How to Eat a Kiwi 8 Different Ways, Plus Tips on How to Peel and Cut the Fruit

Kiwifruits are kind of like peaches—they’re fuzzy on the outside and sweet and juicy on the inside. However, it’s not always immediately obvious when kiwis are ripe, how to cut them, and which part is edible. If you’ve ever been confused by a kiwi, it’s time to get to know them better. They’re nutritious fruits that are particularly high in vitamin C, vitamin K, fiber, and copper, per the USDA, so you could be missing out on some key nutrients by curbing them. Here’s how to eat a kiwi, starting with the signs of ripeness. Then, keep reading for tips on how to cut a kiwi and the best ways to enjoy your kiwi haul.

How to Tell If a Kiwi Is Ripe

Kiwis are small, oval-shaped fruits with brown, fuzzy skin. They don’t look like much on the outside, so how do you tell when kiwis are ripe? It’s simple—feel for a balance between softness and firmness. If it’s hard, it’s not ripe yet. If it’s mushy under your thumb, it’s overripe. There should be a slight give, but not too much. Ripe kiwis also have a sweet smell, while under ripe kiwis have no smell at all. Finally, when looking for ripe kiwis, choose one that’s round and plump but not misshapen or soggy.

Storing ripe kiwis properly could help them last longer. Kiwis continue to ripen on the counter, so leave them out until they’re ready to eat. When they’re ripe, transfer them to the crisper drawer in your refrigerator, which could buy you five to 10 more days.

How to Cut a Kiwi

The whole point of cutting a kiwi is to get to the green flesh inside. You can technically eat the brown, fuzzy skin—it’s edible—but the texture isn’t very pleasant. There are a few ways to peel kiwifruits. Here’s a simple method:

1. With a paring knife, cut off both ends of the kiwi.
2. Stand the kiwi on one of the blunt ends. 
3. Carefully cut off the remaining skin with your knife.
4. Cut the peeled kiwi into your desired shape, such as slices or cubes.

If you don’t want to peel the kiwi, you can cut the entire fruit into slices. After all, the skin provides nutrients too.

What Does Kiwi Taste Like?

Contrary to popular belief, kiwis aren’t tropical fruits. They grow on trees and they’re native to China. However, they’re often lumped together with tropical fruits—mangoes, papaya, pineapple, and the like—because they taste like tropical fruits with their tangy flavor. Like you might expect, kiwis are sweet. They have a slight acidity to them, which is why some people liken them to tropical fruits. Others compare the flavor of kiwis to berries, like strawberries. Since they have a somewhat mushy consistency, some even say that kiwis remind them of bananas.

How to Eat a Kiwi

You don’t need any special equipment to eat a kiwi. You can bite right into it like an apple, but if you want to peel it, you’ll need a paring knife and a cutting board. You can eat kiwis as a snack, treat them like a topping, or take advantage of their unique flavor in sweet recipes. Here are some ideas to use up kiwis.

On Its Own

Fruits like kiwis, bananas, and oranges are convenient because you can take them on the go. A couple of kiwis makes for a perfect snack because they provide satiating fiber. Pair them with a source of protein, such as a handful of nuts, to keep you feeling fuller for longer.

In a Fruit Salad

Just because kiwis aren’t tropical fruits, doesn’t mean you can’t use them in tropical fruit salads. With their tangy flavor, kiwis fit right in with mangoes, papayas, and pineapples in this colorful dish. The longer you refrigerate it, the better—more time for the flavors to marinate together.

Blended Into Smoothies

Fruits make for the best smoothie ingredients because they’re full of sweet flavor and nutrients. Since kiwi skin is edible, you can toss the entire kiwi into your blender. This is a good way to get those nutrients you’d otherwise miss out on when you peel kiwis. What else to add? Kiwis pair well with strawberries, bananas, and coconut yogurt.

In or on Smoothie Bowls

Kiwis are a versatile fruit—you can eat them alone, use them in recipes, or reserve them for toppings. In the case of smoothie bowls, you can use them inside the smoothie or cut them up for toppings. This smoothie bowl recipe calls for a kiwi topping, which adds a vibrant pop of color to your meal.

In Relish

So often condiments are thought of as savory, but some condiments, such as relish, are more on the sweet side. Take this relish recipe, for example. It calls for kiwi, which you might have never guessed, but it balances out meals like burgers and hot dogs.

On a Parfait

If you eat with your eyes, you’ll appreciate kiwi as a garnish or topping. Peel and cut your kiwi into cubes or slices, and use them on top of your yogurt bowls or parfaits. Tangy kiwi cubes complement the creamy yogurt backdrop. Plus, this is a tasty way to get your fiber and protein fix. 

In Chutney

Move over, jams and jellies, and make room for chutneys. They’re a tangier, chunkier version of jam, and since kiwi is tangy, it’s right at home in this chutney recipe. You’ll need a lot of kiwi, banana, onions, lemons, vinegar, and various spices. The result is a punchy condiment to serve with meat, crackers, or sandwiches.

In Sangria

Even though kiwi is typically a fall fruit, it screams summer. So, it’s commonly used in alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks intended for backyard barbecues and pool parties. In this sangria recipe, kiwis are combined with wine, tangerines, lemons, sugar, and ginger ale to make a refreshing and crowd-pleasing concoction. You can make it quickly in a jiffy, but it’s best prepared the night before.