Quick Answer: What Is The Perfect Flavor Considered For Star Fruit?
The star fruit, also known as carambola, is a tropical fruit, named for its star-shaped cross-section. The flesh of the fruit is juicy and has a sweet-tart flavor. The taste has been described as a cross between a grape and a pineapple.
As much as you might enjoy fruit, it might get repetitive (dare I say boring?) to eat stuff like bananas and blueberries for years. What Does Star Fruit Taste Like
Who are not familiar with it, then it becomes a common question, “how does star fruit taste like”? Many folks might not know that there’s a whole Creation’s worth of exotic fruits from across the globe. Starfruit is a great example.
From apples to clementines, most fruits come in bright, exciting colors. However, few fruits have a shape as exciting as the star fruit’s shape. Star fruit slices look like five-pointed stars.
In this post, I’ll explain the physical features and nutritional benefits of star fruit. I’ll also give you some fun facts about star fruit, and recipes that feature it.
On a practical level, I’ll feature tips on ripening, growing, and storing this fruit.
And finally, I’ll answer several frequently asked questions (FAQs) about star fruit.
What Is Star Fruit?
Star fruit (also called starfruit and carambola) is a tropical fruit with the scientific name Averrhoa carambola L.
Other names of this fruit are bilimbi and five-finger.
Star fruit has been grown in southeast Asia for a long time and even Florida for about 100 years. It is yellow when it is ripe.
Do Star Fruit Taste Sweet Or Savory?
The star fruit tastes mild and sweet — somewhat like an apple, but more watery. It also tastes a little on the tart side.
There is a type of star fruit that you can get in some grocery stores that even tastes sort of sour. But it is still very tasty.
The seeds of star fruit, which are simply part of the fruit, sort of like cucumber seeds and tomato seeds, are edible. They also taste a bit nutty.
What Does Star Fruit Look Like?
Star fruit is greenish before it is fully ripe. When ripe, it is a happy bright yellow. The ends and seeds are brown.
The star fruit has five ridges that turn brown when ripe. Because of this, it looks like a five-pointed star when you view it from the front or back. If you chop it up, each piece will also look like a star.
What Texture Does Star Fruit Have?
The skin of the star fruit is smooth and shiny. It feels rubbery and sort of waxy when you massage it.
The interior, or flesh, of a carambola is juicy. When you chew it, it has a slight, rather apple-like crunch. Its texture also somewhat resembles that of a grape.
Types Of Star Fruit?
There are two main types of star fruit. They are sweet and tart, or more sour, in taste. Many people prefer the sweet type when it comes to taste.
One type of star fruit is called Golden Star. Isn’t that a fitting name?
Where Does Star Fruit Come From?
Star fruit goes back a long way in history. It originally came from places including Sri Lanka and Indonesia. It also comes from other places in Asia. And these days, it comes from specific places like India, China, and the Philippines.
It comes from certain places in the United States, too, including southern Florida and Hawaii.
It could also come from your garden if you decide to grow it. We will talk a bit more about that in a moment, so keep reading to find out more.
Is Star Fruit Healthy?
Star fruit, as is true for most fruits, is good for you. So you can enjoy it as much as you want to. A bit later in this blog post, we will talk in more detail about the specific nutritional benefits of star fruit.
How Do You Eat Star Fruit?
You can eat star fruit in green juices, smoothies, fruit salads, and even baked goods (think star fruit muffins or cake). If you want to be creative, you could mix carambola juice with alcoholic drinks to create a tropical cocktail.
I have yet to hear of star fruit candy, but perhaps the mere idea is enough to set some of y’all’s mouths to watering.
You can eat carambola in ethnic foods too.
Of course, the easiest way to eat star fruit is to simply cut it up and eat it all by itself. Or if you are really eager, just pick up a star fruit and eat it. Even the peel is edible.
Star fruit is so tasty and versatile that there are many ways to prepare, eat, and serve it.
How Can You Store Star Fruit?
Usually, after you buy star fruit, you do not have to keep it cool or in the refrigerator. Often, it will be a little less than ripe when you buy it from the store. So you can leave it at a mild temperature and allow it to continue to ripen.
You will know star fruit is ripe when it is no longer green in color, when it is yellow all over its exterior, and when its edges are brown. It is also ready to eat when it has a sweet fragrance.
Can You Freeze Star Fruit?
You can freeze carambola for three months or less. Simply cut it into slices and put the pieces in an airtight container. Ideally, each slice should be about an inch thick.
The fruit slices will likely stick together when frozen. When it’s time to eat them, thaw the slices slightly before separating them. Don’t refreeze star fruit after thawing it.
You could also put star fruit juice in yogurt containers and freeze it to make popsicles.
How To Tell Star Fruit Is Bad?
You will know that star fruit is going or gone bad when it has any mold on it. It has also gone bad when it smells foul in any way or when it looks shriveled.
It is also bad when the sweet variety smells too sour. And star fruit is bad when it is losing its brightish yellow color.
How Can You Pick Star Fruit In A Grocery Store?
Part of the fun is spotting star fruit in the grocery store. That is because not all grocery stores even sell star fruit or sell it all the time.
To pick star fruit, look for the section of the produce department that stocks various exotic fruits, such as mini bananas, plantains, coconuts, and dragon fruit.
