Dragon fruit skin- the tropical fruit has been pleasing the crowd for its taste and rich nutrition in recent times. However, you might be listening to the rumors that the fruit skin has a poisonous effect also. So, to clear out the doubts, it is best to figure out whether can you eat dragon fruit skin?
You can eat dragon fruit skin as it is very rich in nutrients which keeps your body fresh and healthy. It has a tropical taste which feels like a combination of both kiwi and watermelon. You can eat it in raw and cooked form, but you must clean it thoroughly to prevent pesticides.
Here is a detailed guide about the best ways to eat dragon fruit skin and preserve it. There is also a list of the rich nutrients it has and a few side effects and the reasons for them.
Table of Contents
Is It Safe to Eat Dragon Fruit Skin?
Worry not! Dragon fruit skin is entirely safe to eat. As we have mentioned above, you can consume dragon fruit skin because it is rich in nutrients. It includes several nutrients that help the body to stay healthy and active. These include:
- Anthocyanin
- Antioxidants
- Vitamin A and C.
- Proteins
- Carbohydrates
- Calcium
- Iron
- Magnesium
So, you get to consume a combination of rich nutrition at just one place_ the dragon fruit skin.
How to Eat Dragon Fruit Skin?
With so many puzzling thoughts, you might be wondering how to eat dragon fruit skin the best way? First off, you need to be very cautious while cleaning the fruit skin. Ensure you wash it thoroughly and leave it in hot water for a few minutes to prevent any pesticides.
In some cases, you get fruit poisoning, and then you get the impression that dragon fruit skin is not edible, but that is not the case. It is because you haven’t cleaned the skin thoroughly, and some of the pesticides are still hanging onto it, which causes indigestion.
There are multiple ways to eat the dragon fruit’s skin. You might not be a fan of its taste as many people don’t like tropical taste foods. So, to lessen the sourness, you might love to consume it in a salad and gain a fair amount of benefits from eating all the nutrients in it.
You may also cook it with other vegetables, and so it tastes changes a little than it is in an uncooked form.
Cooked dragon fruit skin has the benefit of avoiding any bacteria or pesticides that are likely attached to the skin of fruits. So, it is best recommended you eat it in cooked form.
You can also add it to your vegetable soup which adds healthy, nutritious benefits to it. Much easy and tastier to eat it this way!
If you like tropical tastes, then you may eat it as it is. It is easy as you don’t have to make a salad or cook it, so it is time-saving.
Additionally, people develop a good liking for its taste after eating it twice or thrice.
How to Preserve Dragon Fruit Skin?
As it is a seasonal fruit, you can’t get it readily available throughout the year. So, it would help if you preserved it.
The most common way to preserve the skin of the fruit is by making jams. The jam of dragon fruit skin is delicious and healthy. You may dry the skin and create a powder of it.
Another way of preserving it is to use it as tea. The dragon fruit skin makes the most nutritious and healthy tea.
Why Eat Dragon Fruit Skin?
One of the fundamental reasons for eating the skin of fruits is nutrition instead of its taste. People prefer eating dragon fruit skin because it is very rich in minerals, vitamins, and calories.
Health Benefits to consider while eating dragon fruit are as follows:
- Provides antioxidants to your body which are very necessary for cleansing.
- It prevents cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, which are very common these days.
- It is very beneficial to your skin as it is used as a treatment for sunburns. The vitamin C in it helps to provide glow to your skin and reduces the risks of acne.
- Moisturizes your skin, and it is the best recommendation for dry skin.
- Possess an anti-aging effect to help you get rid of the wrinkles.
The Dragon fruit skin reduces the risks of high levels of cholesterol. - It keeps the sugar level balanced in your body.
- It helps you to lose weight as it contains very soluble dietary fibers. So, it is one of the best sources of nutrition when you are on a diet.
- It prevents the risks of cancer.
- It is very healthy for pregnant women as it is a source of iron and wards off anemia. It also keeps the baby healthy, and you avoid pre-mature births or miss-carriage.
Side Effects of Dragon Fruit Skin:
Some people argue that the skin of dragon fruit is unhealthy and poisonous. It is so because there are a few side effects, but they appear in a few cases, such as;
- Swelling of tongue
- Swelling of mouth
- Itching
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
The above side effects appear if the fruit is not cleaned correctly, or you might have some allergy. If you see any such symptom, then stop eating the dragon fruit skin immediately.
Conclusion
You can eat dragon fruit skin by cooking it with vegetables, making its soup, eating it in a raw form, or preserving it in different forms of jams or desserts. There are a lot of health benefits to eating dragon fruit skin which is why it is compelling to add it to your diet.
Whenever you bring it to eat, you must take notice of cleaning it thoroughly as it might contain any pesticides. One of the reasons for bearing the side effects of dragon fruit skin is its improper cleaning.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to know whether dragon fruit is fully ripe or not?
The fully ripe fruit has a smooth pinkish color with greenish spikes and no blemishes at all. Also, it is huge and bulky in weight when you hold it in your hand.
How to remove dragon fruit stain?
Dragon fruit is likely to stain as it is very juicy. If you get the stain on any napkin or table or your cloth, first off, run it under cold water and use a stain remover. Wash it as soon as possible to take out the stain. Don't let it settle.
How to get out the smell of dragon fruit skin?
Dragon fruits skin has a fruity odor, but if you keep it in your refrigerator, it may cause a foul odor. So, to take that odor out, there are two ways. The first one is to cover it with a tight food wrap while you place it in the fridge and the other one is to dry it in daylight.
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