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Red Papayas Delivery or Pickup
The Instacart guide to red papayas
About red papayas
Red papayas are also known as Caribbean red, Caribbean sunrise, and Mexican papayas. These large, oblong fruits can weigh up to 6 lbs. A red papaya's outer skin is thin and leathery, changing from green to yellow as it ripens. The flesh is red-orange or salmon, with a central pocket of shiny black seeds. The papaya's flesh is soft when ripe and has a sweet, honey-like flavor. Red papayas smell sweet and musky, similar to melons.
Red papayas are native to Central America and southern Mexico. Today they are grown in many subtropical and tropical regions, including the Caribbean, South America, Hawaii, California, Texas, and Florida. Most of the red papayas sold in the United States are from Mexico and Belize. You can buy red papayas year-round in supermarkets.
How to pick out red papayas
For a juicy papaya every time, look for fruits that are half green and half yellow. Papayas are ripe when the skin is about 50% yellow, but they reach peak flavor at 80% yellow. Ripe papayas feel heavy for their size and are firm but not hard. Papayas should have a slight give when you press on them. The stem end of ripe papayas has a faint sweet smell. Minor blemishes and spots from processing won't affect a papaya's taste, but avoid red papayas with deep cuts, large soft spots, mold, or a sickly-sweet smell.
How to use red papayas
The whole papaya is edible, but most people prefer to peel away the skin and discard it due to its leathery texture. Red papayas pair well with other tropical fruits, chicken, fish, and pork. Here are a few of the most common ways to use red papayas in the kitchen:
- Cut fresh papaya into slices or chunks and serve as a fruit side dish. A squirt of lime juice will enhance the rich, sweet flavor of the papaya and diminish its musky smell.
- Cube or slice fresh papayas and add to yogurt or cottage cheese for a quick, nutritious breakfast.
- Add cubed papaya to salsas, fruit salads, green salads, and smoothies.
- Cut a papaya in half, remove the seeds, and roast it in the oven with some brown sugar and butter. Serve the baked papaya with vanilla ice cream for a simple but delicious dessert.
- Add pureed papaya to sauces, glazes, frostings, and baked goods.
- Grill papaya slices along with other tropical fruits for an easy summer side dish.
- Use pureed papaya in place of other tropical fruits in summer cocktails, such as daiquiris.
- Add pureed papaya to marinades for fork-tender meats. Red papayas contain papain, an enzyme that helps tenderize meat.
- Dry thin papaya slices in the oven at a low temperature or in a dehydrator for a portable healthy fruit snack.
- Use ground seeds in place of pepper or as a salt-free meat tenderizer. Dried ground red papaya seeds taste like a cross between black pepper and mustard.
- Add boiled red papaya chunks to gelatin dishes. Do not add fresh papaya to gelatin dishes, as the papain will prevent gelatin from properly setting.
Red Papayas Near Me
Buy your favorite Red Papayas online with Instacart. Order Red Papayas from local and national retailers near you and enjoy on-demand, contactless delivery or pickup within 2 hours.
FAQs about red papayas
If your red papayas are green and hard, keep them on your kitchen counter out of direct sunlight. Most papayas will ripen at room temperature within a week or so. Once they are ripe, you can store your red papayas in the refrigerator for up to five days. Eat completely yellow papayas within two days.
Cut papayas or papaya puree should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge and used within a week. Because frozen papaya becomes mushy after thawing, it works best in smoothies or as a fruity ice cube.
Papayas are one of several latex cross-reactive fruits, including kiwis, bananas, and apples. These fruits have proteins similar to those in latex, resulting in allergic reactions in up to 50% of latex-allergic people. Reactions can occur when the fruit is touched, smelled, or eaten. If you are allergic to latex, check with your doctor to see if you can safely add red papayas to your diet.
Red papayas are not only delicious but packed with nutrition. A 1-cup serving of red papaya provides:
- 55 calories
- 2 grams of fiber
- 31% of your daily vitamin A
- 144% of your daily vitamin C
- Folate
- Potassium
- Phytonutrients
- Carotenoids such as lutein, beta-carotene, and lycopene
- Minor amounts of Vitamin E, calcium, magnesium, riboflavin, and niacin
Red papayas are a healthy addition to any diet. With our user-friendly Instacart app, ordering fresh red papayas from local retailers is quick and easy! Add red papayas and other essentials to your cart, and our experienced shoppers will do the work for you. Take advantage of Instacart's contact-free pickup or delivery to get what you need, even on the busiest of days!