Durian, the king of fruits, can be a daunting fruit to tackle due to its spiky exterior and strong odor. But fret not, here’s a guide on how to cut durian safely and efficiently:
What you’ll need:
- Sharp knife (preferably a cleaver)
- Cutting board
- Gloves (optional, but recommended)
- Newspaper (optional)
Steps:
- Find the seams: Look closely at the durian’s husk. You’ll see natural seams running along its spiky outer shell. These seams indicate the natural weak points where the durian separates into sections.
- Wear gloves (optional): Durian husks can be sticky and the odor can be strong on your hands. Wearing gloves can help for easier handling and cleanup.
- Secure the durian: Place the durian on a stable cutting board. You can use a folded newspaper to hold it steady if needed.
- Carefully pierce a seam:** Using the tip of your sharp knife, carefully pierce through one of the seams in the husk. Be cautious not to cut yourself or pierce too deeply into the flesh.
- Follow the seam and cut:** Once you’ve pierced a seam, gently wiggle and follow the seam with the knife, cutting through the husk. Try to cut along the seam to minimize cutting into the durian flesh itself.
- Repeat for other seams: Continue making small cuts along the other visible seams, carefully separating the durian husk into sections.
- Open the husk: Once you’ve cut through all the seams, you should be able to twist and pry the husk sections open to reveal the durian flesh inside.
- Locate the core (optional): Each durian section will have a central core. You can carefully cut this out if you don’t want to eat it.
- Enjoy the durian flesh! The durian flesh is divided into individual pods, which are the edible parts. You can use your fingers or a spoon to scoop them out and enjoy the fruit.
Tips:
- Be careful while cutting durian, especially when breaking through the husk. The spiky exterior can cause injury if you’re not careful.
- If the durian is very ripe, the flesh may be soft and can be scooped out easily. If the durian is less ripe, the flesh will be firmer and may require cutting into smaller pieces.
- The strong odor of durian can linger. You can try wrapping the leftover durian flesh in plastic wrap and placing it in an airtight container before storing it in the refrigerator.
- Durian is not for everyone. It has a unique and strong flavor that some people find unpleasant. If you’re unsure, it’s best to start with a small amount to see if you like it.