Zapote Question

travelchik

New member
Jan 26, 2007
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I'm hoping someone can help me with my zapote blues. ;)

I really love this fruit but I have a hard time figuring out which ones to buy. The last two I bought looked fine - no blemishes on the skin at all, but when I cut them open they were starting to grow fuzz on and around the seed.

Am I buying them too ripe? Anyone have any tips for picking out the good ones?

Thanks!
 

jrhartley

Gold
Sep 10, 2008
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you should probably buy them unripened as i think they ripen quickly

Selection
Choose firm, bruise-free sapotes with olive-green skin. A sapote can feel hard one day, and be soft and ready to use the next; therefore it should be carefully watched. When ripe, the sapote skin is dull olive green, which tends to break in small grainy pieces. In the hand, properly ripe fruit feels like a soft marshmallow. The flesh color of unripe fruit is mustard yellow, while ripe fruit has black, soft flesh.

Storage
Allow sapotes to ripen at room temperature, uncovered and out of direct sun; turn occasionally until they are ripe and yield to gentle pressure. Refrigerate unwashed, ripe sapotes in a plastic or paper bag. They will keep 3 to 5 days. For longer storage, pulp should be frozen.