If you want to eat the star fruit you buy right away, look for a star fruit that smells sweet when you put your nose up to its exterior. Also look for a star fruit that is bright yellow in color with brown ridges.
How To Ripen Star Fruit?
Just let star fruit do its thing as far as ripening. It will ripen on its own within a short time. Sometimes you can place a fruit in a paper bag to make the ripening process go more quickly.
How To Open Star Fruit?
To open a carambola, get a sharp paring knife. Slice the fruit into small star-shaped pieces. Don’t worry – you won’t have to make the star shapes. They are already built right into the design of the star fruit!
You may want to remove the seeds after you cut up the star fruit, although it is also fine to eat them.
You could also eat the star fruit whole if you are really hungry or just love star fruit!
Can You Grow Star Fruit?
If you really and truly love star fruit, you might want to grow it yourself. Why not? The good news is that it might be possible for you to grow it, but that depends on your climate.
As you might guess, since star fruit is more of a tropical fruit, you can only grow it outdoors in warmer climates such as the southern part of Florida. Another good place to grow it would be various parts of the southeastern and southwestern United States.
Just keep in mind that star fruit does not tolerate certain conditions such as a certain level of pH in soil. It also needs full sun and a warm temperature.
Star Fruit Versus Kiwi
If you have ever tried star fruit, you know that it is in a whole category all by itself. That is, there is just no food quite like it. So it is difficult to even find a food you could compare it to.
But if you really had to compare star fruit to another fruit, you could compare it to kiwi. Of course, star fruit and kiwi do not look much like each other at all.
Kiwi is a different shape from star fruit, and its outer texture is also very different from star fruit.
The edible part of kiwi is usually a different color from star fruit although can sometimes be yellowish.
When it comes to taste and flavor, that is where star fruit and kiwi could be similar. They both have a sweet yet tart flavor. They are also both juicy. And delicious!
How Do You Cook Star Fruit?
Although many people eat star fruit mainly raw, it is also possible to cook it. How you cook it depends on what recipe you are making and how you plan to prepare it.
One good way to cook star fruit is to put it on a baking sheet that you place in the oven.
Nutritional Value Of Star Fruit
Star fruit is loaded with nutrients. It contains a good level of vitamin A, vitamin C, pantothenic acid (a B vitamin), potassium, copper, and phosphorus.
It is also high in antioxidants and fiber.
Quick Table: The Delicious Taste Of Star Fruit Recipes
| Recipe | Calories | Preparation Time |
| Starfruit Tropical Fruit Salad | 125 | 15 Min |
| Starfruit Smoothie | 82 | 5 Min |
| Starfruit Jam | 28 | 10 Min |
1. Starfruit Tropical Fruit Salad
Who doesn’t love fruit salad, for breakfast, dinner, or any meal in between? If you need some new ways to prepare fruit salad, here is one.
You can combine cut-up star fruit, mango, papaya, strawberries, kiwi, and pineapple. If, for some reason, you cannot find any of the fruits, feel free to omit them. Or substitute your other favorite fruits. You could even add some shredded coconut to the recipe.
Add a dressing of lime juice, lime zest, and honey. You can use agave if you do not have honey on hand.
All you do is combine the fruit, and mix up the dressing ingredients. Gently toss the fruit with the dressing. Chill before serving.
This delicious fruit salad goes great with chicken dishes, breakfast dishes, or fish. Or just enjoy it by itself. This recipe is great for anyone wanting a light dish that is colorful and easy to make.
Calories: 125
Total Preparation Time: 15 Min
2. Starfruit Smoothie
If you enjoy smoothies for breakfast or at any other meal or snack, you are probably going to love trying star fruit smoothies. They are both beautiful in color and really tasty. And they are filled with nutrients too!
Better yet, they are easy and quick to make. You just combine pieces of star fruit, mango, and strawberries with cold water and lemon juice. Or feel free to adapt the combination by adding any other of your favorite fruits.
You can also add ice to make the smoothie even colder and a different consistency. If you want a bit of a nutritional boost, you could add some protein powder to this smoothie.
Calories: 82
Total Preparation Time: 5 Min
3. Starfruit Jam
If you are ready for something different from the standard jams on your bread, get ready for a flavor sensation that is sure to delight.
That’s right. Instead of strawberry or raspberry jam, you can make your own star fruit jam. Here are some pointers.
You simply combine star fruit, sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, cardamom, lemon juice, and lemon zest.
And you cook it in a very similar way to how you would prepare any other jam.
This jam is delicious in any way that you would use any other jam. So you can spread it on toast, biscuits, bagels, and waffles.
Calories: 28
Total Preparation Time: 10 Min
RELATED: What Does Dragon Fruit Taste Like, And How Do You Eat It?
Tasty And Delicious Recipes Of Star Fruit
Star fruit is a unique fruit with a tart and sour taste. Learn more about what does star fruit tastes like and how to use it in recipes.
Directions
- Pick a recipe from the list above
- Click the recipe name and visit the website
- Collect the ingredients and cook the food
- Enjoy – don’t forget to leave a review
Recipe Video
Through this blog I hope to help others learn the basics and more intricate details of cooking. I know from personal experience how frustrating it can be to cook a meal, only to realize you are missing one ingredient from your list. This is why I love to write articles chatting readers through some great substitutes that can be used in an emergency.
I hope you will find this blog useful, and that it will help you to develop your culinary skills, to help you cook up a storm!
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