How To Ripen Jackfruit Faster: In 5 Easy Tips

Jackfruit is an exotic fruit that grows in Southeast Asia and is now loved all over the world because of how tasty and unique it is. While some like eating it before it’s ripe, many wait for it to get completely ripe and sweet.

Waiting for jackfruit to ripen can be a long wait, sometimes even more than a week. If you can’t wait to enjoy your jackfruit, there are some things you can do to make it ripen quicker. This article gives you 5 easy ways to make jackfruit ripen sooner, so you can enjoy its best taste quickly.

How Jackfruit Ripens

The Ripening Stages of Jackfruit

Jackfruit ripens in a few different stages:

• Unripe stage: When it’s unripe, the fruit is hard and green, with white, starchy flesh. It doesn’t have much taste and is often cooked in savory food.
• Ripe stage: As it ripens, the fruit becomes softer and starts to turn yellowish-brown. The flesh gets sweet and juicy. This is the best time to eat a jackfruit.
• Too ripe stage: When it’s overripe, the fruit gets very soft and mushy, and the flesh turns brown and stringy. It’s no longer good to eat at this point and is usually thrown away.

What Influences Jackfruit Ripening?

Jackfruit ripening can be impacted by a few things:

• Temperature: Jackfruit ripens quicker in warmer weather.
• Humidity: More humidity can help jackfruit ripen faster.
• Exposure to ethylene gas: Ethylene gas is a natural substance that helps fruits ripen, including jackfruit.
• Other fruits: Some fruits like apples and bananas give off ethylene gas, which can make jackfruit ripen quicker too.
• Heat: Heat can also make jackfruit ripen faster.

By understanding how these factors work, you can pick the best way to make your jackfruit ripen faster.

5 Tips to Ripen Jackfruit Quickly

With the right way to store jackfruit and creating the right conditions, you can make it ripen quicker.

Here are five simple ways to speed up the ripening of your jackfruit:

1. Pick the Right Jackfruit

Find a jackfruit that’s maturing, with a skin color change from bright green to a paler green-yellow, and slightly soft when pressed. A jackfruit that’s still very hard will take more time to ripen.

2. Store it in a Warm, Humid Place

Jackfruit ripens faster in a warm, steamy environment like inside a closed paper bag or wrapped in cling film. The best temperature is between 70°F and 75°F with 80% humidity.

3. Place it with Other Fruits that Produce Ethylene Gas

Storing your jackfruit in the same paper bag as a ripe banana, apple or avocado can help it ripen because these fruits release ethylene gas. Make sure to check the fruit each day to see how it’s ripening.

4. Natural Ripening Helpers

Wrapping a jackfruit in brown paper with some figs or dates can also help because these fruits let out ethylene gas that helps the ripening process. Or you can put the fruit with some rice or sawdust, which soaks up moisture and gives off heat, helping the fruit to ripen faster.

You can also wrap up your jackfruit in a towel or newspaper and put it somewhere with plenty of sunlight. This raises the temperature around the fruit, making it ripen quicker but not too much.

Be Careful When Ripening Jackfruit

Even though these methods can make jackfruit ripen quicker, be careful to make sure the fruit doesn’t go bad or get too ripe. Keep these things in mind:

• Check the jackfruit every day to keep track of its ripening and to avoid it getting too ripe or rotting.
• Keep the fruit in a spot that’s clean and dry to stop it from getting dirty.
• Be gentle with the jackfruit to avoid bruises or damage to the skin.
• Always wash the jackfruit well before you cut and eat it.

Following these suggestions will help your jackfruit ripen sooner so you can enjoy its yummy sweetness.

How to Know When Jackfruit is Ready

There are signs to watch for that show a jackfruit is ripe:

• Smell: A ripe jackfruit has a sweet, flowery smell.
• Color: The skin softens and becomes a paled yellow color when it’s ripe.
• Feel: The fruit should be a bit firm but not too solid.
• Taste: Try a small piece for sweetness, if it’s sweet, then it’s ripe.

Once you know it’s ripe, you can cut the jackfruit and enjoy its flavor!

Conclusion

You can ripen jackfruit faster by selecting a good fruit, keeping it in the right conditions, putting it with fruits that produce ethylene gas, using other natural aids, and applying warmth to it. But remember to be cautious to prevent it from over-ripening or spoiling. With these tips, you can relish ripe, tasty jackfruit more quickly.