How to Eat Papaya, Whether Ripe or Unripe

When you think of tropical fruits, papaya may not be the first one that comes to mind. It's often overshadowed by more popular options, such as banana, pineapple, and avocado. However, if you're lucky enough to spot papaya at the grocery store, consider adding it to your cart. The fruit is delightfully versatile—it can be eaten unripe or ripe—and has a delicate flavor, similar to cantaloupe. We spoke to chefs to learn how to eat papaya, along with tips for buying and cutting the fruit.

Unripe vs. Ripe Papaya

Papaya can be eaten unripe or ripe. The best choice depends on the dish and flavor profile you're looking for.

Unripe Papaya

Unripe papaya is also known as green papaya, as the peel is completely green. It has a light, barely-there taste that complements more pungent flavors. The texture is firm, crispy, and crunchy—similar to a cucumber—so it's often shredded.

Ripe Papaya

Ripe papaya has a lightly sweet and tropical cantaloupe-like flavor, though some varieties tend to be on the muskier side. In terms of texture, it's creamy and buttery, like a cross between a cantaloupe and mango

8 Ways to Eat Papaya

Due to their mild flavor, both unripe and ripe papayas can be used in myriad ways. Here are some of our favorite ways to eat the fruit.

Serve It Fresh With Toppings

For a simple way to enjoy papaya, serve it fresh with fresh lime juice and a bit of salt. If you're craving a crunch, top it with toasted nuts or coconut flakes says Carrie Smith, chef instructor of plant-based culinary arts at the Institute of Culinary Education in Los Angeles.

Use It as an Edible Bowl

In Colombia, papaya halves are often used as edible bowls for ice cream and sorbet, says Smith. They can also be filled with other tropical fruits, like diced pineapple, dragon fruit, or mango. If you're craving a savory alternative, use a papaya half to hold a hearty entree, like curried chicken salad with macadamia nuts, says Martha Brahm, chef and founder of Hawaiian Tart Company and Big Island Private Chef in Hawaii. One of our favorite fillings is cottage cheese.

Blend It Into Smoothies

Add fresh or frozen papaya to your next smoothie. The light sweetness of papaya can balance fruits with more intense flavors, like pineapple or kiwi. Plus, it's packed with fiber, making it excellent for making smoothies more filling.

Roast or Grill It

Fruit is delicious when roasted or grilled, and papaya is no exception. Cut a firm, ripe papaya into slices, then sprinkle it with brown sugar, says Herve Guillard, director of education at the Institute of Culinary Education in Los Angeles. The cooking process will caramelize the sugars, yielding a succulent dish with a pumpkin-like taste.

Toss It Into Salads

Som tum thai, or green papaya salad, is a dish found in Thai cuisine. According to Brahm, it's made of shredded green papaya and ingredients like red pepper flakes, fish sauce, dried shrimp, lime juice, and sugar; the result is a dish that's wonderfully spicy, sweet, and sour.

Puree It Into a Frozen Dessert

For a creamy and dairy-free frozen dessert, blend frozen papaya until smooth then freeze, says Grenier. You may need a sweetener, like maple syrup or honey, to enhance the flavor.

Turn It Into Jam

Switch up your next cheese board with papaya jam, as recommended by Smith. She says the sweet spread is also perfect for mixing up the flavors in a croque madame.

Pair It With Meat

The crunchy texture and mild flavor of green papaya works well with savory protein dishes. Try pairing it with seared tuna in a cold salad, or in a chutney with grilled pork or fish, says Grenier. Ripe papaya is also delightful with meat, like ahi tartare; enjoy the combination with sliced cucumber, soy sauce, and spicy roasted sesame oil, says Brahm.

Can You Eat Papaya Seeds?

You might be surprised to learn that papaya seeds are edible. They're often called "nature's caviar," though they do boast a slightly bitter and peppery flavor that may be off-putting to some. The seeds can be eaten fresh and sprinkled on salads and green papaya soup, or enjoyed dried and crushed like black pepper, says Smith. If you do choose to eat papaya seeds, "make sure to rinse them under cold, running water and dry with a kitchen towel before eating," she says. This will help remove any leftover flesh and moisture.

How to Tell if a Papaya Is Ripe

When shopping for ripe papaya, look for fruit with a slightly green peel that's about to turn yellow-orange, per the experts at the University of Arkansas. You can also give the papaya a gentle squeeze; if it’s ripe, it will give slightly, says Brahm. Avoid fruit that is very soft, as this indicates that it’s overripe. 

How to Ripen Papaya

At home, papayas with a slightly green peel will ripen within a few days. If you need to speed up the process, place it in a paper bag. Once ripe, papayas should be kept in the refrigerator, where they will stay fresh for about one week.

How to Cut Papaya

To cut a papaya, you'll need a chef's knife, paring knife, and a cutting board.

1. Use a chef's knife to slice off both ends of the fruit.
2. Place the papaya upright on one of the flat ends, then slice it in half, lengthwise.
3. Scoop the seeds out of each half with a spoon.
4. Use a paring knife to remove the skin and slice the flesh into wedges or cubes as desired.

Another option is to peel the papaya the first, then slice it in half and remove the seeds says Smith. Regardless of your preferred method, avoid removing too much of the flesh when scooping out the seeds.