How to Cut a Dragon Fruit

Have you ever wondered exactly how to cut a dragon fruit? Ripe dragon fruit is an exotic fruit with a sweet taste.

I’ll show you how to enjoy a delicious, dragon fruit and answer commonly asked questions about this delicious fruit!

What is Dragon Fruit?

Dragon fruit (also called pitaya and strawberry pear) is a beautiful tropical fruit with juicy flesh. There are some great health benefits, including that it's high in vitamin C and antioxidants.

They’re native to Central America, South America, and Southeast Asia but can grow in many tropical and subtropical climates. In the United States, they are often grown in California.

Dragon fruit has a unique appearance with leathery, outer skin with what looks like small green leaves (often referred to as dragon scales) and a soft, seedy interior.

There are three different varieties of dragon fruit, including:

• Pitaya Blanca (white dragon fruit) has a bright pink exterior and interior white flesh with tiny black seeds.
• Pitaya Roja (red dragon fruit) has red skin and a reddish-pink interior.
• Pitaya Amarilla (yellow dragon fruit) has yellow skin and a white interior.

You can often find dragon fruit in grocery stores and Asian markets, although the red flesh dragon fruits are a bit harder to find.

How to tell when a dragon fruit is ripe?

Slightly squeeze it and it will feel soft (like a ripe avocado). If the dragon fruit is hard it’s not ready to eat.

A ripe dragon will have bright, smooth skin.

If it's overripe, the dragon fruit will feel mushy and possibly have dark spots or bruises.

More Dragon Fruit FAQs

Is the skin of the dragon fruit edible?

The skin of dragon fruit is bitter and most people don't eat it, but it is technically edible. You can add the skin to a smoothie or salad.

Can you eat raw dragon fruit?

Yes, you can eat raw dragon fruit! This delicious fruit is usually eaten raw in a tropical fruit salad, smoothies and smoothie bowls, popsicles, and cocktails. It's great on top of ice cream as well!

What part of a dragon fruit do you eat?

You eat the fleshy, interior (which is either white or reddish-pink), although the skin is technically edible.

Is dragon fruit skin poisonous?

No, dragon fruit skin is not poisonous, although it is bitter.

Why is dragon fruit so expensive?

Cultivating dragon fruit is difficult and time-consuming. They grow on cactus plants and are often imported. The fresh fruit can be as much as $10 per piece of fruit.

How to store cut dragon fruit?

The easiest way to store dragon fruit is to keep it whole - it will keep in a sealed plastic bag for up to two weeks.

You can save sliced dragon fruit for up to 3 days in the refrigerator in an airtight container.

How to Slice Dragon Fruit

Using a sharp chef's knife or paring knife, cut the tough ends off either side of the dragon fruit.

Slice the dragon fruit in half on a clean cutting board.

To make cubes or smaller pieces of dragon fruit, use a large, serving spoon to scoop the flesh out of the skin.

Work the spoon around the edges of the dragon fruit where the skin and flesh meet and then scoop the spoon towards the center of the fruit. 

Place the domed piece of dragon fruit flesh on the cutting board and chop it into the cube sizes you’d like. 

To make half-moon slices of dragon fruit, lay the dragon fruit skin side down on the cutting board and slice it into ¼ inch strips. Then peel the skin away from the flesh. 

Serve immediately (use the skin as a cup if you'd like).