Citrus fruits are a dime a dozen, but some are more loved than others. While we’re all very familiar with lemon, lime, and orange, there are some other citrus fruits that don’t get the love they deserve. One of them is grapefruit.
Grapefruit is a citrus fruit with a light orange exterior and a deep pink-to-red interior. Though grapefruits have tons of health benefits, they are best known for their acidic and bitter taste. But this citrus fruit can be made tastier in quite a few ways. Keep reading to learn how to make grapefruit taste better.
Add a Sweetener
Grapefruit has a very high acidity level, and its flavor can be very, very bitter. To offset this, you want to add some sort of sweetener.
Many people like to sprinkle sugar or a sugar substitute on their grapefruit, but there are other sweeteners that you could use, too, like honey, agave, or maple syrup. If you like to eat fruit raw and fresh but want to cut some of that bitter flavor, the best way to do that is with a sweetener.
Broil Them
Your instinct probably isn’t to put raw fruit in the oven unless it’s mixed with flour, butter, and sugar to make a baked good, but one of the best and most underrated ways to improve the taste of grapefruit is by broiling it. The oven’s heat gives the fruit a slight texture change, and by topping it with a sweetener, the fruit will caramelize, giving you a candy-like top.
Halve or quarter your grapefruits and put them in the oven peel-side down with a sweetener on top and broil until the flesh is charred. The bite will be delightful.
Put Grapefruit in a Smoothie
One of the best ways to make any food taste better is by combining it with another food, and the easiest way to do that with fruits and vegetables is through a smoothie. Pop your grapefruit in a green smoothie with your choice of greens and add some more fruits and vegetables.
If you’re still not satisfied, you can add some nut butter or a sweetener to alter the flavor even more. A smoothie will have never tasted so good!
Eat Them with Another Fruit
If you’d rather not get your blender out of the cupboard, you can still eat grapefruit with other fruits, but in a slightly different way. Try making a fresh fruit salad, or just serve your grapefruit alongside another fruit and eat them together.
Bananas and avocados are perfect to pair with grapefruits because they are less acidic and will cut the bitterness. They’ll also give your bite a nice texture difference.
Use Grapefruit as a Citrus
Grapefruit is a great citrus to use in many different dishes. If you want citrus in your salad or alongside your poultry, grapefruit is a great alternative to oranges and lemons.
The acid in citrus fruits is often used to brighten up dishes and pull out other flavors, and grapefruit can do that job just the same as its relatives. It will brighten any dish and add a slightly different flavor than the other citrus fruits we use more commonly, and the other foods involved will mask the bitterness of the grapefruit. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by what grapefruit can add to your dish.
Dip Grapefruit in Chocolate
Everything’s better with chocolate, right? That sentiment doesn’t stop with grapefruit. The bitter fruit is tastier with a bit of delicious chocolate, and there are loads of ways to do it.
You can keep the chocolate melted and continuously dip grapefruit slices as a tasty little snack. You can also dip them and let the chocolate harden for a chocolate-covered fruit akin to a chocolate-covered strawberry. Or, if you don’t want quite as much chocolate, you can arrange your slices on a sheet pan and drizzle chocolate as a topping. No matter what, it’ll be tasty.
Candy Them
There isn’t enough recognition for the magic that is candying fruit. It may seem like a difficult-to-make delicacy that’s only found in specialty shops, but it’s actually very simple to make, and it’s a fun way to improve the taste of grapefruits.
Candying anything simply involves simmering sugar and water until the crystals have dissolved and you’re left with a syrup. All that’s required afterward is submerging your fruit into the syrup until you’ve got the texture, you’re after. You can do this with grapefruit slices, wedges, or peels.
FAQs
Check out the answers to these frequently asked questions about grapefruits!
Are grapefruits healthy?
Yes, grapefruits are very healthy! There are a variety of health benefits from eating grapefruits, including an immune boost, a healthier heart, and more antioxidants.
Though this is not recommended, the grapefruit diet was created because grapefruits are low in calories yet high in nutrients. Don’t attempt weight loss by solely eating grapefruits, but do add them to your diet if you’re trying to shed a few pounds!
When are they in season?
Grapefruits are grown in warm climates, and they’re grown at different times of the year in different cities across the world. Because of this, they’re in their peak growing season at all different times of the year, depending on where they’re being cultivated.
Since produce is shipped across the nation all throughout the year, you should be able to get a tasty grapefruit no matter the season.
Can you eat grapefruit peels?
Yes, grapefruit peels are totally edible. They can be candied or dipped in chocolate, and you might really like the taste! Grapefruit peels are also great for your skin and have lots of antioxidants.
There are tons of ways to improve the taste of grapefruit. If you’re not quite sold on this citrusy delight, try out a new recipe and add more grapefruit to your diet!