Cut a Grapefruit
A grapefruit is a tasty citrus fruit that can be enjoyed on its own or in a variety of salads or beverages. You can cut a grapefruit in a variety of ways, whether you want to slice it, Segment a Grapefruit or enjoy it inside its own half. If you want to know how to cut grapefruit, just follow these steps.
Contents
Steps
Sectioning a Grapefruit
- Cut off both ends of a grapefruit. Place the grapefruit on its side on a cutting board and use a sharp knife to cut about 1/4 inches (.6 cm) away from the round points at the end of each grapefruit. This will make the grapefruit easier to section.
- Turn the grapefruit so one of the cut ends faces you. The other end can rest on one of the ends you cut off for extra cushion.
- Make several 1/4 inch (.6 cm) slices into the outer edge of the grapefruit. Use a knife to make these slices all the way around the edges of the grapefruit. This will make it easier to peel the grapefruit. Turn the grapefruit about 1/8 of a turn each time you cut into another section. Keep doing this until you've made the cuts all the way around the grapefruit.
- Use the knife to peel the grapefruit. Now that you've made the slices, it'll be a bit easier to peel the grapefruit. Just run the knife along the skin of the grapefruit, peeling off every little cut section at a time until all of the skin is peeling off. If there's any remaining skin after you've gone around the entire grapefruit, slice the remaining white part off before you continue.
- Cut off each section with the knife. Now that you've peeled off the skin, you can use a knife to cut out each individual section until you've separated the grapefruit by sections. You can enjoy the grapefruit on its own or in a fruit salad or a variety of other salads.
Halving a Grapefruit
- Turn the grapefruit on its side. The ends of the grapefruit with the small circles on them should be across from each other, on either side of the grapefruit. Place it on a cutting board.
- Cut the grapefruit in half. Use a sharp knife to cut the grapefruit in half, from top to bottom.
- Cut around the diameter of the grapefruit. Use a sharp knife, or even a grapefruit knife to cut throw the circular area between the grapefruit and the rind. While you cut the circular path, try to move the knife under the pieces, so you're slicing through the bottom of the grapefruit, too. This will help separate the grapefruit sections from its rind.
- Cut through each segment of the grapefruit. Each segment of the grapefruit will have a roughly triangular shape. Use a thin knife, a spoon, or better yet, a grapefruit spoon, to cut around the area between each slice and its thin skin. Once you've separated each segment, you can either use a spoon to move each segment into a bowl, or just eat the grapefruit right out of each of its halves with a spoon.
- Sprinkle some sugar on top for added sweetness.
Slicing a Grapefruit
- Turn the grapefruit on its side. The ends of the grapefruit with the small circles on them should be across from each other, on either side of the grapefruit. Make sure to place it on a cutting board.
- Use a sharp knife to slice the grapefruit from top to bottom. Imagine that the "poles" of the grapefruit are on either side, like a globe turned on its side. Now, slice the grapefruit on its equator, creating lines that are parallel to the small circular "poles" on each end of the fruit. Cut each slice so its about 1/4 inch (.6 cm)
- When you're done, you should have about a dozen circular slices, depending on the size of the grapefruit.
- Cut the slices (optional). If you'd like to cut the grapefruit further, you can cut each round slice into halves or fourths, like you were cutting off pieces of a pie. This method can be ideal for using the grapefruit in fruity drinks. You can also just cut one slice into the middle of the grapefruit and use it as a garnish on the side of a bowl of fruit salad or on a large pitcher of grapefruit juice. Or you can just rip the slice apart and eat it right from the slice without using a spoon or fork.
Tips
- Typically, the top and bottom are the most sour parts, while the "equator" is the sweetest.
- Fixing grapefruit for company? One fruit typically provides two small servings. Garnish with maraschino cherries.
- Taste a little piece to see if it's sour. If it is, add a bit of sugar, or add a tiny bit of salt, too.
- For a slightly different flavor, try adding three or four drops of vanilla extract.
- The top of the fruit has a little brown nub from the stem but the bottom just has an indentation. After the ends are sliced off, the bottom has a hole or soft whitish spot where you can poke a finger into it. This will let you hold it more easily!
- No need to waste the juice and pulp in the rind. Get a large mug or bowl with high edge. Using your fingers, rub the pink parts to press the juice out of the peels. Squeeze the "cores" dry, too. Drink the juice up if you wish, or add it in with the fruit chunks.
- Grapefruit peels are a great ingredient in anti-moth potpourri. Don't throw 'em out-- Shake them in a bag with 1 tsp. cinnamon powder and 1/2 tsp. Fruit Fresh for each fruit's worth of rinds. Dry them in a baking pan in the oven on Low (around 170F/77c degrees). 4 hours should do it; if they're still soft they will air-dry just fine. Let them dry for at least 48 hours. Add generous amounts of anise stars, whole cinnamon sticks, and whole cloves. Put one cup in a zip-seal bag and poke two dozen holes all over the bag to let the yummy scent out.
Warnings
- Some people should avoid grapefruit for medical reasons. It has no effect on most people but grapefruit and grapefruit juice can potentially interfere with some medicines. If you have questions, please, ask your M.D.
- Grapefruit also affects the lining of the digestive tract, potentially making absorption of nutrients and certain medicines stronger by blocking certain enzymes. (The idea that this is due to large amounts of Vitamin C is apparently a myth.)
- According to the Mayo Clinic, the following have known potentially serious interactions (see link):
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