How to peel grapefruit correctly, quickly and easily

Hi all! Let's figure out how to peel grapefruit correctly. This is a very important point. Due to the dense shell, many refuse this healthy product, preferring more familiar citrus fruits.

Exotic fruits differ from tangerines, whose skin falls off on its own when pressed with your finger. Grapefruit is not so simple. It hides the “guts” under a layer of elastic peel and a bitter layer. They need to be cleaned before enjoying the delicate taste.

We reviewed the healing power and properties of grapefruit here. Now let's learn how to extract something tasty and healthy from it.

The characteristic bitterness of grapefruit comes from the plant flavonoid naringin. The substance is valuable, but not the most pleasant. It is concentrated in the skin, loose layer and films.

You can get rid of the taste if you peel the grapefruit correctly. To do this, you need to remove everything that gets in the way.

Peeled grapefruit is used for salads and desserts. It is moderately sweet, a little tart and a little sour.

For an ideal result you need to know some secrets. I'll open them now. But first, let me remind you: not only grapefruit is peeled this way, but also any large citrus fruit: pomelo, sweetie and orange. The main thing is not to forget to wash it first.

Method one is the easiest

This is my favorite option. No special devices are required. Even those who peel a grapefruit for the first time in their life can cope.

Sequencing:

Cut off the top.
We make several vertical cuts at a distance of 2-3 cm from each other. We go deeper by 3-4 mm, this is enough.
We lift the peel and separate it from the base.
Remove the loose white layer with gentle movements. We don't try too hard. It will then come off along with the membranes.
What is left is divided into segments. Lastly, we get rid of the films. A serrated knife will come in handy.

Be careful! The fruit “loves” to splash juice into the eyes.

How to choose the right grapefruit in the store

No matter how you peel and serve the fruit, its taste will not live up to expectations if it is of poor quality. To ensure that your expectations do not diverge from reality and your choice is definitely on a tasty product, we have several recommendations for you in this case:

The skin of the fruit may be yellow, orange or greenish.
A quality product should not have any traces of wrinkles or rot on the skin. Minor scratches or dents are acceptable - most likely, the fruit received them while ripening on the tree.
Fresh fruit has a strong aroma and can be heard several meters away from the display case or tray.
It should be elastic, even juicy in appearance and not too light.

Tip : choose samples with a reddish color on the skin - they are riper and sweeter. The most delicious variety is Sweety. Simply ideal for consumption in slices, in the form of juice or any other drink with these ingredients in the lead role.

Method two, for aesthetes

I use it when I want beautiful ingredients for a snack. A little skill won't hurt:

Carefully cut off the top and bottom until the flesh is visible.
Place the fruit on a cutting board.
Hold with one hand and cut the skin towards the table with the other. Grab the edible part. Try not to cut off too much.
Cut to the core and unfold like an accordion.
Take a thin knife, pry and remove the films. It is convenient to do this sequentially around the circumference.

After removing the zest, the segments are half peeled. There is no need to clean the outside of them additionally. They also come off the membranes easily.

The disadvantage is the losses. When cutting, a lot of juice leaks out, something goes to waste.

What are the benefits of grapefruit?

Due to its low calorie content, grapefruit is considered one of the best dietary fruits: 100 g of its pulp contains only 35 calories. The mass fraction of carbohydrates in the product is approximately 6.5 g, proteins – 0.7 g, fats – 0.2 g.

Benefit

Each grapefruit contains a whole storehouse of useful substances, without which the human body cannot exist.

