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Starfruit Delivery or Pickup
The Instacart guide to starfruit products
About starfruit
Starfruit is also known as carambola and grows on a tree native to Southeast Asia. The fruit is popular throughout the world, and the trees are cultivated in areas that enjoy tropical climates. The fruit is comprised of five or six ridges that look like a star when cut in cross-section.
Carambola has been growing in Asia for hundreds of years, possibly originating in the Maluku Islands or Sri Lanka. Malaysia is the leading global producer of starfruit, alongside Australia, Guyana, Israel, and India, but the United States also grows carambola in Florida, Hawaii, and other areas with tropical climates.
Starfruit first became popular in the United States during the 1970s, when a horticulturalist named Morris Arkin began to grow carambola. The sweet 'Arkin' strain that was named for him rapidly became the most widely-grown strain in Florida.
How to tell if a starfruit is ripe
There are two main types of starfruit: one is smaller with a tart taste, and the other is larger, sweeter, and more commonly seen in grocery stores.
Starfruit starts off green and then ripens to a bright yellow, usually with only tinges of green remaining and often a slight brown on the outer ridge of the points. If a starfruit is green, then it is not ripe, but it may continue to ripen for several days and turn yellow when kept in a fruit bowl at room temperature.
When ripe, the flesh is firm to the touch, with a thick waxy skin that feels smooth and shiny. When a starfruit is overripe, they develop brown spots on the skin, so choose one that is evenly colored. The thicker, brown skin along the outer edges of the star's points can be thick and woody and is often sliced off and discarded.
The end stem should then be removed, but the rest of the starfruit, including the skin, is edible. The flesh is usually sliced in cross-section to preserve the star shape, and most varieties have some seeds inside, which should be removed before eating.
How to eat starfruit
Starfruit is sweet, but with a slightly sour edge, making them ideal for a variety of dishes, including desserts and fruit salads as well as relishes and pickles. Starfruit can be used in all kind of meals, including:
- Pies.
- Tarts.
- Asian curries.
- Indian Stews.
- Stir-fries.
- Salads.
- Pickles.
- Jams.
- Jellies.
It is also often used as a garnish because its unique shape and sweet flavor add a natural appeal to almost any dish. Starfruit is very juicy and is often used in cocktails, smoothies, and other drinks to lend a balanced sweetness that complements both sweet and tarter flavors.
Starfruit can also be sliced thinly and baked with a syrup drizzle to create caramelized starfruit chips that look and taste great and are a fun addition to a festive food table over the winter holidays. Starfruit can also be combined with mango, orange juice, and coconut milk to create a warming sweet soup that is ideal for cool summer nights.
Whether you want to toss it into a fruit salad, add it to a stir fry, or make some sweet juice, you can use the Instacart app to order your groceries. Our shoppers will collect everything you need, and it can be delivered to your door in as little as 2 hours!
Starfruit Near Me
Buy your favorite Starfruit online with Instacart. Order Starfruit from local and national retailers near you and enjoy on-demand, contactless delivery or pickup within 2 hours.
FAQs about starfruit
Their appearance has made them a popular choice among fruit-lovers that appreciate their visual appeal, but starfruit is also packed with vitamins and other beneficial nutrients. Each fruit contains only around 30 calories, but they are packed with dietary fiber and have a range of other health boosters such as:
- Riboflavin.
- Folate.
- Vitamin C.
- Sodium.
- Potassium.
- Calcium.
Starfruit has other beneficial properties, including helping the body protect itself against heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, and digestive problems.
Starfruit also contains two compounds that can be dangerous to those with kidney disease, so anyone diagnosed with kidney problems should consult a doctor before eating it.
Starfruit is sweet and fresh tasting, making it a great ingredient to use when you want something sweet or savory. Starfruit goes well with spiced food such as teriyaki and complements delicate flavors such as salmon and sea bass. You can also mix chopped starfruit with tomatoes, minced green onions, and shredded cilantro to make a chilled salsa that will go perfectly with various dishes.
You can also blend starfruit with onion to make a relish which works well with savory dishes such as prawns and stir-fries. You can also add other tropical fruit such as mango and papaya to make a tropical relish perfect for dipping and drizzling over your favorite foods.