also buy bottled or canned papaya nectar from the market. Some markets also sell chopped papaya slices. The skin of the papaya is not edible but you can eat the peppery seeds.
An average papaya weighs around twenty pounds and measures six inches. You should buy papayas that appear yellow with a small tinge of green. Fully ripe papayas are full yellow in color. Unripe papayas will appear yellowish green. Ripe fruit should feel firm to hold and appear heavy. It will not have any blemishes, molds or cuts. A few moldy spots are ok as they dont affect the flavor of the fruit.
You can also smell the papaya before buying. A fully ripe papaya will have a sweet aroma. You can avoid buying papayas that are overtly soft. The ripe papayas should be stored in the fridge to slow down the ripening process. If kept at room temperature, the unripe papayas will ripen well. They will ripen faster if you put them in a paper bag. A fully ripe papaya will become mushy if it is not stored in the correct manner.
Ripe papayas can be put in a plastic bag and then put in the refrigerator. The papaya will last for one week this way. To eat the fruit, you should peel it in the small cubes or slices. Seeds should be removed. You can also freeze these slices for long term storage. Cover the pieces with 30 percent sugar solution and then you can freezer the fruit for about ten months.
The thawed papaya will be soft and you can use the partial thawed fruit. You can use the fruit for cooking as it is quite fresh and firm. The thawed papaya can also be put in the blender for juice or puree. The ripening process can be hastened by mixing an apple or banana in the papaya bag. The mixed fruit will release ethylene that will speed up the ripening process.