The jackfruit tree originated in the rainforests of India and is grown in a variety of places, including South America, Asia, and Africa. You can even grow jackfruit in your backyard if you want to. The tree produces a delicious tropical fruit known simply as jackfruit while the scientific name is Artocarpus heterophyllus and some people refer to this fruit as kathal or fans.
Jackfruits can weigh up to 100 pounds and be nearly three feet long and the jackfruit tree is known as the largest fruit tree in the world but what do you with a jackfruit when you get it home from the vegetable and fruit market or grocery store and do you know how to store jackfruit?
Jackfruit is super nutritious and is stocked full of vitamins other essential nutrients for the human body, including calcium, iron, vitamin A, phosphorus, niacin, zinc, riboflavin, thiamine, and vitamin C. The jackfruit is an exotic fruit that can also provide you with plenty of necessary dietary fiber. Why you cannot eat the skin of a jackfruit because it is thorny and not good for you, the inside Jack fruit pulp is delicious and can be used in a variety of dishes, including jackfruit curry, jackfruit preserve, and even barbecue sauce.
The jackfruit meat can even be shredded and used like pulled pork or shredded chicken or used to create a delicious jackfruit ice cream.
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How to Store Unripe Fruit
If you do not plan on using your cut jackfruit right away, you can pick up green jackfruit since it is not yet ripened. Simply store the baby jackfruit at room temperature on a counter or windowsill and it will ripen naturally on its own.
The pale green skin of the young jackfruit will ripen in about three to ten days and will change to yellowish-brown color. If you cut it, you will need to refrigerate it right away as you will when it ripens. You can even eat unripe jackfruit as a vegetable if you prefer.
How to Select a Ripe Jackfruit
To select a nice, ripe jackfruit, keep in mind that a ripened jackfruit will be a bright green or yellow in color boast a fragrant scent.
How to Store Ripe Jackfruit
You are then ready to cut the jackfruit in half but keep in mind it contains a sticky SAP inside so you will want to apply some type of oil to your hands and to your knife before you start cutting. You can use a variety of different types of oils including olive oil or coconut oil to combat the jackfruit sap that is a lot like white sticky latex that is actually known as jackfruit latex. Using the knife that you oiled you will first trim away the thorny skin and then cut the skinned fruit into small pieces.
The center stock of jackfruit is not edible so you can remove the center stock from all the pieces of your jackfruit pieces and throw it away. You can then cut the fruit into small pieces about a quarter of an inch in size then wash and clean the cut pieces before draining out the water.
Wrap the cut pieces of jackfruit very tightly in plastic wrap or an airtight container then place it in your refrigerator to store it. The fresh fruit will last up to seven days in the refrigerator.
You can also purchase pre-packaged jackfruit at the store that will also keep well in the fridge for about seven to ten days.
Cooked Jackfruit
If you prefer, you can add some spices to your airtight container of jackfruit or the fruit that you placed in a plastic bag to bring out the flavor of the spices you use since the jackfruit will take those on and does not have as much flavor on its own. You can also opt to create a variety of different savory dishes, such as jackfruit curry, jackfruit ice cream, bbq sauce, or some other type of recipe.
Cooked jackfruit can be stored the same way as simply ripe jackfruit can be and even used as a meat substitute when making a variety of different dishes since the jackfruit pulp is much like shredded meat.
How to Store Frozen Jackfruit
You can freeze jackfruit and it is easier to store if it is cut into smaller pieces first. It can be frozen for up to one to two months in your freezer.
Since jackfruit is a very dense and meaty fruit that is not as juicy as other fruits, it is great for freezing and the good part is that you can freeze your jackfruit whether it is fresh, raw, cooked, pre-packaged, or canned. Just keep in mind that when you thaw out your jackfruit aril, they will sport a softer texture to them than before you put them in the freezer but the taste will remain the same.
You can even freeze the seeds of the jackfruit by first removing the jackfruit pod then placing the seeds in a freezer-safe, airtight container or plastic bag.
How to Freeze Raw Jackfruit or Fresh Jackfruit
After you clean and cut your jackfruit into pieces, you should place your raw jackfruit pieces on top of parchment paper on a baking sheet and stick that in your freezer for two to four hours didn’t take it out and place the pieces in a freezer-safe bag or container.
How to Freeze Cooked and Packaged Jackfruit
Whether you have already used your jackfruit in a dish such as a jackfruit curry or bbq sauce, you can freeze it easily by putting it in a freezer-safe bag or an airtight container that is freezer safe and lay it flat in your freezer. You can also do this extremely easily with pre-packaged jackfruit because it can go directly into your freezer.
How to Store Canned Jackfruit
Canned fruit, just like canned vegetables, can last one to two years or longer and even beyond the date stamped on the can in a cool, dry place such as your kitchen cupboard.
If you have opened the can, you can store the jackfruit in a container or bag in the fridge for a few days or even stick it into the freezer and it will last for about two months.
You can purchase cans of ripe fruit or green jackfruit, also known as baby jackfruit, depending on your preference.
FAQs About Jackfruit
Can you eat canned jackfruit raw?
Since jackfruit is very versatile, you can eat it raw or cooked. To prepare it, you will want to slice it up first if you are using fresh or raw jackfruit but with canned, you can just eat it or use it in a dish, including bbq sauce, curry, or even ice cream.
Why does jackfruit have a strong smell?
Jackfruit, along with durian, has a really strong smell. Ripe jackfruit smells a lot like bubble gum since it has quite a bit of sugar in its pulp. It is like a combination of pineapples, bananas, and onions.
Does jackfruit go bad?
Jackfruit goes bad really quickly if it’s not stored properly so it is extremely important that you know before you purchase how and where to store jackfruit. For instance, if you purchase fresh jackfruit and you will be eating it within two to three days, you can leave it set out at room temperature but keep in mind, the warmer your kitchen is, the faster the fruit can spoil.
How can you tell if jackfruit has gone bad?
You need to check out the appearance of your jackfruit to ensure that it is good and still edible. If you see that there are dark spots all over your jackfruit, you should toss it in the trash or if it deteriorates and is all watery and soggy, it is no good and should be tossed. Also if there’s something very off with the taste, texture, or the smell of your jackfruit, you should throw it away.