How to Open an Unripe Durian, What to Do If It Is Too Raw After Opening, and How to Store It

Durian, also known as shaozi or civet fruit, is a famous fruit of Thailand and is thus hailed as the “King of Fruits.” It is deeply loved for its high nutritional value, and now is the best season for eating durian. Choosing a durian requires some know-how; generally, those with small cracks taste better. So how do you open an unripe durian? What should you do if it is too raw after opening? How should you store it?

1. How do you open a durian?

1. How do you open a durian with cracks?

(1) Pry it open directly: a durian that is almost ripe or already ripe usually splits open from the top. If the opening is fairly large, you can simply pull it apart with your hands.

(2) Pry it open with a sharp tool: if the opening is not very large, you can use a sharp tool such as a pointed knife to cut down from the opening to make the crack bigger, then pull it apart easily with your hands. If you are afraid of being hurt by the sharp tool, you can gently drop the durian a few times, which can also make the crack bigger.

2. How do you open a durian without cracks?

(1) Cut along the lines:

A durian without cracks is also easy to open as long as it is ripe. The method is to first use scissors to dig out the stem part, and after removing it you can see obvious lines. Use a pointed knife to pierce downward along the lines, taking care not to pierce too deep and damage the flesh. After the pointed knife goes in, gently pry it, and the durian will split open. Then you can pull it apart with your hands.

(2) Lift the fruit stem

A ripe durian has a seam, so you only need to lift the durian by the stem with the stem pointing up and the bottom pointing toward the ground, then bump it against the ground and it will open easily. However, this method is generally not recommended, because after opening, the durian flesh can easily break apart completely and cannot be stored any longer.

Life tip:

A ripe durian that has already split open can be pulled apart easily by hand. If the opening is not very large, you can use a pointed knife or another sharp tool to cut down from the opening and pry the crack wider, then pull it apart with your hands. However, when using a pointed knife, you must pay attention to personal safety.

2. What should you do if it is hard after opening?

When buying a durian, you must observe the flesh to see whether it is ripe, because once a durian is shelled, it will remain hard and cannot become soft. Therefore, an unripe durian must never be peeled, otherwise you can only eat undercooked durian. However, you can use the following methods to ripen it:

1. Ripen the durian flesh

(1) Ripen the durian with fruit

When the durian you bought is unripe, you can put it together with ripe fruits such as bananas and apples and keep it sealed for two or three days to ripen it. This method is safe and convenient, and the taste will be much better when eaten, so many people use this method.

(2) Ripen the durian with rice

Unripe durian can also be ripened with rice, because rice releases some ethylene during storage, which can effectively help ripen the durian. However, when ripening the durian this way, you need to remove the durian skin, take out the flesh and place it in a box, then wrap it with plastic wrap and put it in the rice. After two days, the durian can be eaten.

(3) Ripen the durian with newspaper

Newspaper can also ripen a durian. The specific method is to wrap newspaper around the outside of the durian, then light it with a lighter. When the newspaper is almost burned out, take it out and put it on clean newspaper, then place it in a warm environment for one or two days, and the durian will ripen.

2. Put the durian in a warm environment

If you do not have fully ripe fruit at home, you can put the durian in a relatively warm place such as a balcony, or put it in a box and keep it sealed for a few days.

3. Put the hard durian flesh in the microwave to heat

Wrap the hard durian flesh in plastic wrap, then cook it in the microwave, but the texture is not as good as ripe durian, so if you are not in a hurry to eat it, it is better to use other methods.

4. Put the raw durian in the refrigerator to chill

If the durian is still unripe after trying the above methods, you can wrap the durian in plastic wrap and put it in the refrigerator to chill for one or two days, which can also ripen it.

5. Ask the seller to exchange it for a ripe durian

If the durian you bought is really too raw and you are not far from the fruit shop where you bought it, you can go ask the seller to exchange it for a ripe one.

3. How to choose a ripe durian

1. See whether it has an opening

If the durian has an opening, it means the durian is already ripe. If it does not, it means it is not yet ripe. However, when choosing, it is best not to choose one with an overly large opening, because the flesh is very likely to be contaminated, and eating it may cause discomfort to the human body. So when choosing, you can pick one that has just opened, and this kind of durian is the most suitable.

2. Look at the color

The outer shell of a ripe durian is generally a clear yellow, while an unripe durian has more green, so when choosing you can try to pick a yellow one.

3. Smell the odor

A ripe durian smells very fragrant and rich, while an unripe one smells like freshly cut grass. If it smells like alcohol, that means the durian has already spoiled and cannot be eaten, so it is best not to buy it.

Tips for choosing a ripe durian

When choosing a durian, it is best to choose one with a yellow outer shell, an opening on the durian, and a very fragrant smell.

4. Can you eat a durian that has not opened?

It can be eaten, but it is best to wait until it splits open before eating. This is because at this time the durian is not yet fully ripe, its flesh is crisp, not very sweet, and the taste is very ordinary, or even not good. So it is best to wait a few days or ripen it with fruit, in the refrigerator, or by other methods before eating.

5. How long can it be kept after opening when unripe?

Generally, an unripe durian can be ripened after opening, for example by using fully ripe fruit, newspaper, refrigeration, and other methods. After one or two days the durian will become ripe, and then it can be eaten.