Thus, among the vitamins there is ascorbic acid, known for its antioxidant properties and allowing the removal of toxins from tissues, protecting blood vessels and cells from negative external influences. Vitamin B1 normalizes the activity of the cardiovascular system, stimulates brain function and strengthens the immune system. Vitamin PP controls protein and fat metabolism, dilates blood vessels and prevents the accumulation of cholesterol on them, and also participates in organizing the wound healing process.
Folic acid is responsible for the development of all human systems and organs, especially for the formation of the neural tube of the baby carried by a pregnant woman.
Tocopherol prevents aging by successfully preventing oxidative processes, and also protects human vision. Vitamin A is responsible for skin condition.
Thanks to the set of mineral elements contained in grapefruit, such as calcium, potassium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, a person can count on improved cardiac activity and lower blood pressure, improved bone structure and teeth, normalization of the nervous system and relief from depression and during times of stress.
Women, regardless of age and size, always strive to lose weight, and grapefruit is the best assistant in this - primarily due to its excellent ability to improve metabolism. In addition, the fruit not only adds slimness, but also helps ladies become more beautiful by removing swelling, preventing the development of cellulite and inhibiting skin aging. In addition, a number of studies suggest that grapefruit should be consumed by women at risk for cancer of the uterus and breast.
Representatives of the stronger half of humanity, often susceptible to heart attacks or strokes due to high blood pressure, can use the fruit to prevent these serious ailments. In addition, cholesterol plaques on the walls of blood vessels in men are also a common occurrence, and grapefruit helps combat this problem.
A plus for men may be the ability of grapefruit to remove traces of a hectic feast from the face, speeding up metabolism and tidying up the skin, and for those who lead a healthy lifestyle and spend a lot of time in the gym, it will help them quickly achieve a toned, slender body.
Weight loss, which is possible thanks to the consumption of grapefruit, is based on its ability to increase the metabolic rate, as a result, calories are burned more actively, waste and toxins are eliminated more quickly, and extra pounds are lost. In addition, grapefruit gives you a feeling of fullness, which makes it possible to reduce the amount of food you eat per day. In addition, citrus helps improve intestinal activity and relieve constipation.
The fruit is beneficial for children due to not only its rich vitamin and mineral composition, but also its low sugar content. But, like all citrus fruits, grapefruit is very allergenic, so it should not be given to a child under three years old.
These fruits are also useful for pregnant women, since vitamin C and iron help keep the expectant mother’s body normal, prevent anemia, and folic acid helps control the correct formation of the child. During toxicosis that occurs in the early stages of pregnancy, grapefruit can be a salvation from attacks of nausea. But due to allergenicity, the fruit must be consumed very carefully. For the same reason, women who are breastfeeding should not eat grapefruit.
Even grapefruit zest is useful. Infusions and decoctions from it are recommended for the prevention of increased cholesterol and blood sugar levels, and cancer diseases. Such healing compounds are even able to resist hepatitis viruses.
An antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory extract is made from grapefruit seeds industrially.

Harm

Grapefruit has many beneficial properties, but there is still a group of people who need to limit their consumption.

First of all, these are patients who have been diagnosed with a duodenal or stomach ulcer, as well as gastritis or simply increased acidity of gastric juice. The fruit is contraindicated for them due to its high acid content. For the same reason, people with liver problems should be more careful with grapefruit. The fruit is not strictly prohibited for them, but they should not overeat it, since the diseased organ may not be able to cope with the processing of a large set of chemicals included in the fruit. This is especially true for those who have renal failure.

In addition, this fruit is incompatible with a number of drugs, such as tranquilizers, antidepressants or painkillers. In addition, grapefruit can reduce the effectiveness of birth control pills.

You should not eat grapefruit in the evening before going to bed: it has such a high tonic ability that it will drive away sleep completely; it will be especially difficult for those who have trouble falling asleep or suffer from insomnia to fall asleep.

Many dentists warn that grapefruit juice corrodes tooth enamel, resulting in microcracks that later become entry points for caries.

Grapefruit has a feature that distinguishes it from other citrus fruits: it contains a natural toxin, furanocoumarin. By itself it is harmless, but in combination with certain products it can harm the body. Therefore, you should not eat nuts, legumes, milk, cottage cheese, yogurt, sour cream and other “milk” at the same time as grapefruit. Also prohibited are products that contain a significant amount of starch - for example, potatoes, jelly candies and other sweets made using it.

Number three, or how to peel a grapefruit with your hands

The step-by-step procedure is as follows:

Use any sharp object or fingernail to tear the surface at the top.
Tear it off until you remove it completely.
Break it in half.
You will see damaged films on the pieces. Take out the “innards” from them. Hold the slice on the side where it is closed.
Move sequentially from sector to sector. If the shell is intact, tear it from the inside. Remove the outer zone with remaining albedo with a light tug.

Grapefruit infusion

Zest – 1 tbsp. l.

Water – 250 ml

Pour fresh boiling water over the zest, cover and leave for about 20 minutes. Strain. To lose weight and relieve swelling, take 3 tbsp. l. 3 times a day 20 minutes before meals.

Grapefruit - 1 pc.

Water – 1.5 l

Grate the zest, add water, boil and cook for 15 minutes. Drink 0.5 cup. before meals. This bitter drink will cleanse and strengthen blood vessels, and also remove excess fluid.

Grapefruit juice can be mixed with honey, cinnamon and allspice. The mixture should be brought to a boil and allowed to brew for about 10 minutes. In winter, this vitamin cocktail will not only help keep you warm and strengthen your immune system, but will also improve digestion and relieve swelling.

For festive decoration

Two parts filled with delicious contents look beautiful and unusual. If you want to put a dessert or snack inside, follow these steps:

Cut along the “equator”. Go deeper by 2 mm, no more.
Using a tablespoon, remove the zest, gradually moving deeper.
Take it off.
Do the same with your other half.

You will have a ball covered with a white layer, as in the first case. Treat it as described above. Use the resulting “baskets” at your discretion.

Now you know how to peel grapefruit. It's not difficult to do it right. The main thing is to find the appropriate “rule”