Originally from Asia, the kiwi is a powerhouse fruit packed with Vitamin C and tons of other healthy nutrients. But before you can toss them into a fruit salad or enjoy them as a snack, you’ve got to deal with that fuzzy skin.
The Quick Fix: Kiwi as an On-the-Go Snack
If you’re looking for a fast snack during your lunch break or while you’re out and about, the easiest way is to just slice the fruit in half with a sharp knife. From there, you can simply scoop out the delicious green fruit with a spoon. It’s nature’s little pudding cup!
By the way, this healthy treat isn’t just for you—it can also give your furry four-legged friend a nice boost of energy and help them digest heavier proteins.
The Classic Way: Peeling Kiwis with a Knife
If you’re planning to use your kiwis in a fruit salad, blend them into a smoothie, or freeze them for later, you’ll need to get that skin off entirely. The best technique actually depends on how ripe the fruit is.
Peeling Soft Kiwis
Overripe kiwis are usually very soft to the touch, and the skin gives way easily when pressed. For these juicy specimens, try this “spoon trick”:
- First, slice off both ends of the kiwi in thin rounds.
- Gently slide a tablespoon underneath the skin.
- Carefully rotate the spoon all the way around the fruit until the skin is completely loosened.
- Now, you can just peel the skin away with your fingers.
Peeling Firm Kiwis
The spoon trick doesn’t work as well on firm kiwis because the skin clings too tightly to the fruit. In this case, you’ll want to use a knife:
- Again, start by cutting off both ends with a sharp knife.
- Stand the kiwi upright on a clean cutting board.
- Carefully slice the remaining skin away in thin strips from top to bottom.
- Try to follow the natural curve of the fruit to save as much of the green goodness as possible.
The upside to this method is that the fresh fruit doesn’t come into contact with those tiny brown hairs from the skin. If you’re not comfortable with a knife, a standard vegetable peeler works great on firm kiwis too!
The Clever Hack: The Glass Method
If you want to get a little creative—or if you don’t have a sharp peeler handy—there’s a pretty cool “life hack” you can try:
- Start by slicing the kiwi in half (you can even do this with a dull butter knife).
- Take a sturdy drinking glass and press the edge of the kiwi against the rim of the glass.
- Slide the rim right between the skin and the fruit.
- Apply a little downward pressure so the fruit slides into the glass while the skin stays in your hand.
And there you have it! You’ve got a perfectly peeled kiwi sitting right in the glass, ready to eat, and the skin is ready for the compost bin.